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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ideas please

49 replies

LittlefairyMum · 19/01/2019 16:30

I found out my husband was cheating with someone at work.
We have two young children. One of whom is severely disabled.

I was devastated but ended the marriage.
I have always known who the other woman was and known she’s also married. I have contact details for her husband and fantasized about telling him, though I never did.

My ex is living in a small flat which is unsuitable for kids so has always visited the children at my home.
This means I never get a break. I’m constantly exhausted.

Just before Christmas our DD was very poorly and I was struggling.
He seen how down I was and offered to stay over on Boxing Day so I could sleep that night. He stayed over twice in her bedroom.

Since then, his girlfriend, who is still non existent according to him, Hmmkeeps calling and texting his phone when he’s in my home.
I know her number and have seen it flashing up on his screen on numerous occasions.

This is seriously bothering me now. Each time his phone goes off, I nearly feel physical pain.

She’s obviously very insecure since the sleepover and is letting me know he’s hers.
She has also bitten his neck, knowing he was coming to visit the children. Although they’re too young to understand, this really angered me. I feel it was done for my benefit. It feels very personal.

I have asked him to mute his phone while he’s in my home but he’s refused saying he may miss ‘important work calls’ , he has the exact same job as he had throughout our marriage and never had important work calls before or ‘important work texts’ HmmThis is her .

If he doesn’t text her back within minutes she’s texting him again.

It’s really getting me down.
She knows this is causing problems and bad feeling between us but keeps it up.

I feel so disrespected and trapped. He finds the two children difficult to manage alone, I wouldn’t fully trust him either because of our daughters complex needs. Until our youngest child gets a little older, I need to be home when he’s here. This could be 18 more months and I can’t face this torture.

This affair has destroyed my family and me. I’ve tried to be the bigger person for so long but these texts are getting in on me.

I’ve tried to persuade my ex to turn off his notifications so I don’t have to hear the messages coming in but he won’t. He has no respect for me and neither does she.

What would you do ?
Threaten her ? How ?
Would you tell her husband?
How ?

Please don’t tell me to be the bigger person. I’ve done that. I blamed him on the affair and he's lost his home, marriage and family life.
She’s got away with everything, he hasn’t. She also has my ex husband and she still won’t let me be. I feel like a fool for accepting their behavior, my nose being constantly rubbed init but the children need to see their dad so I won’t stop him visiting them.

Please be kind. I just want ideas Smile

OP posts:
Fusioluxe · 19/01/2019 18:42

I wonder where it’s coming from with her... is she nasty, rubbing it in your face (and if so why?) or is she a paranoid also-ran whining everytime he mentions he has to see his children and thus be in your house...?

The frantic texts sound like the latter. She sounds desperate.

Frouby · 19/01/2019 18:43

Tell the husband.

Start your claim with CSA before then, tell your ex you have done it that way so everyone is clear about how much and when.

Also get a friend to start texting you or calling you when your ex is there. Repeatedly. Smirk, giggle, blush and shit like that. It's incredibly petty and childish, but make him think it's another man.

Then laugh when he starts kicking off about it. Because I bet he will especially when his bot of fluff dumps him to work on her marriage.

LittlefairyMum · 19/01/2019 18:45

I don't want to protect him.

I want to protect me and our children. If her husband causes him trouble he will take this out on me and possibly our children. I'm worried about the backlash.

OP posts:
Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 19/01/2019 18:47

OP the other stupid woman is very nervous and frightened of you..you do know that right? She is ringing all the time cos she is terrified and insecure like the neck bite ...omg how childish she must be if she feels she has to mark her territory like a teenager! Laugh at it I would!! She is so insecure! She will sit there I promise you imagining all sorts going on between the two of you hence the constant ringing for reassurance,I know you are hurt but you have no need to be payback for you is the constant calls etc anything she does is screaming I am here leave him alone!! The time he spends with his kids and you will be killing her and destroying her mentally.Smile ignore and carry on sounds to me like you are a million times the woman she could ever hope to be .....she is not doing this to hurt you shes doing it to try to make herself feel better ,,,she is terrified you want him back....You are winning lovely lady keep it up! xxx

pootleposeyperkin · 19/01/2019 18:47

Stop worrying, stand up for yourself, tell the husband.

