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OW contacting DH

514 replies

DillyDingDillyDong · 07/11/2016 09:07

I posted a short while ago about DH sleeping with another woman years ago. It was resolved and almost forgotten about but then my company hired her and I have been working with her.

Recently I have had a bit of a rubbish time. I had a miscarriage, a couple of family bereavements, a fall out with a friend and DS has just had a huge operation which has brought a whole load of new problems with family.

Anyway, I have needed to be off work for a while. I'm a nursery manager and ow manages another nursery in the company but we're paired together for various reasons. She has been coming in to my setting to help out with the management side of things although my deputy and third in charge have most of it handled. I left DH's number on a post it on my desk saying to call him if it was an emergency and they couldn't get me.

DH's phone went off this morning while he was in the shower. I shouted through to him and he asked me to check it in case it was work. It was an unsaved number and the text said "Hope everything is ok with you guys. Sorry for what I sent on Friday, I was a bit drunk and stupid." I went in to the bathroom and told him and asked who it was. He then turned the water off and got out looking very serious and he said that he was sorry and didn't want me to find out yet. So I got a bit panicky and thought the worst. I hadn't opened the phone I'd just seen the message on the locked screen so at this point I did. I went to the messages and there wasn't one there from Friday but a few from last week.

The first said "Hi, hope you don't mind me texting you. Just wanted to check on DS and send you all my love." DH replied saying thanks, gave an update on DS and asked who it was. The reply came saying it was OW. DH then replied saying he wasn't too sure how she got his number and appreciated the nice ,message but would prefer it if she didn't contact him again.

She replied again saying it was on the post it and she felt like she couldn't resist texting, and that she was divorcing her husband having a really rough time and it was a moment of madness. She apologised and said she realised it was stupid but she could use a friendly face. DH replied again saying he was sorry to hear it but we had our own stuff going on and how unfair she's being to me who has handled our recent work situation so well. He said that he didn't want to upset me with so much going on and asked her again to not contact him.

There was nothing for a couple of days and then she text on Thursday saying she was sorry for contacting him in the first place and now she can't stop thinking about him and all these feelings were resurfacing. He didn't reply and she sent another one saying his stupid she is. He didn't reply and she said she gets the message and that I'm so lucky to have him.

DH has just told me that she text again on Friday night saying she missed him and wishes they would have had a chance of being together and she still thinks about him and the night they were together. He deleted it straight away and said you could tell she had been drinking because of the way it was typed and some of the words were spelt wrong. He didn't tell me because we've had so much stuff to deal with and he wanted to wait but admitted he wasn't sure if he was ever actually going to say anything because of the implications with work and it bringing up old feelings and memories for me.

I believe DH and understand why he didn't tell me. I don't know what to do about OW. She's clearly having a rough time but so am I and it doesn't give her the right to try and start things up with my husband especially after I've been so nice to her. Should I contact her or just leave it to DH to ignore her? I know some of you might think I should be suspicious that he deleted the text from Friday but I honestly believe him. We've come a very long way since this happened and he's a completely different person to who he was then, and so am I. And I know circumstances last time were different as we were fighting and probably going to break up but now are so strong and have DS.

I don't even know if I'm angry or upset or anything else because I've felt a million and one things over this past month! I'm just sat in the bath hoping for some good advice off mumsnet!

OP posts:
MaddyHatter · 08/11/2016 12:44

Kris, yes.. it is. HTH!

Kr1stina · 08/11/2016 12:45

Yes I have read the thread, the content of the calls is immaterial to the empoyment isues . Consenting adults can say what they like to each other on the phone, does your employer tell you who you can phone and what you can say ?

You are confusing two issues. How you feel morally about the OWs action is one thing. What her employer can do with the law is another .

I am not defending her actions. I am completely sympathetic to the OP.

HughLauriesStubble · 08/11/2016 12:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GinIsIn · 08/11/2016 12:46

He has already told her he doesn't consent to contact, and it is her work phone. She is using both company property for the purpose of harassment. You must have some very odd standards if you think that's ok!

KermitRuffinsTrumpet · 08/11/2016 12:46

I don't know if I've missed this being covered or if I misinterpreted your OP but I'd be having mild but effective words with your husband regarding giving updates via text to someone enquiring about your son when he doesn't know who he's texting. I found that quite worrying.

The first said "Hi, hope you don't mind me texting you. Just wanted to check on DS and send you all my love." DH replied saying thanks, gave an update on DS and asked who it was.

GinIsIn · 08/11/2016 12:48

Also from both a legal and HR standpoint the company are entirely in the right to dismiss her - harassment is a potential criminal issue and the OW has involved the company both by using their property to make the call and due to the fact that she has a professional duty of care to the OP's child.

flumpybear · 08/11/2016 12:50

wow the woman is unhinged!! do you have cctv outside your home, not wanting to worry you, but it could be useful if you need to get a court injunction out on her to keep her distance

Kr1stina · 08/11/2016 12:50

Nursery staff are allowed to have a sex life just like any other employee .

