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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:
FixItUpChappie · 31/03/2017 16:02

Yes, why am I even saying 8 hrs?! Nobody hangs out at someone else's husbands workplace - it's fucking absurd for 1 hr or 20. I'm getting worked up on your behalf OP! Angry

DearMrDilkington · 31/03/2017 16:03

So she left her kids with you to run 'errands' but was actually with your dh?

Sorry but, she didn't need to leave them with you just to 'talk' to him. I'd be very surprised if they aren't already shagging. Sorry. You deserve so much better than this.Flowers

ohfourfoxache · 31/03/2017 16:05

Ho.ly.fuck Shock

Ok. At best he is currently having an emotional affair. He is prioritising her over you and gaslighting ridiculously.

He may or may not claim to be aware of this.

At worst- well, who knows. Personally I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

If it was DH? Fur would fly. I would be absolutely fuming and upset, probably in equal measure.

DesertSky · 31/03/2017 16:06

Put your foot down OP. This friendship has already crossed the line and it is heading in a bad direction for all concerned.
Tell your DH how you feel about it. He has to put this friend in her place and tell her she needs to be talking to her own DH and how it's not appropriate to keep showing up at his workplace. If he refuses his then you know you have problems!
I don't think it's advisable to talk to your 'friend' as it could only make it worse if she already has cracks in her marriage, one affair under her belt and mental health issues (depression). I think it would only encourage her further to seek out your DH. However, I think you should make it clear you're not happy with her presence when discovering her at your DH's office and I would completely stop running errands for her and collecting her kids!
Please don't be walked all over. Stand your ground before it's too late.

Whatatododo · 31/03/2017 16:09

Please say you gave her her children back.

peachgreen · 31/03/2017 16:10

This thread has made me so angry on your behalf, OP. Totally, totally inappropriate and your DH should have shut it down a LONG time ago.

diddl · 31/03/2017 16:11

"DH has always called her a nutter "

That's how my first husband referred to the work colleague that he was having an affair with!

TitaniasCloset · 31/03/2017 16:12

I agree with fishface put it out there on the group message board. Cut her off completely and tell your dh to do the same. If they pm after that, pack him a bag or just go ballistic. She is not a friend, she is a selfish attention seeking manipulative bitch, make no mistake. Oh and definitely an emotional vampire.

TitaniasCloset · 31/03/2017 16:13

You need to fight back now before she walks off with your husband.

Whatatododo · 31/03/2017 16:14

Yes the group message is a good idea. Do not hold back. They will all be mortified but so what?

JaneEyre70 · 31/03/2017 16:15

I've just read the whole thread OP and your last update left me open-mouthed. I'm sorry to say but they are already in a relationship - whether it is an emotional or a physical one, only they know.
He's taking her side over yours already.

I don't know about nipping this in the bud, I think you may be too late Sad.

MrsJaniceBattersby · 31/03/2017 16:15

She asked you to look after her children so she knew where you were and knew you would be busy
She knows precisely what she is doing
Agree completely with Chillidawg your husband is working
You've been nice , that's got you nowhere
You need to tackle this head on
I'd be kicking her out myself personally

Girlonatubetrain · 31/03/2017 16:15

so my reaction on Saturday
I got there and got the kids to run in first through the back door
thought it'd be a nice surprise for DH
he saw them and smiled

as we entered
she popped her head round a corner
she had been hiding
at the time, I thought it was a bit of fun for the kids
not so sure now
but if she hadn't wanted to get caught
she could have gone out the front door - I don't think I would have caught sight of her in time
so she intentionally stayed

my reaction?
I asked her what she was doing there and she said I'm just leaving
and then she walked out the front door
at a guess, based on the errand I'd run with all the kids, she'd been there a max of 20mins

I do plan to talk to her DH about it, regardless of the outcome of the conversation with my DH

ok, not quite a drip feed but to show you what a mug I am
earlier this week, I msgd her and asked what she was up to
she said X
I said
what, not stalking my DH today then
she sent a msg back saying
with a selfie of her and DH at that very point in his workplace
and the next msg said
it's OK, I'm going to work now Confused

absolutely no idea she was there and no idea how long for

so I admit it! am a total fool

OP posts:
QueenofallIsee · 31/03/2017 16:16

OP, she is after your Husband, you need to bin her off loudly and firmly. Your DH is either naive or complicit and you deserve better

SafeToCross · 31/03/2017 16:16

I would end the friendship clearly and speak to DH again saying you do not want her in your home because you are uncomfortable about the amount of time she is spending with him/he is spending with her. And I would probably let other people in yours and his family know so that hopefully someone older and wiser can help him see this for what it is. My parents marriage ended over something similar, with my df and the woman involved declaring complete innocence, however they had disregarded my DMs feelings completely. They may tell themselves they are doing nothing wrong but he is unnacceptably ignoring your feelings and if she does not back off when you tell her your feelings then she is too. Line in the sand, he doesn't see her again.

QueenofallIsee · 31/03/2017 16:18

Seriously, your DH needs a fucking kick.

ohfourfoxache · 31/03/2017 16:18

I'd be ending the friendship and would be having serious thoughts about my marriage Sad

Inertia · 31/03/2017 16:20

They are both absolutely taking the piss- I am struggling to understand the barefaced cheek of someone getting you to mind her children so that she can flirt with/ have an affair with your husband!

He is not being a good husband over this.

Fishface77 · 31/03/2017 16:22

Cheeky bitch!
Call them on it OP.
The big problem is that too often people are "worried" "wary" or "scared of appearing paranoid".
FUCK THAT SHIT!

ChippyDucks · 31/03/2017 16:23

I have read this entire thread like Shock

Cancel plans tonight, tell your dh this is unacceptable and has to stop.

If he's unwilling to stop seeing her, or to upset her, you have your answer.

Flowers
IloveBanff · 31/03/2017 16:23

Oh FFS! I've just read your update about her sending you a selfie of her and your husband!

DonaldStott · 31/03/2017 16:23

The more you update, the more they sound like a pair of cheeky twats!!! Sending you fucking selfies!!! Getting you to babysit so she can visit your dick of a husband.

Cheeky pair of fuckers. How are you not incandescent with rage?

Inertia · 31/03/2017 16:24

Thread moved on while on was typing...I'd also be amazed if talking is all there is to it.What the hell is your husband's job? How can he afford to lose a third of the working week without his business going under?

honeyroar · 31/03/2017 16:25

This is no friendship. I would be cutting her off completely and having a serious chat with my husband.

Tell him this is all making you feel bad and he's prioritising her over you. Tell him that it's her or you and he is jeopardising your relationship with this. Do not accept any excuses or fobbing off. He chooses his marriage or this inappropriate friendship. And mean it.

KindDogsTail · 31/03/2017 16:26

From your last post, about how she sent a selfie of herself with your DH right back when you asked if she had been stalking him, she is nutty and bold in maybe the way a man find find quite compelling and attractive.

She does not sound like a normal sort of female friend but more like a prima donna in your group. I don't mean this unkindly, but the way you have done as she asked with the children makes it seem as though you have been compelled by her too. Was all your help to her ever really reciprocated?

This group needs to come to a full stop now, as others have said. I am so sorry you are in this horrible position.