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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to see or speak to her again?

297 replies

froofroomcgoo · 22/04/2017 20:43

Been wanting to write this for a while but didn't have the guts. This could be loooong.

My BF is one of DH's BF. They met at uni, I met her about 3 months after he did. I was her maid of honor, she mine. DH was an usher at her wedding, we see each other most weeks. Or did.

I got pregnant shortly after getting married. She requires an operation before she can have children (well, it's advised the operation is before pregnancy as pregnancy could make her condition worse) she doesn't want the operation so has put it off until recently when she has had to organise it. She isn't sure she wants kids at all, wants to foster ASD children.

She was the first person we told I was pregnant. She was excited and happy for us, continued to see her regularly. Then baby came. I had mild postnatal depression, I was struggling with the physical changes to my body, I had a birth injury causing on going issues and my sex life was non-existent which along with my mood was causing issues in my relationship. I confided in her. DS was a velcro baby, bottle refuser and terrible, terrible sleeper. I was miserable, sleep deprived and depressed.

I feel that as a good friend she should have suggested nights in round mine, shopping trips or lunch out, nights round her with DS coming with me, walks in the park etc (which I did suggest to her). I feel she should have hugged me, listened to me, told me to buck up. I did ask about her life and the things important to her etc, it wasn't one sided.

Instead, she went out drinking and dancing with DH, invited him to child-unfriendly things, invited him to lunch, the park, shopping, coffee with DS (under the guise of giving me a break).

We used to all do a hobby together, which I can't do due to my birth injury. She'd invite DH to do that, knowing how upset it made me, she'd invite him to gigs, trips away.

DH would always ask me before saying yes or no, and would sometimes say no anyway as he knew I was struggling, but I felt bad asking him not to go (I know now I should have said when I wasn't happy.

She'd also do things such as when we were round hers, put music on and give DH drinks and start dancing, then say "I really want to go out dancing but I bet froo won't let you" within earshot of me.

It all came to a head when DS was about 8 months when DH and her were going away for an event. DH informed me he'd book a twin room (we're pretty broke) or take an airbed in a cheapo hotel. I found out the night before that he's booked a naice hotel with 4 poster bed (though it was cheap!) we had a massive row and they didn't go.

We discussed it afterwards and DH did admit that he and DF had been getting close, he's been confiding in her and enjoyed spending time with her and could see it wouldn't take much for him to start having inappropriate feelings for her. He admitted his behaviour had been out of order and we discussed the issues in our relationship and are working on those.

DH maintains that DF didn't know about the hotel and I shouldn't blame her. I pointed out all the issues above and told him I felt she had been a poor friend to me, and had been undermining our relationship by listening to me about how I felt and things that were going wrong and then using them to get close to DH. DH admitted that he hadn't seen it that way but could see my point and that that meant she wasn't a good friend to him either.

Unfortunately she is part of a wider close friendship group, making it very hard to cut her off completely. I've seen her maybe 6 times since this incident. I'm polite but cool. The rest of group don't know about any of this. DH is still maintaining a friendship with her, though made the decision himself not to see her alone at all, or without me where possible.

He feels over time I should forgive her and move on. I don't want to. There is history of her doing similar things and this is just the final straw. I don't want her in my life. It's been about 9 months now.

DH and I have been working through things and things have been pretty good. I haven't fully decided if I can get over what he did, I do believe it to be an emotional affair and I'm not sure I can forgive him, but I'm trying.

AIBU to never want too see her again? And certainly not consider her a friend?

I think we're doing well and then I find that last night, when out with work and drunk, he text her. He clearly wanted to see her (I don't know what he text, just her response of "I'm not out tonight" when it flashed up on his phone screen.) and know I'm thinking does he still have feelings for her?

I hate this!

OP posts:
whattheactualfudge · 23/04/2017 11:26

Has anyone considered the possibility that something may already have happened between them? I'm not trying to upset OP, but you mention they have already been to 'events away??'

Tulipsaregold · 23/04/2017 11:28

I think it's obvious. Probably in not so great places hence the lovely four poster

Miscella · 23/04/2017 11:41

Froo - just read your last post. You sound very sensible and level headed to me. Can't stand theses threads where posters pile in declaring they 'know' what has happened. No they bloody don't, unless one of them happens to be your dh!

