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Husband affair - what do I do about Christmas?

434 replies

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 20:11

NC’d for obvious reasons. I broke up with my H last week - I had a woman message me online who claimed her H had been sleeping with mine for the past year. She gave detail such as dates etc and I confronted H who admitted this and broke down in tears and said he was going to tell me after Christmas. As we have kids I let him stay in the spare room on the night this was found out and he has been sleeping on a friends sofa since (kids are very young so I’ve just said he’s away with work).

The issue is he cannot stay at the friends from tomorrow as they have visitors staying for Christmas. He wants to stay here in the spare room and have Christmas here for the kids’ sake.

I really am struggling to picture this but at the same time, don’t want to ruin the kids’ Christmas. I am torn and would welcome advice especially if anyone has experienced similar.

OP posts:
Lisawr · 22/12/2025 13:27

He has informed me this morning he has booked a few nights away (from tonight) and won’t be contactable at all, including on Christmas Day. He says speaking to the kids would confuse them. He hasn’t told me where he is going, other than it’s a couple of hours away.

I’ve checked our joint account and he hasn’t moved any money out in the past 24 hours either.

OP posts:
DallasMinor · 22/12/2025 13:09

If he feels sorry for himself now, it’s going to be 10 times worse when the cheating toad wakes up alone in a Holiday Inn Express alone on Christmas Day.

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 22/12/2025 12:48

Not your problem. He can go to a homeless shelter.

if you want to be nice he could come for a brief visit on Christmas morning but tell him he needs to leave be forever lunch.

Lndnmummy · 22/12/2025 12:48

I am so sorry OP, that sounds really tough. He is gay. Whether he admits to this or not. He might be bi sexual. Don't let him gas light you into thinking he is not.

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 22/12/2025 12:44

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 22:15

He has tried claiming that he has given it up. Said because we got together so young (not that young, about 25/26!) he didn’t have the chance to experiment before settling down.

What absolute horse shit. How dare he treat you like a fool.

Tontostitis · 22/12/2025 12:38

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 20:25

He says he can’t as they’d question what’s going on and he doesn’t want to alarm them at the moment (given the time of year and that DFIL has health concerns)

Sof that he made the mess he doesn't get to choose you to take the fallout to protect others. Travel lodge or his parents and I wouldn't invite him for lunch as the DC won't understand why he wasn't there when they woke up Ge can take them out in Boxing Day to his parents house or just fuck off to the far side of fuck. You no longer has to facilitate him and a clean break prioritises you and the children

LouiseTopaz · 22/12/2025 12:27

He just needs somewhere to stay, an easy life rather than telling his parents and is using the kids as an excuse

LouiseTopaz · 22/12/2025 12:26

His problem, he needs to stay at his parents and deal with the consequences

MyDeftDuck · 22/12/2025 12:17

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 20:25

He says he can’t as they’d question what’s going on and he doesn’t want to alarm them at the moment (given the time of year and that DFIL has health concerns)

He can’t tell his parents……but he can blow your world apart!?!?!

SauronsArsehole · 22/12/2025 12:08

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 22:15

He has tried claiming that he has given it up. Said because we got together so young (not that young, about 25/26!) he didn’t have the chance to experiment before settling down.

It’s bollocks.

I’ve seen it over and over with bi men.

they shack up with a woman and get married for kids because it’s cheaper and easier to marry a woman for kids but once they’ve got the kids it’s affair after affair with men.

talk to gay guys they’ll tell you all sorts of reasons why this happens. It’ll be eye opening for you.

Poodleville · 22/12/2025 11:40

bumptybum · 21/12/2025 22:18

Exactly. Everyone spouting off here seem to be ignoring the fact that he has as much legal right to stay in the house as the OO does.

it’s tough but the law doesn’t care about the emotional stuff

I don't think we know the ownership/rental details? In any case, if he is genuinely asking your permission OP, I would say no.
He's made the mess, not you. It's not your job to figure out where he can stay. And you say you don't want to ruin the kids Xmas- he's the one responsible for all this, not you.

How are you supposed to begin healing if you're busy coping with him under the same roof? The kids might like their dad being there but what will they make of their mum who will seem strangely on edge? And if he doesn't leave after Christmas? I doubt his mate is relishing the thought of your DH back on his sofa.

You are no doubt feeling numb because there's a lot of ery understandable overwhelming feelings in you, but it might be helpful if you can thaw just enough for some self protective anger to surface. Just enough to look out for yourself at this time. He's lied to you, not taken responsibility and he will not be looking out for you now either.

Picklelily99 · 22/12/2025 11:37

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 20:25

He says he can’t as they’d question what’s going on and he doesn’t want to alarm them at the moment (given the time of year and that DFIL has health concerns)

Ah, but he fully expects you to shoulder this, alone, with kids, just before Christmas? Twt! if the kids aren't missing him 'cos he's 'at work', they'll probably not miss him much on Christmas day - tell him he can see them boxing day. You have Christmas day with your kids.

SwingTheMonkey · 22/12/2025 11:30

We need to stop expecting women to be nice to men, regardless of how the man has treated them. It’s not our job to make others’ lives easier. Op has no obligation to spend Xmas pretending everything is fine, whilst her world falls apart. Yes, legally she cannot stop a co owner/tenant from living there, I’d strongly suggest to op that she tell her husband that for her and her children’s sake, he stays away. Where that is, is not her problem.
Id also echo others and say that an STI test should be a priority.

ArcticGrass · 22/12/2025 11:28

"His living arrangements are no longer your problem. If his only option is his parents house then he’ll need to fess up to them, again not your problem."

Well, if they jointly own the house, she can't just change the locks.

