Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel uncomfortable with what's going on?

525 replies

Girlonatubetrain · 31/03/2017 13:31

Ok, so will try and keep it brief,

So the background
A woman and her family moved into our street a couple of years back and have since then, become very good family friends. Our DHs get on well, kids in same school, help each other with childcare etc.

End of last year, DF had an affair, her DH knows since the new year and they have been trying to save their marriage. She is unsure she wants to stay in her marriage but her DH loves her and they are trying to fix things (she has told me this week she is still unhappy to I’m guessing the marriage will end). The OM is out of the picture now, from what she says.

DF claims that the stress of her unhappy marriage and the resulting affair have caused her to have a nervous breakdown. She is on anti-depressants. I have spent many an hour listening to her being upset with her life in general and do regard her as a good friend, who needs people to lean on.

And my problem –
My DH has his own business very close to our homes. I work from home quite a bit. Over the last couple of weeks, whenever I’ve popped in to see DH when on a lunch break etc, she has been there. I have even offered to drop her home when I leave and she has said, she’ll hang back for a bit. It sounds ridiculous, but my DH even has her preferred brand of beverage there for when she visits, but not mine!

I spoke to DH about it last week as I feel its crossing a line and am very uncomfortable about it. DH reassures me there is nothing to worry about. He then started to tell me about how she’s just going through a mental rough patch and how she’d msgd him the other morning that she was struggling to get out of bed!

Everytime I pop in to visit, which is max twice a week and only for 10mins at a time, he makes out he is really busy and doesn’t really speak to me but just gets on with his work. So how can she always be there if he is ignoring her in the same way? So can only assume, when she’s there, he has time for her?

I get that she is having a hard time at the moment. I also understand she needs support and friends. It may be that she is just using him as an emotional crutch like shes used me the last few months. But . . . . I still feel that they are crossing a line and I am unhappy about it. To know they are spending so much time together (& that’s just the ones I know about) and now to know that they are PMing each other rather than the group chat with the 2 wives and 2 husbands on it, doesn’t sit well with me . . .

I love my DH and do trust him, but still feel very uncomfortable about the whole situation. DH and I have since fallen out since the start of this week because of this and are barely on speaking terms.

Im sure his reason would be I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just supporting DF and DW is blowing it into something bigger.
But AIBU to feel this way? What do I do?

OP posts:
PurpleMinionMummy · 31/03/2017 17:51

Ask him if you can see their messages. Make sure he has to show you there and then so he can't delete them, or even better sneak a look if you can. Then you can get a good gauge of who is instigating what and whether she's trying it on and he's being a naive idiot or whether he's enjoying and encouraging it.

Then you can decide if he needs a massive 'slap' to wake him up to what she's doing or whether you should ltb. Print him some info on emotional affairs too!

Good luck OP!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/03/2017 17:53

she asked me to have her kids for a bit as needed to run some errands ... I popped in to see DH with the kids, only to find her there! she said she was just on her way to the errands!

And another day she lied about being somewhere else, then taunted you with a pic showing they were actually together? Short of drawing a diagram, could this woman possibly make what she's after more obvious?? Hmm

He's very much at fault too in doing nothing to stop something which really couldn't be clearer, so I only hope he's willing to step up. Frankly, about the only positive I can see is that you no longer have to tiptoe around the issue, pretending she's just some poor waif who needs a shoulder to cry on

JaneEyre70 · 31/03/2017 17:55

I'd catch him on the hop if you ask to see his phone. Don't give him chance to delete anything. If the messages have been deleted, it's a sure thing that there is something to hide. Good luck OP.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/03/2017 18:02

Obviously it would be best to remain icily calm, but so what if you end up crying in front of him - I thought consoling upset women was one of his strengths? Hmm

I really, really hope he doesn't try to deny your distress, while being so willing to accommodate hers ...

TitaniasCloset · 31/03/2017 18:05

Ask him if he is unhappy in your marriage, if he says no, then explain that by him continuing to allow this to go on and to give support to this woman who is clearly not your friend he is being disloyal too.

I wouldn't rule out exposing her though. If its the Asian community and they talk it basically serves her right, she will have a reputation as a homewrecker.

Fishface77 · 31/03/2017 18:07

Yeah op, I'm from the Asian community too. I got the gossipy shit. The aunties talking behind their hands etc.
FUCK them they are not living your life.
Has she got in laws? Have you?
Do you get on well with yours? I would tell them exactly what's going on and ask them how they would feel if you were in DHs position. And messaging and meeting a friend of his.
Unfortunately many Asians still believe a woman is the honour of the house but this is your weapon. Use it as a tool to get them on side.
Looking at all the pp this could be make or break for your marriage.