It's a shit situation. Good luck, I hope things work out.

whattheactualfudge · 23/04/2017 11:42

OP with the greatest of respect & empathy...I think you're partially in denial! In denial of the fact that your marriage is clearly over. I know it's soul destroying, especially with such a young baby involved, I know how you feel right now. But you have to accept it.

If what you've told us all is correct then the evidence is inconclusive. You will never ever ever be able to fully trust him again. And that will give you a lifetime of worry, panic & anxiety causing absolute distrust. Nobody deserves that.

None of us are telling you what to do. We are just trying to be the clarity within the fog.

Good luck x

Huskylover1 · 23/04/2017 11:58

She's no friend of yours. She sounds utterly vile.

I have no clue why you are still with him. He has shagged another woman, not only that, but someone in your friendship group. (Sorry, but no-one books a four poster to share with a platonic friend)

You have tried to work on your marriage, but he is still trying to hook up with this OW. I know it's hard, but I would leave him now. And of course tell OW husband...why are you protecting OW?

Tulipsaregold · 23/04/2017 12:00

To be fair to op this is her reality and the only one she knows.
As I said before though I dont see how you can counsel someone out of looking elsewhere for love though.

Feelings are feelings. I guess the only way he would know is if he is given the choice - me or her.

Which the op could only do properly by leaving him, would be be prepared to start a new life elsewhere? Away from these people and Her the OW? Is he happy and contented in just the family unit? It seems to be he is trying to escape from it and is dreaming about four poster beds and someone else...

Op when I had my first I couldnt have sex for a year - due to the emotional issues I had round the birth, DH never ever looked at another woman in that time or even made any issue of it at all. It was literally all hands on deck to get us through the first year anyway.

GloGirl · 23/04/2017 12:02

Did you say she text him in reply yesterday? Do you know what he text her to cause the "I'm not out tonight" message?

Trifleorbust · 23/04/2017 12:44

It is so sad to see that the advice you took away from your first thread was that the main issues were PND and co-sleeping. It is so sad to see that you think your friend is 'more fun' than you. Fuck that! He made vows, he had a child and then he (almost certainly) cheated on you in the most hurtful way possible. He is a grade A cunt, OP. This is not your fault.

froofroomcgoo · 23/04/2017 12:44

tulips DH would have 50/50 custody so would pay for childcare on his days. DS is currently in nursery full time and we pay 50/50- both have childcare vouchers and both have separate direct debits for half the rest. That wouldn't change.

OP posts:
Tulipsaregold · 23/04/2017 12:47

Op thats great you have your financial independence, I am just thinking for the worst case scenario if you have another woman on the scene ie your friend who starts to resent paying for your child, says DH doesn't have enough to support the child etc. If they go on to have a dc together etc things change.

froofroomcgoo · 23/04/2017 13:00

Tulips what would i need? We currently have financial transparency, i know how much he earns, what savings he has (aided by us recently remortgaging and having to show evidence etc).

OP posts:
froofroomcgoo · 23/04/2017 13:00

Tulips what would i need? We currently have financial transparency, i know how much he earns, what savings he has (aided by us recently remortgaging and having to show evidence etc).

OP posts:
froofroomcgoo · 23/04/2017 13:01

That wasn't meant to sound arsey, more asking for advice!

OP posts:
Epipgab · 23/04/2017 13:09

I know you don't want to do what random people on the internet suggest, but what would it take for you to decide to LTB once and for all?

toomuchtooold · 23/04/2017 13:20

The DH is the one to be angry at, but included in that is that if you never want to see her again, DH should be willing to agree to that. If he really wants his marriage to recover and continue, cutting down contact with this woman should be the first way he starts to show his good faith and restore trust.

toomuchtooold · 23/04/2017 13:28

Oh sorry ignore me, didn't RTFT.

Msqueen33 · 23/04/2017 13:30

From what I can gather you've said it's made you uncomfortable before and he's seemingly listened then booked a hotel with a four poster bed?! And won't cut her off. Honestly it sounds like he values her over you and you can do better.

Sample1936 · 23/04/2017 13:46

Just to say i gound breast feeding extremely isolating from my previous life friends and activities. She isnt a parent and youve changed so much she has no idea.
You could tell someone about it but unless they've gone through it they would not truly know.
Take control of the friendship and initiate stuff more or find new friendships with other mums.
Tbh id be more pissed off at my husband for going out so much with her and leaving you alone as he should know what its really like.
Your bf probabbly feels you've changed and the things you've had in common no longer work. She probably feels like she lost you. But your husband is still there for her a bit more because he isn't tied to the breastfeeding thing.
Id try harder with different bottles because personally it made me too lonely. No nights out or trips away etc for 3 years.

