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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:
mando12345 · 03/04/2017 09:58

Well done, you are a star!
I sincerely hope everything turns out well for you.

JaneEyre70 · 03/04/2017 09:59

You sound like a really genuine person OP and I hope that you can save your marriage. It must be really really shit right now, and that won't go away overnight but you have to be open to this working as does he for all your sakes. I fully agree that you have to give him the opportunity to trust him. Watching him through a nanny cam would not be doing that. Best of luck and I'm really glad that posting here has helped you xx

Inertia · 03/04/2017 10:07

Well done on being so strong. And you're certainly not obliged to sweep it under the carpet and move on- everything needs to be resolved if the marriage is to survive, and your DH has to deal with facing up to the consequences of what he's done.

One thing that strikes me is that ex-friend now has nothing to lose if she's been thrown out by her own husband, and so there's every chance she'll start sniffing around your H again. He has to be the one to totally reject all forms of contact with her.

IHeartDodo · 03/04/2017 10:09

Well done!
All I'd add is - make sure you and the friend's husband don't bond too much over this, or your husband will end up feeling hurt by that!

blankmind · 03/04/2017 10:42

Result OP, We're all so proud of you. Star

Wishing you a much better future Smile Flowers

PollytheDolly · 03/04/2017 10:51

Gosh OP. You're one strong, assertive woman. Your husband is a very, very lucky man.

All the best for the future FlowersFlowersFlowersFlowers

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 03/04/2017 11:02

OP, just another to say you fucking rock

I am so sorry you felt like you had to share messages, it wasn't necessary and I understand d why you are so hurt and betrayed. cunt, he really was having an EA wasn't he Sad

Look please look after yourself, you have had a horrible shock, and frankly right now you must fucking HATE your husband, and don't feel like forgiveness needs to come fast. tats all Flowers

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 03/04/2017 11:19

oh, and as for "Indian Barbie"

cunt! CUNT! who fucking calls themselves that? piece of shit that she is! bitch needs immac in her hair conditioner, she wont be so Barbie then will she. sorry, I am enraged so god knows how it is for you Sad

ShowMeWhatYouGot · 03/04/2017 11:51

What a brave woman! Stay strong x

Girlonatubetrain · 03/04/2017 12:16

It's funny because I have said I'm drawing a line under it and will try and move on. But also said it's likely everytime we have a big argument, until I forget about this, I will be throwin good it back at him.

Have told DH that her DH and I are sharing what we are going through and will do so. But unlike he and DF, we have integrity and a moral compass and know our boundaries. We have a normal platonic friendship - maybe they'd like to see what that can be. Have told DH I have nothing to hide. In reality, think I'm also done talking it out with her DH, just need to move on. So no concerns that we may get too close Wink

The msgs and 'even worse deleted msgs' keep going round and round in my head - have no idea how to stop them. Hopefully I just need time.

OP posts:
brickinitIam · 03/04/2017 12:18

Good luck OP.
Going by your latest post, he does sound genuinely remorseful. It seems he behaved l ike a fool who was flattered by the attention this woman was giving him and liked being able to 'help a weak little woman' Hmm
He won't be the first one to have fallen for that bullshit.
I think you nipped it in the bud.

Once again, all the best.

I hope the two of you work things out Flowers

It sounds like a marriage worth saving.

GutInstinct · 03/04/2017 12:29

Good luck OP. I would second what other posters have said wrt the OW possibly wanting to stay in touch now that she has nothing left to lose. You said in your OP that she was still unhappy in her marriage anyway so she very likely doesn't really care that she's been thrown out, or won't in the long-term anyway.

I would also say that your DH needs to be entirely transparent about any contact he may have with her, even if he's rebuffed that contact.

Remorse equals wanting to put things right and move forward without any barriers or secrets. He needs to be doing this of his own accord though, not because he's being told to. I realise that you're not telling him to do anything but my point is merely that if he is genuinely remorseful then he will know what he needs to do without being pointed in the right direction.