ReaganSomerset · 19/01/2019 18:48

Tell the husband. Who cares if they know it was you? I'd say it's the right thing to do, morally. Plus, if they aren't together, (as your exh keeps insisting) it won't matter to him, will it?

LittlefairyMum · 19/01/2019 18:52

She is very insecure and a complete attention seeker, always fishing for compliments on social media.
I'm way prettier. I'm no model but way better looking than her.
That was probably one of the reasons I didn't seek revenge initially.
He really downgraded. I'd say she's just easy anyway and he was the fool who got caught.

OP posts:
LittlefairyMum · 19/01/2019 19:02

I agree Sally. That's been clear for ages. I do get a kick out of her worrying. There's times she texts and he feels he can't answer her because I've flagged it about his texting when he's meant to be spending time with the children.
Him panicking because she won't be ignored, I get a bit of a kick out of that too.
It got old though.

I know a friggen lovebite Hmmbut it felt horrible too. It was a real kick in the stomach for me. I could barely look at him. I pretended I didn't notice because she wanted us to fight over it and I wasn't giving her that Wink

OP posts:
Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe · 19/01/2019 19:13

Ok then time for plan B! Make an application to CSA for maintenance for your children...change the locks and tell your ex that this plan of him visiting you is not working anymore for you.When he protests about his place being unsuitable say yes I know but thats your problem not mine I suggest you sort it...You have been so dignified throughout this its time to put your needs first now,,He cannot be interacting with the children much if he is forever on his phone so they won;t miss him.You need to put it on a footing of your choice.Maybe social services could help you facilitate a contact center so he can see the kids there until he behaves like a father and puts his children first.mainly by having appropriate housing for them to visit in safety and comfort? You have so much power here OP use it..use it well for you and your children....He should have limited say in your lives now,...

Fusioluxe · 19/01/2019 19:20

Seconding the pp poster who said you are winning. You are and she knows it.

Why aren’t they together officially? Who’s dragging their heels on that score, her or him? She sounds like the needy one so why hasn’t she moved in to his crappy place?

LittlefairyMum · 19/01/2019 19:24

You see I really don't want the children to suffer. They have been through enough and will go through more because of his stupidity.
I want him to keep contact and to keep seeing them. I don't want to give him the easy way out. I know she'd love if I told him not to come here. I'd be playing right into her hands then.

I just want to go back to how it was before the texts / calls. Maybe she's keeping this up so I'll snap and tell him to go ? I'm not going to suit her.

I just can't believe she's being so daring. Just because I haven't told her husband, doesn't mean I never will.

He's leaving soon. Will check in later.
Thanks everyone Smile

OP posts:
Iamnobirdandnonetensnaresme · 19/01/2019 19:27

Tell her husband. He deserves to know and you don’t Owe either of them anything.

Get onto child maintenance ASAP.

Record any threats about stopping maintenance.

You need a break.

Take it - they are his kids too and he should be responsible for them. You deserve and need some me time.

My husbands infidelity has made me a lot more ‘selfish’ - I take the time I need when I need it and he has to step up whether he likes it or not!

LittlefairyMum · 19/01/2019 19:32

It's definitely him I'd say. I don't mean to be mean but this girl is a serious downgrade. He just never meant to get caught.
Now he's lost everything, he's kinda stuck with her ( until someone better comes along anyway )
Our friends have disappeared or sided with me but mainly disappeared. He's been left with no one.

I'd say she's in love with him, I'm sure he's lied to her but he never had any real interest and never will. The more I find out about her, the more I realize how much he lost and how badly he messed up. She's a liability Smile

OP posts:
MyGastIsFlabbered · 19/01/2019 19:33

But OW really doesn't have it all...she's involved with someone with a proven track record of cheating.

