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Have I messed up🤔😭

125 replies

Ribbeddress · 23/09/2024 23:33

Long story short - I basically accused my DH (twice in very short space of time) of cheating when he was actually totally innocent. It’s the first time that something like this has happened so I’m definitely not those insecure/jealous type of women and I normally have 150% trust in him/our marriage. Not gonna go into the details of why I accused him but it ended up being a whole misunderstanding and now I feel really bad 🥲 he told some of his family members (my in-laws) and that really broke my heart because we usually keep matters to ourselves and resolve it as a couple but now I feel like it’s gonna become something for them to gossip about and as they didn’t hear my side, it’ll definitely paint me out to be some paranoid jealous insecure wife (which I am certainly not). Anyway, he’s mainly upset that I didn’t trust him (which I completely understand) but I feel like I’ve really messed up 😭 what should I do?

OP posts:
Rainbows89 · 24/09/2024 02:07

I don’t know why the OP is getting such a hard time!

it all sounds a bit dodgy OP - I hope you are ok.

Ribbeddress · 24/09/2024 02:08

Rainbows89 · 24/09/2024 02:07

I don’t know why the OP is getting such a hard time!

it all sounds a bit dodgy OP - I hope you are ok.

I keep getting told off 😭

OP posts:
Ribbeddress · 24/09/2024 02:11

Aysegull · 24/09/2024 02:05

OP, we really need some more detail from you. No offence but it’s like drawing blood from a stone.

You found these messages. Ok:

  1. where were the messages?
  2. do you know who they were to?
  3. what did the messages say? What were the responses?
  4. how did he explain the messages? Him saying you should trust me isn’t him explaining the messages.

Because based on what you’ve said so far, it sounds like not only were you right to accuse, you might not actually have been wrong in the first place.

Drawing blood from a stone😂 well, I did make it quite clear in the original post that I wasn’t going to go into detail about why I accused him…I’ve already given a lot of info, I just simply wanted advice about how to repair the situation.

OP posts:

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Thistooshallpass24 · 24/09/2024 02:35

@Ribbeddress

how old are you, you say young and your style of writing implies young
Is your partner older?
In one sense you seem upset in another a bit flippant
Do you have anyone outside the relationship to talk to?

LoggingToad · 24/09/2024 02:38

Ribbeddress · 24/09/2024 02:11

Drawing blood from a stone😂 well, I did make it quite clear in the original post that I wasn’t going to go into detail about why I accused him…I’ve already given a lot of info, I just simply wanted advice about how to repair the situation.

You don't want to be repairing the situation till you have the full facts.

Texts messages are evidence and he should be now transparent and open, willing to reassure you. If you blindly trust him and then are admonished by his family this will do untold damage to you.

Him opening up to his family sounds like a way to humiliate you and make you back down from further questioning.
I get it, you love him and want to trust him but some people should not be trusted.

PolePrince55 · 24/09/2024 02:44

@Ribbeddress
He most certainly is capable of that kind of thing and there's no smoke without fire.
I'm not saying he did what you think he done but something was very Off in order for you to accuse him with out asking questions first.
Do something in your statement is wrong.
Either you are insecure or he gave god reason for you to suspect an affair, in which case don't beat yourself up over it x

Garlicnaan · 24/09/2024 02:46

Ribbeddress · 24/09/2024 02:11

Drawing blood from a stone😂 well, I did make it quite clear in the original post that I wasn’t going to go into detail about why I accused him…I’ve already given a lot of info, I just simply wanted advice about how to repair the situation.

If there were suspect texts, it's just as much on him to repair as it is on you.

I would love to know what he's actually told his parents!

PolePrince55 · 24/09/2024 03:07

@Ribbeddress
I hate when my husband goes off mouthing, is not the mouthing that annoys me, is the fact he didn't give both sides, burns bridges with his family and me, also talks about me with people who don't like me (his family are just toxic) whilst I do also talk to people, they are people that adore him & try to diffuse the situation. Not add fuel to the fire.
So I partially get what you mean.
He has the right to go off load, as do you. The offloading needs to be done to neutral people who will listen and defuse. Not take sides and maybe hold grudges!

