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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:
stopfuckingshoutingatme · 31/03/2017 15:24

you have a Husband issue here, sorry often used but true

she needs to be trimmed asap, as she is behaving badly

my questions are:
why has he got her preferred beverage in?
why does he never have time for you, and does for her?
why is he fucking whatsapping her all the time? is he a MH expert?
and would he like it if you did this with a newly single man?

I would personally say you don't like it, its inappropriate for many reasons and will he stop? if he doesn't.....

and trim her , and her fucking nervous breakdown. not your problem

Sativa · 31/03/2017 15:24

Oh god I forgot about her DH ! In my mind they had split up...

user1486915549 · 31/03/2017 15:24

Apart from the fact I wouldn't trust her an inch surely she must be stopping him getting his work done ?
Bad for his business and for your marriage.
You are being far more understanding than I would be.

ImperialBlether · 31/03/2017 15:25

What sort of business does he have that allows someone to be hanging around all day?

Have you spoken to her husband about it? This will affect both of you.

I think she wants an affair or more with your husband and that he is flattered by her.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 31/03/2017 15:25

Cancel your plans to go out tonight.

Make it clear that even if he is saying now that they aren't having an affair, you need him to understand she's making it clear she wants to have an affair with him.

He needs to explain to you why he's encouraging her. Or does he not realise what's what he's doing?

This needs spelling out. It's not good enough to say "don't you trust me to turn her down?" because the answer is "why do you want to push it to the stage where you've got to turn her down when we both know that's the way this is going?"

Chillidawg · 31/03/2017 15:26

My DH and I have much the same work set-up as you. And I can tell you I'd be putting my ballistic knickers on. And not for the reasons you think.
He's there to work. It's not fucking play therapy for other people's emotional well being. It's not a fucking hang out for the chaps and chapesses on their day off work. Sitting there distracting MY DH, using up MY electricity, taking PROFIT which is needed for MY DCs summer holidays. It's work. She's not work. If she's a mate then you meet at the greasy spoon for lunch, you meet after work for a swift half, she pops in for a 20 minute coffee break then pisses off.
I take this attitude with my DH's mates who pop in.
So I'm sure you can imagine the attitude I'd have towards YOUR cling-on.

(I should also say my own DH would be shit scared of this lady, would have immediately felt it was inappropriate, would have texted on the first occasion - "Come quick, X is here and she wants to talk about feelings and that. Please hurry'. Your DH is getting something out of it although I don't know what.)

KindDogsTail · 31/03/2017 15:27

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)

She told you this week she is still unhappy, though you say she and her husband had been trying to fix things. So this information that she is still unhappy coincides with the last two weeks she has been hanging out with your husband. She is disingenuous, she is not trying to fix anything and is using being still unhappy as an excuse.

Does her DH know she is seeing your DH everyday? He would probably be very distressed by this under the circumstances.

As her DH and yours are friends, wouldn't your DH want to be loyal to him and stop letting her see him? Have you put this to your DH?

Girlonatubetrain · 31/03/2017 15:27

she has his number because we really are all friends. we help each other with childcare, have a group chat and may msg each other directly sometimes.
for example her husbands last msg to me was he thinks she is struggling at the moment so can I pick up the girls from ballet. I have no issue with the odd msg. my issue is her saying she cannot get out of bed - I think it's crossing a line. she hasn't told me or my husband she's going through a bad patch, but needs to turn to my DH?

when I turn up there - she's normally smiling. they're sitting on chairs at a desk so no way to sit 'beside' each other.
Neither looks guilty.

last saturday 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! I was gobsmacked!

I completely agree the fault does not lie with DF alone. I blame DH more. he knows her mental state. He also is the one in a happy marriage. He should be the one who has something to lose!

OP posts:
happypoobum · 31/03/2017 15:30

She is taking the piss.

No way would I tolerate this.

They are both taking you for a mug.

Girlonatubetrain · 31/03/2017 15:31

I don't think her DH knows how often they are together.
but he is so scared of losing their marriage, he wouldn't dare rock the boat.

the more I'm writing, the more I'm realising how preposterous the whole situation is!

OP posts:
Chillidawg · 31/03/2017 15:32

Reading the update, her DH is taking you for a mug as well.
No more Mrs NiceGuy.

Iris65 · 31/03/2017 15:32

Ridiculous situation. It seems very straightforward to me and every post the OP makes just drives my mind in the same direction.
OP, you've had lots of good advice 😀

IloveBanff · 31/03/2017 15:32

"last saturday 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! I was gobsmacked!"

Shock Yes, I should think you were gobsmacked! Good grief!

expatinscotland · 31/03/2017 15:33

Oh, FUCK all this 'It's her I don't trust.' He gaslights the fuck out of you, behaves disrespectfully to you and minimises your feelings. I would go fucking spare!

'She's there all the time, you have her favourite drink on hand, whenever I go there you're short with me and tell me you're busy but you have hours for her, you minimise my concerns, you put me down. You're having an emotional affair at a minimum. I deserve more than that.'

He's having you on.

Girlonatubetrain · 31/03/2017 15:33

you're right
a lot of good advice

I have to deal with this tonight
it cannot go on with me being Mrs too nice!

OP posts:
Lochan · 31/03/2017 15:35

You babysat her kids while she went to spend time with your DH?

Shock

Please tell me you handed back the kids and moved her along forthwith.

Did your DH not think her behaviour was terrible?

SingingSilver · 31/03/2017 15:35

She's even getting you to mind her dc's so she can hang out with him? They are both taking the piss.

Is there any kind of early warning system with the building? Gravel walkway, cctv, anything like that?

I think it's time you cooled off on that friendship, and laid down the law with your DH. At the very least he's getting his ego massaged at the price of your peace of mind, and it's not on.

expatinscotland · 31/03/2017 15:35

'I don't think her DH knows how often they are together.
but he is so scared of losing their marriage, he wouldn't dare rock the boat.'

Then he's a fucking mug.

Your DH needs to end all communication with her, and you do, too. Or time to see a solicitor.

puglife15 · 31/03/2017 15:35

last saturday 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!

Wow that's fucking unacceptable.

Something needs to change.

Moanyoldcow · 31/03/2017 15:35

Keep her away from your husband, be very clear. Tell him you don't want her there and tell her under no uncertain terms that it's inappropriate for her to visit him and she must stop.

She's a dangerous woman and your husband could end up emotionally attached to her even if it's not his intention.

Does her husband know she's always there? I'd tell her husbabd abduct ties with her myself - she's no friend on yours.

Moanyoldcow · 31/03/2017 15:36

And cut - not abduct!

Sativa · 31/03/2017 15:36

"last saturday 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! I was gobsmacked!"

What ??!!! This is crazy !

GoEasyPudding · 31/03/2017 15:37

Red Alert. This stops now. That last update has really, really shocked me. You had her kids and shew was with your DH? FFS!

You tell the DH tonight none of this is normal and it ends here.

You go and see her and tell her to stay away. You and you're families are no longer friends.

Rather things are awkward for a bit than this woman taking your DH from under your nose.

So angry for you right now!

expatinscotland · 31/03/2017 15:37

I can't believe you didn't go mental when you went there on Sat. and found her and your DH together! WTAF?!

Your DH is taking you for a fool.

EffinElle · 31/03/2017 15:39

Yanbu, I'd have blown a gasket by now Angry

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