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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Yes I fucking well am BU actually!

39 replies

KarmaAngel · 27/09/2010 21:12

Argh! I hate feeling like this!

Background been with DH 15 years, married 11. 2 dd's one DSD. Relationship has been pretty happy for the past 14 years, with the usual ups and downs.

Last Christmas DH starts going out more makes friends in work (new job). I'm a SAHM. Some of these friends are women (as you would expect). I have no problem with this, I'm glad he's going out and enjoying himself as he never really used to do that. Fast forward a few months and I find comments on his facebook that are quite a bit too flirtatious for my liking. We have words he agrees to tone it down (and also sees it from my point of view and agrees he wouldn't like it).

After this I'm suspicious so hack into his emails and facebook (I know, I know). He hasn't toned it down it's almost racked up a notch. I find a facebook chat conversation with one of these women from work which he never closed down. It was way too flirtatious and lots of innuendos. But nothing completely obvious. This woman is also in a relationship.

I confront him, we argue, we make up. We go through hell, we say we're going to split. In the same night we both cry say we don't want to split we love each other. Agree to stay together and try and make it work.

Things go good for a while we go on at least one date together a week. But every now and then something will crop up. (Far too many things to list them all now). But along the lines of flirting, texting this other woman excessively (IMO anyway). We then argue and make up.

And so the cycle has gone on for the past year. And now I'm so sick of feeling like this. Feeling jealous all the bloody time. (I'm not a jealous person). He tells me he loves me ALL the time. Texts me like 30 times a day when he's in work. But I still can't stop snooping. I check his emails, have't checked his facebook for a while, but did today. Check his mobile statement online, so I know when he's been texting her.

It doesn't help when he must give off vibes because he gets loads of bloody flirty messages on FB off other women even though he's got his relationship status on his profile.

(Can I just say that I HATE facebook).

This morning we argued over something pretty trivial but related to all that's been going on. I said that I'd had enough I can't stand the same old jealous crap all the time. I don't want to tell him not be on FB, not to text his friends (this woman) etc. But I can't continue like this so it's over. He said no he wouldn't accept it's over we love each other. That he wouldn't go on FB or text for a while. Ok I felt better.

Today I check his online mobile statement (I know)! And he's been texting her today. Sad He's also been texting me he loves me all day too.

I know he hasn't cheated on me. It's this flirting thing that has got me. I hate feeling like this, I don't want to be a bloody jealous, snooping wife. That's not who I am, at all. I texted him about 20 minutes ago saying "Fuck it", he hasn't text back so probably knows something's up. I feel like a stupid immature teenager not a 32 year old mother of 3. He's due in from work soon, we'll probably argue.

I know IBU, it helps getting it all out though. Think I'll offload to my mum in the morning.

OP posts:
chandellina · 27/09/2010 21:14

YANBU. he needs to get a grip and give up his flirty fun.

fuschiagroan · 27/09/2010 21:14

I don't think you are being unreasonable. I am a massive flirt, but 99% of the time it doesn't mean anything. Texting, Facebooking (a lot, like this) is crossing a line, because it's private from others.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 27/09/2010 21:15

I dont think you are being unreasonable actually.

bigchris · 27/09/2010 21:16

You can't / don't trust him else you wouldn't be snooping and it's very hard to gave a successful relationship with no trust

cupcakesandbunting · 27/09/2010 21:17

You're acting like a "stupid immature teenager" because that's exactly what your DP is behaving like. Behaviour breeds behaviour.

He might not have cheated but he is off limits as far as "flirting" goes (I'd say that what he is doing goes beyond flirting though can't put into words why) He's being an idiot and very, very selfish. And the other woman needs to back off too.

Calmly tell him that this stops and he is losing your trust and without trust your relationship will die (it will) Is having his ego massaged by the office floozy worth your relationship. I think matey has some thinking to do.

AnyFucker · 27/09/2010 21:17

eh ?

did I miss the bit where everyone said you were BU ?

because you are so not being bloody unreasonable

give him an ultimatum

his flirty chats or his family

HecateQueenOfWitches · 27/09/2010 21:17

Do you feel that he thinks you are making a fuss about nothing, or he enjoys the flirting too much to stop just because it upsets you?

Are you planning on doing anything to change the situation or are you just going to carry on this cycle you guys have got yourselves trapped in?

You sound really unhappy. I really feel for you.

gettingtogrips · 27/09/2010 21:20

Absolutley agree, yanbu. Can't understand why he can't give this up. I'd be livid.

OutOutLetItAllOut · 27/09/2010 21:21

Are you me?

