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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:
Friday999 · 02/04/2017 11:44

Springflowers - so what's your advice to the OP?

PollytheDolly · 02/04/2017 11:48

Springflowers. That's incredibly unhelpful. I do understand your point but everyone cocks up. OPs DH certainly has! OP knows her situation best and has dealt with it in a very assertive manner. Her DH and her DF know where the land lies now.

I hope it works out for her.

MrsJaniceBattersby · 02/04/2017 12:01

I think Op is more than capable of judging what is best for her and her family SpingFlowers 🙄

thatdearoctopus · 02/04/2017 12:02

Hmm, not sure I'd class this as a cock-up. This has been a sustained course of action over a period of time, with sulks and silences when the OP has ventured to bring it up before.
Still, hopefully he's seen the light now and will kick his "Indian Barbie" into touch.

shineon · 02/04/2017 12:52

Wow op what a crappy situation. I really hope your ok. You have been really brave

springflowers11 · 02/04/2017 13:25

Springflowers. That's incredibly unhelpful
springflowers that's incredibly harsh and not your decision to make.
I think Op is more than capable of judging what is best for her and her family SpingFlowers

maybe you should actually read the OP ad then you would see the Op asks for advice on what to do!! So who the fuck are you to tell me not to do so!!
The man lied to her face last week when she asked him about her, he made a comment a few weeks ago saying if they ever got divorced he wouldn't fight her for the children- a sure sign of a guilty conscience!
People don't change ! Does the OP really think her silly message checking scheme is going to stop them finding another way to communicate.

PollytheDolly · 02/04/2017 13:30

So who the fuck are you to tell me not to do so!!

Did you not read my whole post to you or just picked out the bit you couldn't see past.

Itsnotwhatitseems · 02/04/2017 14:03

Well done Op, you are a strong woman, I hope this moves on to a happy ending for you. DH needs to treat you with the respect and love that you deserve. xx

GutInstinct · 02/04/2017 15:33

Ridiculous suggestions on this thread. Install a nanny cam? Go and work in his office to make sure she's not there? Put something on the computer to be able to see their whatsapp messages?None of this is going to save the relationship. Yes, there needs to be transparency from him, no hiding his phone, no contact with the OW, but all of this needs to happen because he wants it to happen, not because she sits on his shoulder making sure that it doesn't.

If he wants to carry on the affair he will find a way to do so. Installing spying apps and nanny cams is only going to lead to the OP becoming more paranoid and having to constantly reassure herself.

PollytheDolly · 02/04/2017 15:43

Completely Gutinstinct.

FairytalesAreBullshit · 02/04/2017 15:48

I know it's hard when you know a woman has been unfaithful and she's lingering around your DH. You need to ultimately trust your DH, as you should have faith in him that he would never do anything like that. Maybe she's lonely, DH is a good listener and offers a male perspective.

Flowers try not to over think it and wind yourself up. You don't want to ruin your marriage due to insecurities, unless you have a just cause.

brickinitIam · 02/04/2017 15:57

I agree with Springflowers.
People think they're being helpful by telling the OP what she wants to hear, which is all very well and good and kind hearted, but it also doesn't hurt to remind the OP that there could be more to this than meets the eye and it's a case of:

'You have handled it well, but be vigilant in future'

As somebody pointed out, there are a lot of women who choose to fogive and in some cases ignore their husband's emotional and physical affairs, but there are also, Thank God, women out there who refuse to put up with that shit and won't settle for a compromise.

Only OP knows which group she falls into.

thatdearoctopus · 02/04/2017 16:04

You don't want to ruin your marriage due to insecurities, unless you have a just cause.

Have you not read the OP's latest updates? She has just cause!

GlitteryFluff · 02/04/2017 16:07

Hope you're ok OP

WatersofLife · 02/04/2017 16:30

OP, I doff my cap to you. You did so very well. I particularly like the sitting around the table conference and laying it all out there. No secret insipid convos, no messaging OW back and forth, no nail biting. You handled it all so well, although I know you must have been dying on the inside. You came out trumps! I'm sure they are have a brand new Respect for you.

Last but not the least I love the winning culture card you played! that SHE had more to lose in the community than you, that must have put the fear of God in her.

Friday999 · 02/04/2017 16:47

Agree with Gutinstinct - all this has to stop because he wants it to stop, not because the OP is watching his every move.

I say this because I've been in this situation myself, my DH simply didn't want to stop, even though he pretended he did. He just carried on. I''m now married to someone else .....