Nevereatcardboard · 22/12/2025 11:26

I’d be too tempted to spit in his food to have him in the house for Christmas dinner! He has another perfectly good option of staying in his parents house. The awkwardness he feels about telling his parents isn’t your problem. I’d say you tell them why you need to stay there today or I’ll do it for you.

NoTouch · 22/12/2025 11:21

His living arrangements are no longer your problem. If his only option is his parents house then he’ll need to fess up to them, again not your problem.

I would the kids you have had an argument and dad is giving you some space to feel better, but he will visit on Christmas Day..

Then decide if you want him in the house Christmas Day, Perhaps he can come and play with the kids for a couple of hours while you busy yourself in kitchen then he leaves before dinner.

You do not need to do anything “for the kids”, he has already thrown a grenade into their lives and nothing will be the same again, you having to awkwardly pretend it hasn’t happened is not helping anyone, the kids will pick up on it and it isn’t fair to you.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 22/12/2025 11:20

bellhawk · 21/12/2025 22:21

I doubt he was going to tell you about this affair 'after Christmas' if he had no plans to leave you. It sounds like he wanted to have both the secret life and the family life, and is now trying to manipulate you into thinking it's all your fault the game is up. He can stay in a hotel, it's not your problem anymore.

Yep. The affair was over, he'd successfully concealed it for a YEAR, he can't/won't come out to his parents - he was no way going to confess any of it to his wife.

OP he isn't your problem. He can sort out where he stays over Xmas and what he says to his parents (or not) about why his marriage has ended. You don't owe him anything so don't be suckered into thinking any of this is your problem to solve.

Pearlstillsinging · 22/12/2025 11:01

blankcanvas3 · 21/12/2025 20:23

Can he stay in his parent’s house?

I’ll probably be the only one to say this, but tbh I would let him stay if there were no other options, with a firm date that he has to leave by e.g. 26th or 27th

That's exactly what I would say.
Keep things as normal as possible for the children over Christmas, with a firm date for him to o to stay at his parents' home at least while they are away. He won't be able to put pressure on OP to stay longer if there a whole empty house waiting for him. Of course if he owns the house jointly with OP, he probably does have the right to stay there legally.

grinchmcgrinchface · 22/12/2025 11:01

I would tell him to stay at his boyfriends house.

FairyMaclary · 22/12/2025 10:57

The first person we lie to is ourself.

Your spouse has a but in his fidelity. I am faithful but not if she won’t find out. I am faithful but it doesn’t count if it’s a man.

If you do not want him there ask him to stay away. If he doesn’t want people to know then he’s likely to stay away.

I am guessing he wasn’t going to tell you after Christmas. He’s a liar. He would have carried on as normal. The woman who let you know was brave and it is good that she told you, I doubt cheaty mccheatyson was going to give you agency.

Sadly cheaters have personality traits that allow them to betray their own vows. Selfishness is one of these and look here he is, he’s torpedoed his marriage and it’s still all ‘me, me, me’. If he had cared about his parents he wouldn’t have done this - there was always a risk of being caught.

What do you want to happen next op?

Have you got real life support?

VickyEadieofThigh · 22/12/2025 10:37

greenwithglee · 21/12/2025 22:18

Shagging another man for a year isn't experimenting.

CORRECT.

That's 'experimenting and finding you love it'.

JFDIYOLO · 22/12/2025 10:35

If you both the house, he has a right to be there.

So it's important to be clear and straightforward and consistent about what you want from the start.

Bearing in mind that

He has cheated - male or female, it's the same thing.

He has lied and deceived you from the very start about who and what he is.

He is homosexual = you are not what he wants.

He has enabled the other man to knowingly do the same thing to his own wife. Two families devastated.

He is potentially acting in ways that could impact his own and your health - maybe an STI for you would be wise.

You're in shock now.

Short term - what are you going to do this week? He says he 'can't' go to parents (maybe tell him to suck that up as it's not your problem) and friend's place is not available, so the alternative is he finds a budget hotel/B&B for now. This will eat into family finances.

Christmas day - the children need to be considered, and they will want him.

Your feelings matter. Cooking and hosting him will probably make you feel awful and it will either be noticed by the children or you'll push yourself to unfair limits trying to hide it.

He may try to take advantage of the Christmas spirit and try love bombing you with presents, apologies, promises and tears. Remember what he stands to lose - that's what's driving that. If you cave - remember what he did and will do again because none of that will change.

I think the healthiest thing will be to start having the conversation about his long term plans asap.

Looking for and renting a small place close by so he can be present for the children - but not in your face.

What's happening with the other man? Is there the prospect of them setting up home?

I'm so sorry. All the best to you.

lessglittermoremud · 22/12/2025 10:21

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 22:15

He has tried claiming that he has given it up. Said because we got together so young (not that young, about 25/26!) he didn’t have the chance to experiment before settling down.

My DH and I have been together since we were 21/22, his excuse his laughable…

ArcticGrass · 22/12/2025 10:06

He has to face up to his actions, and he leaves and goes and stays at his parents' house. He doesn't have to tell them the details, just that you and him are splitting up after Christmas. It's not a one off, this is lying to you for a year.

There's no way you won't have a weird Christmas - you need time to process this and the kids will notice - you need space to yourself.

If you do decide to let him stay over Christmas, set some boundaries....

FunCrab · 22/12/2025 10:00

Lisawr · 21/12/2025 20:25

He says he can’t as they’d question what’s going on and he doesn’t want to alarm them at the moment (given the time of year and that DFIL has health concerns)

He is responsible for his behaviour and he owns it.
He does have an option to stay at parents house and he needs to get a back bone and tell them. This is his problem not yours. Did he think about this when he had this affair. Whenever it is they will be impacted so it does not matter.
He did this and he must take responsibility not trying to make everything look as normal.
Have him for Christmas Dinner and that is it.