GeekyWombat · 31/03/2017 18:09

Good luck OP. Hope your chat goes well.

Schoolisback1973 · 31/03/2017 18:13

Sorry OP but she is not a friend. She knows you are very uncomfortable about the situation and still carrying on and disrespecting you.
Cut her off and talk to your husband seriously. He is the problem as he is not putting your feelings first which is a worry. He may already be emotionally invested so he can't cut off contact with her and is finding excuses to accept her visits.
Once you cut her off, she better not turn up and visit your husband.. If she does, then you know something is going on and its all behind your back. We don't how far emotionally they're both invested but I hope its not too late and that your husband sees sense..
Good luck .x

TitaniasCloset · 31/03/2017 18:13

Again I agree with fishface.

DavetheCat2001 · 31/03/2017 18:14

I echo what a couple of PP's said. Ask him there and then to see the whatsapp messages. Don't give him any opportunity to delete anything.

I think his response to that will tell you an awful lot.

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this shit OP. You seem lovely, and if he is messing about then you're well off without him (easy to say I know) Flowers

AmserGwin · 31/03/2017 18:16

Oh my god! They are both seriously taking the piss! I would be fuming 😤

Sallystyle · 31/03/2017 18:17

They are having an affair in plain sight. Of if they aren't they are heading that way.

The friend would be an ex friend and the husband probably wouldn't remain my husband for long.

I am sorry OP that two people who are meant to love and care about you are shitting over you Thanks You deserve better.

youwouldthink · 31/03/2017 18:18

Can't get over the brass neck of your DF!. Scheming and lying. Struggling to believe this is as innocent as your DH is insisting if I'm honest. Best of luck with your chat OP. No compromises in this. She has to be binned

TitaniasCloset · 31/03/2017 18:18

If he tries to give you the 'oh but she has problems', tell him you no longer give a shit. Any normal woman with issues would not be coddling up to her friends husband. If she is so bad she needs attention every day she should go get professional help and take responsibility for own bloody life.

winobaglady · 31/03/2017 18:22

Sorry, not read the other replies...
I think, actually, that you don't trust her. As you said she needs an emotional crutch, she's told you life isn't good and you know she's had an affair. I'm sure your husband wouldn't cheat, but he's putting himself in a position where she might try something, he rejects her, and things are then worse for everyone.

ThreeFish · 31/03/2017 18:28

Oh my word!
She's outrageous and relying on you not wanting to make a fuss in public.
You need to get your rage out there.

Sallystyle · 31/03/2017 18:28

I would be more pissed off with my husband than my friend.

She's a piss taking bitch but it is him who is also encouraging her to take the piss out of you, and probably sleeping with her too.

Even if he isn't sleeping with her I could not remain married to someone who would happily play a massive part in allowing a friend to take the piss out of me.

They are both nasty and nothing could make me forgive this.

brassbrass · 31/03/2017 18:29

and why does she need attention from him specifically?

You've been just as sympathetic a friend to her.

PollyCazaletWannabe · 31/03/2017 18:31

Unbelievable! The cheek of them both. Don't let it continue, OP

SarcasmMode · 31/03/2017 18:37

Doesn't sound right to me. Why isn't he taking your feelings into account?

SugarMiceInTheRain · 31/03/2017 18:38

Good luck talking to your DH tonight. Write down what you want to say to him, firmly and unequivocally, if you're worried you'll get too emotional or bottle out at the last minute. Can't believe the audacity of your 'friend' Shock and if your DH doesn't get how disrespectful this is, then he's just as bad.

FreakinScaryCaaw · 31/03/2017 18:39

It's shocking.

An affair if not already happening is imminent.

I find his behaviour quite sick tbh. Like he gets a kick out of it all.

Look deeper at his behaviour past and present. Take the blinkers off. He's probably far from as wonderful as you make out.

ScrumpyBetty · 31/03/2017 18:42

Good luck with your chat tonight. I'm rooting for you OP

jay55 · 31/03/2017 18:44

Best of luck. Can't believe she's so selfish, having an affair and then commanding all this attention for her self brought issues -and having you babysit so she can hang out with your husband. She's not a friend.

ThatsNotMyMummy · 31/03/2017 18:45

Good luck. I think your best bet is going to be silence and let him talk.
Failing that i am another who says put a camera in his office. This sort of shit can drive you crazy.

Swipe left for the next trending thread