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/04/2017 18:40

all this has to stop because he wants it to stop, not because the OP is watching his every move

Wise words, Friday Smile

Girlonatubetrain · 03/04/2017 08:20

Morning All

Likely to be the last post from me, just wanted to give you a final update.

I’ve read all the msgs, and even though some are not necc the way I wish to take things fwd, I understand them and would probably have said the same to a friend – so to each person who had taken the time to think about my situation and give me their take – thank you. I have read every msg, I’ve been regularly checking in and all your comments have helped me both strengthen my resolve but also read the riot act to my husband on many an occasion, over the last 72 hours.

So DFs DH finally grew a spine on Saturday morning and has thrown her out of the house. He has sent her back to her parents and again indian community thing, has told her to explain to them why she is back. She obviously kept begging and begging that nothing had happened and she would fix this. At this stage, he has no idea whether he even wants to save his marriage, never mind taking steps to try. Apparently she is more distraught at losing my friendship than losing my DH which I do believe. She had genuinely become one of by BFFs – more fool me! To be clear – that ship has sailed.

Saturday – daytime I dropped the kids to DS (she doesn’t know anything) and then went to DFs house. It was just her DH and I. We cried together. We shared. We swore. We shouted. Right now, he is the only one I can talk to this about. I love my DH and if I want to fix this, then I cannot and will not talk about this to other people and let their opinion of him drop. That will only cause me shame and embarrassment, which will inevitably cause me to throw him out. Which at the moment, I don’t want to do. Her DH does not think this emotional affair is as bad as what she’s done previously an therefore seems more accepting of it. For me, this is bad. No minimising. DH did wrong and is a total and utter cunt.

If the msgs I have seen were the sanitised version, just knowing there were others that were worse enough to delete crushes me. I have had some huge huge cries. I am so hurt - I can feel physical pain. My entire world has crumbled. I am broken. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

DH and I have had many many conversations. (me screaming shouting etc.). I believe it was an emotional affair but didn’t manage to get to physical, and I know it’s only as I caught it early enough. I have called DH every name under the sun and laid my soul bare to him. I have known this man 16 years and I know and can see, he is disgusted with himself. I have shown him examples of when I needed him and he ignored them. Yet he wanted to build the confidence of a slut. He admits he thought I was strong and she was weak so he felt wanted. What a fucking cliché. I am strong because of this breakdown in 2009 and what I had to go through then to save our lives. So don’t even think about pulling that card.

I have not held back and think I have somewhat broken him. I don’t care. He has said that this is the 2nd lowest point in his life, the 1st being when he had his first breakdown in 2009. This is not my intention, but I will not hold back to make him feel better. DF and DH have made their beds. These are the consequences.

DH says he wants to save the marriage and that DF was a game, nothing more. If I want to save our marriage, I have to take his word. I don’t trust him yet but he needs to gain that trust back.

Nanny cam etc. doesn’t build trust, for me, it would just feed the mistrust.
I have decided to neither track his phone nor install a way to view his msgs.
He has to now make his life an openbook – he accepts this.
I am willing to try and give us another chance, the onus is on him to fix us.
Please wish me well and pray that you never hear from me again on this topic x

I have been member of mumsnet for 10 years but have very rarely ever posted. But you women are stars and have been my rocks.

Thank you from the bottom on my heart.

OP posts:
ohfourfoxache · 03/04/2017 08:41

Girl that is one incredible update Thanks

Your approach is calm and measured and thoughtful. When you look back at this time- regardless of what happens now- I hope you can tell yourself that you did everything you possibly could and that you did everything "right" (for want of a better word!)

I just want to wish you the very best of luck Thanks

springflowers11 · 03/04/2017 08:48

Great update. I wish you all the best.Oner thing I would say is that you need to draw a line under it now and move on.You won't be able to repair your marriage if you keep bringing it up

GeekyWombat · 03/04/2017 08:49

Nothing to add here OP except good wishes for the future and the outcome that you hope for.

Flowers
LineysRun · 03/04/2017 08:51

Best of luck from me, too Flowers

CalmItKermitt · 03/04/2017 09:46

I'd say well done - and I have to disagree with Spring flowers; you bring it up and thrash it out as often as you feel you need to!

thatdearoctopus · 03/04/2017 09:51

I disagree with springflowers too. Whilst it's not a good idea to keep throwing it in his face all the time, you ought to be able to bring it up if it's bringing up feelings for you. He can't expect you to STFU just so he can forget about his poor behaviour.

xStefx · 03/04/2017 09:57

Best of luck to you both OP. DF had what was coming to her. Glad her DH grew a backbone x