Fusioluxe · 19/01/2019 19:38

Maybe it’s not to get you to snap though, maybe she is just getting more desperate because he stayed over. Maybe their relationship is in trouble already.

If he’s going to her and telling her that you are bothered by the texting she could have upped it (like an immature and spiteful teenager 🙄) but it still means you are controlling her life.

Living well is the best revenge. Don’t hide in your room, let him in one room.

Can you have a friend or relative round next time he’s due, to chat to and take your mind off her constant texts? It’s useful to have a witness anyway.

Fusioluxe · 19/01/2019 19:42

“He just never meant to get caught.
Now he's lost everything, he's kinda stuck with her ”

Do you think he’ll try to come back to you?

TeddybearBaby · 20/01/2019 08:14

I’m wondering if you haven’t moved on yourself. Are you hoping to get back together?

It’s all very disrespectful. There’s no way I’d put up with it. I know you said you’re trying to put your kids first and I agree with you but to an extent........ it couldn’t be at the expense of my dignity.

I know you were asking for ideas but you don’t seem interested in the ones where you cut ties with him and I’m not sure if that’s for genuine reasons or an excuse. I think the best idea would be to decide if you want to be with him or not and if not live like that (I.e kids spend time with their dad out of your home). Focus on you and moving on / being happy or find a resolution. This in between / no mans land situation is going to be really hard on your mental health x

IJustLostTheGame · 20/01/2019 08:24

Ring CSA
Tell her husband what's going on.
If your ex kicks off he kicks off and he will have arrange somewhere other than your house that is suitable to see the children for a while.
I would personally arrange things with some sort of official contact order.
And Flowers, it's a nasty situation. I would stop thinking of your ex and only think about the kids. If he is there with the kids can you go out for a couple of hours?

blacktiger · 20/01/2019 08:44

If he has to see the kids at your house, take yourself out and enjoy a break. He's their dad, he can cope.
Go get you nails done, or a massage, or go see a film. Enjoy a bit of you time.

LittlefairyMum · 20/01/2019 13:33

Thanks for the replies.

No I haven't moved on. I will one day but not now. I have zero interest. This is nothing to do with him.
He has tried it on on a number of occasions, I have no interest in him whatsoever since I found out he cheated. I have told him I wouldn't take him back in a million years. He'll be nice to me from time to time to try change my mind, then gets annoyed because I won't back down from my position.
He has never admitted to the affair and never will. This is because he knows I would never be with a cheater. If he doesn't admit it, there's still hope. There is no hope. He won't fully accept this though Hmm
I know from something hinted to me when this came out, by someone close to him, that this wasn't the first time he cheated. She wasn't the first.

If I ever meet her I will definitely tell her how much he tried to get back together with me Wink

I'm going to deal with CSA tomorrow and take it from there. I have gone through my phone and screenshoted lots of his messages threatening to stop paying. I need to make sure my finances are secure before I do anything.

You're right. I need to get out while he's here. I'm going to start doing that straight away. Even if it's for an hour, come home and go out again. That will be good for me and it'll drive him crazy Wink
Thanks everyone Thanks

OP posts:
TeddybearBaby · 20/01/2019 14:00

Good luck. You’ve been through a lot 💐

Changedun · 20/01/2019 14:07
Flowers
BirdieInTheHand · 20/01/2019 14:11

Your DH hasn't lost anything.

He's hanging out at your house with his DC doing the easy bit whilst having the OW on the side. Best of everything.

You're clearly not over him (I make no criticism) and you never will be whilst he's in your face.

You need to nip this in the bud now: CSA and no more meeting at your house. Tough luck if he struggles he can get on with it.

clemmy0m · 20/01/2019 19:25

What an awful situation, it's a really tough call as if I was in your situation I would want to tell the husband too but I do agree that maybe sorting out child maintenance first is the right thing so he can't stop it. You sound like a wonderful mum I really hope things get easier for you!

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