NQOCDarling · 24/09/2024 03:59

Ribbeddress · 23/09/2024 23:48

Okay clearly the term “broadcast” has been misinterpreted…

Eerm, misused, not misinterpreted by PPs...

Broadcast: To make known over a wide area: synonym: announce.

Teanbiscuits33 · 24/09/2024 04:12

I know you’ve said you don’t want to go into detail, but it matters quite a lot WHY you accused someone you claim you trust 150% not just once, but twice, of cheating.

If you’re really not the jealous type and usually trust him, then something tells me you were reasonable to suspect him whether you were mistaken or not. If he has been behaving really oddly and out of character, then it’s reasonable to have suspected, is it not? I don’t think anyone can blame you, and the cynic in me would wonder if he’s told his parents about it to make a fuss and throw you off the scent by making out the accusation is completely OUTRAGEOUS enough to have told them, while also making you the villain.

If he doesn’t normally divulge your marital problems to his parents, that’s an odd display of behaviour. It could be totally innocent but it isn’t adding up to me given what you’ve said.

Teanbiscuits33 · 24/09/2024 04:35

What I’m trying to get at OP is, he might be manipulating you to believe he isn’t cheating when in fact you were right all along but he’s making you believe you’re paranoid and unreasonable. It’s emotional abuse, and if he’s manipulating you and you believe him this time, he will know he can worm his way out of any situation by making you out to be the problem.

Even if he isn’t cheating, then if you’re not the type to be regularly accusatory and he’s been acting oddly, he should show some understanding of why you accused him and try to reassure you, not go telling his parents your business and making you seem neurotic.

The whole thing just seems like such weird behaviour from him.

TheUsualChaos · 24/09/2024 04:39

Sounds to me like you caught him out nd and he has gaslit you into thinking he is the victim. Part of that manipulation is telling his parents to not only make sure you feel the lowest of the low, but also to paint them the picture of you being the paranoid, crazy wife.

daisychain01 · 24/09/2024 04:44

Ribbeddress · 23/09/2024 23:55

Hmmm, I am annoyed at myself because I guess I just let my mind wander far too much in this case but him speaking to relatives was just a bit unfair because I didn’t even get to defend myself 😭 I was fully right to react the way I did but I guess the story won’t make much sense due to me omitting why I accused him.

it sounds like you're prone to ruminating about things, which can blow things up out of all proportion. It feeds anxiety, the mind is a powerful and not always a helpful tool.

look, you aren't an evil person, yes you messed up but now it's time to try and repair the damage, admit your error, own your action to enable you and your DH to move on. Marriage is about recognising each other's weaknesses and being able to recognise the imperfection.

can you clear the air with your DH, say you know you were completely wrong and that you do want to move on, not because you're dismissing his feelings but because you want to repair the damage. Apart from that, that all you can do, you can't turn back the clock.

ETA - having read your most recent update, only you know whether those messages were innocent or if they cast doubt on your relationship. If you were drawn into thinking he was perhaps crossing a boundary, then you do need to bring that into the conversation to say you felt at the time they were dodgy but you trust him at his word.

if however you have lingering doubts despite him trying to convince you otherwise, then that's a whole other can of worms.

RawBloomers · 24/09/2024 04:53

OP I’m concerned about something you said earlier in the thread - that you thought it was unreasonable of him to tell his relatives because he normally insists you keep your personal business private.

Does he stop you from talking to your friends and family and seeking support? Would he have been incensed at you if you’d asked your mother or a close friend her opinion on the messages you saw?

To be honest that sounds possibly a bit controlling of him. Especially with the way he’s convinced you to push your suspicions to one side by simply insisting you trust him.