Even if their colleagues or the employer doesnt like it .

There's no point in getting annoyed at me, I'm not defending her actions. I'm trying to help Dilly but suggesting that the legal issue may not be as clear cut as everyone is saying. She needs to prepare herself that it might be complicated and drawn out and perhaps unsatisfactory.

RetroImp · 08/11/2016 12:52

Mynestisfullofempty

RetroImp What is your problem with AmyAmoeba's post and what is the relevance of the Addams Family clip?

You need something so fecking obvious explaining...? Dear God! Her appeal for Dilly to have compassion for such an unhinged, scandalous, predatory skank like OW who contacts her DH after a tragic loss is about as sensible as sympathising with Debbie the serial killer!

Kr1stina · 08/11/2016 12:52

Fenella - do you work in HR or are you a solicitor?

flumpybear · 08/11/2016 12:53

KERMIT - that text sounds like the texter knows the family, I can't see why it's such an issue! perhaps it's not the best idea to do this, but hardly worth being so worried, perhaps mention it, but hardly needs a ticking off IMO

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 08/11/2016 12:53

Kermit - I expect the update was 'He's fine, thanks for asking'. I'm sure if that was the part that OP was worried about she'll have addressed it by now.

Kudos to you and how you've approached this, you've been nothing but dignified. Flowers I hope the outcome is good and that all the other stuff has a good outcome too.

GinIsIn · 08/11/2016 12:53

Kr1stina once again, making unsolicited sexual calls on your work phone is not 'having a sex life', it is HARASSMENT.

PikachuSayBoo · 08/11/2016 12:53

Blimey. Hope they've sacked her, she sounds bonkers!

MaddyHatter · 08/11/2016 12:54

Of course they're allowed a sex life.

What they aren't allowed to do is use confidential Information like Emergency Contact numbers to solicit parents of children in the nursery.

Marynary · 08/11/2016 12:54

Kr1stina The DH is the father of a child at the nursery, not a colleague. I'm pretty sure that obtaining the number of a parent from work and sending unsolicited texts of this nature is a disciplinary issue.

Kr1stina · 08/11/2016 12:54

She didn't ask the OP to have compassion for the OW. She asked The OP to have compassion for herself ie to be kind to herself and consider her own needs

flumpybear · 08/11/2016 12:56

Kr1stina - I think it's more the legal aspect of her approaching a client, getting the phone number in a wrongful manner, and trying to initiate something with him. You can't do this with clients you work with ... for obvious reasons ...

Mynestisfullofempty · 08/11/2016 12:57

RetroImp "You need something so fecking obvious explaining...? Dear God! Her appeal for Dilly to have compassion for such an unhinged, scandalous, predatory skank like OW who contacts her DH after a tragic loss is about as sensible as sympathising with Debbie the serial killer!"

AmyAmoeba's post was asking the OP (Dilly) to have sympathy for herself NOT the other woman! Read it again, then you can apologise for your rudeness to me!

RetroImp · 08/11/2016 12:58

Kr1stina

^Yes I have read the thread, the content of the calls is immaterial to the empoyment isues . Consenting adults can say what they like to each other on the phone, does your employer tell you who you can phone and what you can say ?

You are confusing two issues. How you feel morally about the OWs action is one thing. What her employer can do with the law is another .

I am not defending her actions. I am completely sympathetic to the OP.^

You have obviously read a different thread. Dilly's DH asked OW not to contact him. Not just once. He also blocked her private number to stop further contact. She then went on to call him from a work mobile. It doesn't take complex understanding of legal issues to work out there was no consent by DH. An company does have a duty of care if one of its employees harasses what essentially is a customer, as well as partner of a co-worker.

DudeWheresMyVulva · 08/11/2016 12:59

Kr1stina the content of the phone calls will be an issue in employment, not just that she made them.Also, they were not received by a consenting adult, but by someone who asked repeatedly for her to cease contact.

The OW is all kinds of wrong here, as Fenella pointed out and her workplace have every reason to be very interested.

Kr1stina · 08/11/2016 12:59

I understand . In my example, I call a colleagues spouse using a number I obtained without permission.

I don't really see how it impacts on her ability to care for children . Teachers have affairs all the time, it doesn't mean they are not good teachers. This isn't 1950 when you could be fired because your employers through you were immoral.

I am not saying she is innocent or there's nothing wrong with what she's done. I'm just not as sure as all of you that this is bad enough to get her fired.

And I don't know why I'm being questioned on " my standards" . It's nothing to do with my personal views. This is about THE LAW.

DartmoorDoughnut · 08/11/2016 13:01

Hope she's been sacked with no references. She's ridiculous.

NickiFury · 08/11/2016 13:01

I agree with you Kr1stina .

GinIsIn · 08/11/2016 13:02

kr1stina the legal ramifications have been explained to you several times, you seem determined to ignore them for some reason.

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