TipTop333 · 03/04/2017 13:15

Girlon I finished reading your update with wet eyes - I can really feel your pain right now for you and I just wish more than anything that you can both work through this and you get the happiness that you deserve. He has truly and royally fucked up. But your strength and bravery is a credit to everyone, and if I ever find myself in a similar situation I will be remembering how you dealt with it. Best of luck Flowers

1AnnoyingOrange · 03/04/2017 14:38

Best wishes for the future.
Good boundaries.
Like you say it is up to him now to live openly.
Hopefully there will come a time when you don't have to bring it up in arguments. Flowers

duxb · 03/04/2017 14:54

OP-you're pretty awesome. I hope this all works out okay for you.

loveliesbleeding1 · 03/04/2017 15:11

I wish you the best of luck,and that you have the strength to do what you feel you need to do,I think you really have coped like an absolute star.

BonnyScotland · 03/04/2017 15:45

she is a piece of work this now EX Friend ... stay focused Girlon x

Msqueen33 · 03/04/2017 16:44

I hope it all works out for you. You've been incredibly strong.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 03/04/2017 17:00

Please wish me well and pray that you never hear from me again on this topic

I do indeed wish you the best future possible Flowers As everyone's said and you realise yourself, you honestly couldn't have done any more - it's up to him now, and I only hope he means it about realising this

One thing you can be sure of though: if you ever need it, the warm support of MN will be here

MargotMoon · 03/04/2017 17:35

Good luck OP. It sounds like you both have some work to do to rebuild the relationship. You don't want to find yourself in 5 years or whatever still feeling resentful and throwing it in his face.

I think someone on the Relationships board recommended a book about this to me years ago but I never got chance to look it up as my now ex-H had no remorse or any intention of wanting to try and sort things out. I'll try and remember what it was called!

Graphista · 03/04/2017 19:08

Good luck for the future Flowers

hareinthemoon · 03/04/2017 20:01

I look up to you. Flowers

foxyloxy78 · 03/04/2017 20:51

Best of luck OP. You have been amazing through all of this. Prayers and best wishes are with you. We are always here if you need us. Xx Flowers

botwotworks · 03/04/2017 21:44

Wow, you are one classy lady. Hats off to you & I hope your marriage can survive this, that you are able to forgive DH & he can come out of the other side of this realising how lucky he is.

But do look out for yourself. Trust your spidey senses, this woman wanted you to kick DH out (as evidenced by the selfie, finding her at DH's work etc) & she'll be biding her time. I would place a huge bet that she'll get in touch with him again within 6 months or a year. Who knows how he'll react and respond......

I'm sure there are a ton of threads about tell-tale signs - the cell phone that never leaves the pocket, or goes to the toilet with him, or is casually turned upside down all the time. The web browser that gets closed as you enter the room, the "oh just a friend from work/ football/ another dad" when you ask who they were texting. The early starts or late finishes after you've just returned from holidays etc etc. Other posters could probably add more....

In the meantime, it's not going to hurt to take stock of your finances, long lost pensions, bank accounts. Keep a close eye on your bank accounts if you don't already, look for changes, larger cash withdrawals than usual. Maybe start tucking away £20 each week - it can always be used for a surprise holiday or treat in a year or two. It's never a bad thing to be on top of your finances !

If it does all kick off again, use your knowledge & take him to the cleaners. Act quickly & maximise on the guilt he'll be feeling. Head before heart.

But I hope for you that it doesn't. I was devastated when my best friend & (now ex) DH cheated, said the affair was over, then moved in with her a year later. They broke up a year after that, but by then our marriage was shattered beyond repair.

Our friendship has recovered (to the point where people ask why we don't get back together), but I couldn't trust him again ever.

I hope it works out for you xx

Fishface77 · 04/04/2017 23:48

Good luck OP.
You need relationship counselling (imo) as it is hard to get past this betrayal.
I do agree with bot, please make sure
You are financially protected. Pp are right your ex-f had nothing to lose now so please be careful.
I hope it all works out for you.Flowers

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