You say you’re young and new to marriage but you’ve been with him a long time? Was he your first serious boyfriend? Is he older than you or otherwise in a position of power? Just wondering if you’re in a bit of a vulnerable position here?

daisychain01 · 24/09/2024 04:56

There are some hints and clues in the OPs various posts that make me think you could be onto something there @RawBloomers

Zanatdy · 24/09/2024 05:12

Well to me it sounds like these messages you saw weren’t entirely innocent. Your DH has convinced you that he’s innocent and you’re in the wrong for accusing him. Without knowing the details we can’t say if he’s being reasonable or if he’s just lying his way out of it. But it doesn’t sound like there was no smoke without fire. I’d just be careful, and don’t let him make you out to be some jealous controlling wife when there were messages that weren’t entirely innocent. Don’t let him pull the wool over your eyes.

Seasmoke · 24/09/2024 05:13

In terms of being gaslit, I think that word gets thrown around a lot these days.
It is thrown around a lot, but sometimes it's used correctly. In the context of someone doing something wrong but manipulating the other person into thinking that it is they that have done something wrong/they are paranoid etc.
He sent presumably sexual messages to another woman then instead of explaining why he made you feel you had done something wrong and made you apologise to him.

Febmama23 · 24/09/2024 05:18

Tell his in-laws the content of the messages and let them decide if it’s innocent. I don’t mean that but he is making you out to be the crazy wife when it sounds like you have reason, You have to trust your instincts here and him telling you to trust him doesn’t explain those messages. He’s told his family to make you feel guilty and to get you to back down. Unless the messages could have been taken out of context…

Febmama23 · 24/09/2024 05:26

Also, you say he didn’t give you time to apologise but went straight to his family. If you are in a loving relationship and those texts are innocent, then yes there should be an apology but he should also be reassuring you, instead he’s gone into defence mode.. that isn’t a good sign.

PuddlesPityParty · 24/09/2024 05:34

Oh come on OP is being extremely vague about what actually happened and has only started bread crumbing some info because she’s being “told off” by people in the thread.

I actually bet it was innocent and OP is trying to justify her actions. Your husband is allowed to seek support from his family - stop trying to victimise yourself for him doing so!

LunaNorth · 24/09/2024 05:35

I’m not young and I’m not new to marriage, and my interpretation of events is that you caught your husband in the act of infidelity, and instead of admitting it and apologising, he manipulated you into believing you were wrong, and then made sure he remained in control of the narrative by telling his family that you falsely accused him.

You’ll never have a happy day with this man again. Take some control back and leave him before you have kids (if you haven’t got them already).

Mymanyellow · 24/09/2024 05:37

Well without knowing what the messages said of course, I have to say seems a bit fishy to me.
Are you sure he’s not up to something? This big denial and involving parents stinks to me.
Just because he has told you that it means nothing and you should trust him doesn’t mean you should.

GuestFeatu · 24/09/2024 05:41

Ribbeddress · 24/09/2024 02:11

Drawing blood from a stone😂 well, I did make it quite clear in the original post that I wasn’t going to go into detail about why I accused him…I’ve already given a lot of info, I just simply wanted advice about how to repair the situation.

It's quite relevant though as there is a big between randomly accusing someone of cheating with no reason for it and seeing what appears to be evidence of cheating that may or may not have a reasonable explanation!
It sounds to me like you were justified to question him and I don't know why you're accepting his statement that he didn't cheat if you've got evidence that he has, and blaming yourself!

Katielovesteatime · 24/09/2024 05:44

Ribbeddress · 23/09/2024 23:46

well, I used the term “broadcasting” because that’s how it felt to me…we’re quite a private couple and like to maintain respect in our relationship so it was a bit new to me

If I was being unfairly accused of cheating, I’d definitely need to discuss it with someone! Of course he will turn to family for support! He probably felt hurt, angry, worried, annoyed, etc. you can’t accuse him of cheating twice and then expect him to keep it a secret? I bet if he had been cheating you’d not have kept it a secret!

AimieDaisy · 24/09/2024 05:49

Does your gut say he was / is being unfaithful? Whatever your gut says, it’s usually right.

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