I would direct this hurt at your husband not her as she isnt a parent and her interests and lifestyle hasn't had the change that yours had.

Tulipsaregold · 23/04/2017 13:53

Just stuff copies yourself - there is a thread on here right now - how do I stop ex reducing maintenance I admit I have not read that particular thread but there are always threads on same theme here.

Paper trail, copy of wage slip> proof of wage on bank statement etc, stuff like that.

How was he going to pay for this hotel room> How would he have done it without you finding out.
If your ever in a position where he tried to wriggle out of paying something - you can say " here - is a statement of X his wages, his spending on his hobby in fact in writing....".

I totally trust and Love my DH and he adores our girls. Right now I trust him implicitly. But I am not silly, my own DP broke up to DF having an affair - i know how nasty and petty things can get.

If I were ever in your situation I would simply be gathering evidence should I ever need it. Men /people change, start new families, the old one is secondary in their minds...they are not around the dc as much as say the new dc, the new woman may cause issues...one never ever knows. I mean whilst I trust DH now, should something ever happen I know there is a "possibility" he may not remain with me the same fair and lovely wonderful man.

Its sad - but true. Its not even other partners - even solicitors get people to view things in very cold hard money terms....Your dh may leave you and say " let op stay in the house" but the solicitor may encourage he pushes for x due to that. And so on.

expatinscotland · 23/04/2017 14:09

'When confronted he did own up straight away and said it was him not her etc. He doesn't think she's done anything wrong. He does think he's done something wrong.'

No, he did damage limitation because he got rumbled. He's never owned this, hence, thinking she did nothing wrong, calling for you to forgive and 'move on', still hanging round her, he is still chasing her! What will it take for you to see this? He is cheating on you. 'Good dad' my arse! You gave him an inch and he took a mile. He still is.

Her husband needs to know.

You gave him a chance and he's blown it.

The ball's in your court, but he's cheated on you, is cheating on you and he won't change. No matter what he was like before, this is who he is now.

And yy about the bed. He was already shagging her.

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt.

KateDaniels2 · 23/04/2017 14:49

The Op says seeing the 'friend' recently and seeing the text on dhs phone from her has triggered her feeling upset.

But at some point she has to acknowledge that neither of these triggers are the OWs fault.

The dh doesnt want to stop being friends with her so why shouldn't she be there when their group meets up. Even if he did want to cut contact, they both behaved badly, she isnt going to automatically give up her friends.

The husband clearly text her first and she replied that she wasnt out. It actually sounds like a brush off. HE text her first.

But the OP is directing most of her anger to her. At some point when she is ready, the op will realise where the anger needs to be directed.

LadyGlitterSparklesSeriously · 23/04/2017 14:58

Bet you anything they're shagging.

I think you owe it to yourself to actually find out before you embark on saving your marriage, again. Note it's just you trying to save it, though. He's too busy sniffing round another woman.

froofroomcgoo · 23/04/2017 15:53

Those that are asking what it will take for me to leave him, and why am i not angry at him. I am angry at him. People can be angry without jumping up and down screaming.

Will I leave him? Maybe. I plan to gather evidence, sort out my options and talk to him. When I do leave him, it will be planned and organised. I'm not going to kick him out and change the locks. I'm not going to drag friends and family through the mud too.

I have DS to think about, and me hating his dad, kicking him out, screaming at him is not in DS's best interest. Neither is animosity to OW. If they do end up together she'll be DSs stepmum. He'll love her and live with her and me being horrible to her or about her will not help DSs relationship in any way with anyone.

I'm a naturally calm, logical and organised person.

DS is now 18months, still breastfed but not dependent on it.

And again for those asking, we have a joint account for bills and individual accounts for spends and savings. DH paid for the hotel out of his spends as it wasn't a joint expense. I don't agree with totally joint finances (or totally separate).

OP posts:
KateDaniels2 · 23/04/2017 15:59

Have you asked what he text her?

froofroomcgoo · 23/04/2017 16:02

Kate not yet, I'm out. Going to talk to him tonight once DS is in bed.

OP posts: