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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU Boundaries?

285 replies

Pomo81 · 20/03/2019 19:32

I really don't think I'm being unreasonable but tell me if I am. In short...

There's a woman my partner works with who is attracted to him. Because of this I think he should avoid her where possible. Obviously normal work interactions are fine but anything beyond that I don't think he should engage in

He doesn't see the issue or why it'd bother me him talking to her socially or sharing food/drink etc with her at work or telling her about himself

AIBU?

OP posts:
ahtellthee · 24/04/2019 22:44

I think he is in the throes of an infatuation...

AlexaAmbidextra · 25/04/2019 00:28

OP. No matter how many different questions you ask on here I don’t think anyone is going to say he’s doing nothing wrong, it’s all absolutely normal. Because he is and it’s not. But that’s what you want isn’t it? Posters to tell you it’s all ok and he isn’t interested in this other woman?

palahvah · 25/04/2019 06:15

OP, how many more times do you want to ask us, and how many more times must we tell you 'no, that's not normal'.

Playing it back to him:
You developed a friendship with a junior colleague. You've said it started to affect your judgement (telling her more than you should, missing meetings). You've held her hand, she's told you she likes you so will step away -
Your response is to follow her (daily!) On 3 different social media channels.

  1. how is that professional and not putting you at risk of a sexual harassment accusation
  2. knowing this, why would we still be getting married in 2 weeks?
0nTheEdge · 27/04/2019 09:13

Sounds like an infatuation to me too. I know this is probably horrible advice and not what you want to hear, but the wedding is looming. Do you want to marry him like this? How will that affect your self esteem? Would it be good foundations for a long and happy marriage? I think cancelling now, or postponing, would be a good idea. I'm not saying break up with him. Tell him he is being a shit, needs to sort his priorities out and work on your relationship. Win you back even. Not a break up with carte blanche to go persue this affair, although if that's his reaction then you'll know where you stand.

sighrollseyes · 27/04/2019 09:16

Would you think it was an issue if it was a male colleague?
Unless there's something going on, men and women are allowed to be friends IMO.

0nTheEdge · 27/04/2019 09:29

You might want to read a few more of OPs posts sighs. See if you think the same then...

Ce7913 · 27/04/2019 10:47

"...But where is the line between harmless attraction to others and too far?..."

  • When you engage in familiar, intimate or flirtatious behaviour - or any other behaviour specific to the object of your attraction - in the workplace, that reinforces your 'special' relationship with her relative to other work colleagues.
  • When your behaviour towards the object of your attraction makes your fiance/the mother of your child uncomfortable, and you actually tell your partner flat out that you're not going to stop regardless of how it makes her feel, because you care more about the ego boost/thrill that you get from the object of your affection than you do about protecting/respecting your partner, relationship and nuclear family.
  • When you give out your personal contact information to the object of your attraction to both initiate and encourage non-work related contact, telling the object of your attraction private family/relationship concerns despite knowing how your partner feels about your 'friendship'.
  • When you are so riveted by conversations with the object of your attraction that you put your livelihood and professional reputation at risk by missing meetings/otherwise not performing your role.
  • When you are willing to put your livelihood and professional reputation at risk and breach professional ethics, fiduciary responsibilities and/or laws in order to tell the (subordinate) object of your attraction things which they have no right to know - either to impress her or just to have something to say (or, see also, behaviour that reinforces a 'special connection').
  • When you initiate romantic physical contact with the object of your attraction.
  • When you lie to your fiance about all of this, and gaslight her about her concerns, knowing that you are betraying her.
  • When even you initiating the beginnings of a physical affair with the subordinate object of your affection weeks out from your wedding isn't a wake up call to you that your behaviour is inappropriate, dishonest and unethical and when, instead of distancing yourself, telling your partner the truth and validating her concerns, and working on your relationship, you lie to her and continue to pursue the object of your attraction. When you are only prevented from continuing to pursue an affair by her putting the brakes on, not you.
  • When you are literally weeks out from marrying your partner and the mother of your child and, having been at least temporarily prevented from further pursuing an affair, you are obssessively mooning over the object of your attraction's social media instead of redirecting your energy and efforts into your relationship and nuclear family.
  • When you are willing to put your livelihood and professional reputation at risk by exposing yourself to the possibility of a sexual harrasment lawsuit, by having flirty giggly games in the office with a subordinate, missing meetings because you're engrossed in one-on-one conversation with a subordinate, giving out your personal contact information to both initiate and encourage non-work-related contact with a subordinate, initiating romantic physical contact with/god knows what else with a subordinate, continuing to pursue personal, non-work-related conversation with a subordinate after they've told you they want no further personal contact, etc.
Ce7913 · 27/04/2019 11:43