Hassled · 27/09/2010 21:22

You don't trust him, and really, why the hell should you? Stop beating yourself up over the snooping, for starters. You're not being immature or unreasonable over this - no one's self-esteem is so high that they could cope with this level of fuckwittery without feeling vulnerable.

Is he an insecure sort of person? Why does he need the constant validation that the flirting gives him?

Faaamily · 27/09/2010 21:23

Why is he texting another woman obsessively? YADNBU. I think you are being very bloody reasonable, actually.

cupcakesandbunting · 27/09/2010 21:26

"You can't / don't trust him else you wouldn't be snooping and it's very hard to gave a successful relationship with no trust"

That's a bit of a red herring. If her DP wasn't flirting like a randy mongrel with some workplace strumpet then I'm sure that OP wouldn't feel the need to snoop. And her snooping has been vindicated by what she found, unfortunately. OP's lack of trust isn't the issue in this relationship.

BessieBoots · 27/09/2010 21:26

Sad What an awful situation. He knows you're not comfortable with it and yet he carries on. That would be it for me, I'm afraid.

kitbit · 27/09/2010 21:28

Out of interest what's his reason for keeping on doing it?
You are definitely not being unreasonable, I hope you've read enough sufficiently outraged responses to know that, and that he is behaving like an idiot.

Does he really realise what's at stake or is he playing at it and in total denial? Because he needs a kick up the bum to make him realise.

Katey1010 · 27/09/2010 21:32

YANBU.

Get yourselves to Relate and have someone else get him to realise that he is being an idiot hole.

You say he is not doing anything other than flirting but, firstly, flirting hurts you so it is not JUST flirting. And secondly, I know from experience, that oops, work drinks, Christmas or leaving do, oops, too tipsy, oops, kissing, oops, divorce. The reason we don't like DHs flirting is because it crosses a line and gets them a line closer to cheating.

myredcardigan · 27/09/2010 21:33

Personally, I think this is beyond flirting.

My DH is a huge flirt. But, crucially, it is always a public thing. At parties, in pubs etc. He flirts just as much when I'm there as when I'm not. I know he's considered a flirt at work too. It doesn't bother me as it's all up front IYKWIM.

The point I'm trying to make is that what your DH is doing is not flirting it's cheating. Sorry, but it is. He may not be shagging her but it's an affair nonetheless. His texts excite her and hers excite him. It's inappropriate and disrespectful to you and he needs to see that and stop it now.

Southwind · 27/09/2010 21:35

YADNBU - agree with all comments above but especially AnyFuckers last line, it obviously needs to be spelt out to him....

bigchris · 27/09/2010 21:36

Agree with myredcardigan , it's an emotional affair Sad

verytellytubby · 27/09/2010 21:40

You are not being unreasonable. Your DH is.

Time for a serious chat and he needs to grow up and stop what he's doing. It's inappropriate and a bit pathetic.

nagoo · 27/09/2010 21:40

Another YANBU here.

He knows it upsets you. You asked him to stop but he hasn't.

Why can't he stop this? Texting 'I love you' every 2 minutes doesn't mean anything if the next text he sends is to this OW to get his kicks flirting with her.

It's reasonable to jealous feelings about this. How the hell does he expect you to react?

Flirting is fine when it is 'open' but private messaging is dangerous and takes things to far, by virtue of it being 'private' you are shut out.

Tortington · 27/09/2010 21:44

any update?

proudnglad · 27/09/2010 21:50

'He texts me up to 30 times a day'. That's not showing you he loves you. That's childish and meaningless.

He's being callous. If it were me, I could forgive him the flirting if he stopped it once he knew how desperate I felt - but he's carried on despite knowing how you feel.

He's intoxicated by this ongoing inappropriate contact with OW (and I'm afraid I don't believe it's not gone any further.)

For some reason he thinks he can get away with carrying this on. Why?

gingerkirsty · 27/09/2010 22:00

I agree that texting you 30 times a day rings huge alarm bells with me. He is overcompensating because he knows he is deliberately doing something that distresses you. I hope you will take on board all the messages in this thread and stand up for yourself.

AnyFucker · 27/09/2010 22:00

OP, I really hope you haven't been buying into this bullshit about being a "cool" partner

you know, "cool" about inappropriate friendships with other women, because if you aren't, then you are a frigid bitch or an uptight, jealous harpy or some other fucking insulting term

or "perfectly happy" with porn and strip joints/lapdancing bollocks etc

the kind of insulting terms and pastimes that are used by both men and women to excuse the fact that they are unable to stay respectful to their partner

just be careful that you trying to convince your self that you are in the wrong here, is actually coming from a very fucked-up place

PeterTong · 27/09/2010 23:57

update me

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