I'm wondering why you're so passive in your own life and relationship, Pomo81.

He lied to you repeatedly, and the only reason he's not currently continuing an affair with this woman is not out of loyalty, love or respect for you, but because she is - at least for now - rebuffing him.

He still wants to, though.

He is obsessing over her, and monitoring every single inconsequential social media post she makes, and unconciously mentioning it out loud when he mentally files away for future reference information that he hears about the changing divorce laws (?!?!).

... As far as I can see, he takes you, and the idea of a life with you, completely and utterly for granted.

And you're letting him.

You don't seem to require an apology, remorse, therapy, boundary work or better treatment as a condition for him staying with you.

No. You just want to 'watch him'.

For what? What's the point?

You honestly seem almost content to just bob along and wait in the wings for him to get over being dumped after a bit and choose you by default (um... yay?).

...He's certainly content to let you - weeks out from your wedding, at the time when he should be most infatuated and in love with you, his fiance, and instead he's mooning over her.

Your posts suggest that you find an odd (to me) degree of relief in the notion that this woman has currently told him that she doesn't want to pursue an affair with him.

Your relief presumes that she is the threat to your relationship.

She's not, he is.

He is what's broken in your relationship, not the fact that another woman exists who finds him attractive.

He pursued her. He lied to you. He shows no remorse, no personal insight, no drive to address and fix whatever led him to betray you. He continues to moon over her and behave with poor boundaries.

The fact that this woman has now put up a boundary does not fix him, does not fix what is broken in your relationship.

What if she changes her mind?

What about the next woman that comes along and shows him a bit of attention?

Pomo81, I get it. You're weeks out from your wedding and you don't want to cancel/postpone. You've been together for ages and sunk cost fallacy etc. etc.

But if you're intent on staying with this man, to ever have a hope of a real, stable relationship you must draw a line in the sand.

Right now you are literally teaching him that he doesn't have to respect or honour you.

That he can betray you and take you for granted, and you will do nothing except obsess over him obsessing and cross your fingers that he 'chooses' you.

Motoko · 27/04/2019 11:59

OP will go ahead and marry him, then will be back when he cheats on her. Because it's a "when", not an "if".

He WILL cheat on you OP.

Pomo81 · 28/04/2019 21:07

Ce7913, I don't quite know how to reply but I wanted to thank you for the time and thought you put into your post. I do appreciate it and am digesting it

OP posts:
Pomo81 · 28/04/2019 21:09

Ce7913, I don't know how to reply to your post but I wanted to thank you for the time and effort you put in to it. I'm reading and digesting it

OP posts:
Pomo81 · 28/04/2019 21:13

Not sure how I double posted...

As of right now, the wedding is going ahead

I did something a bit silly on Thursday. He'd forgotten something so I drove to his work and called him once I was there so he couldn't say not to come. He came outside and I saw her watching out the window. I got out and gave him a hug and kiss to see what he'd do with her around and he reacted normally and reciprocated. Surely if he was that bothered about her or her feelings he wouldn't do that

OP posts:
oneforthepain · 28/04/2019 21:33

Surely if he was that bothered about her or her feelings he wouldn't do that

It's painfully sad to read how desperately you're trying to rationalise this. It makes no sense at all.

What else would he do? Create a scene in the street outside work?

He's not a prize. She's not your competition.

You sound like your judgment is so clouded by your desperation not to lose him that you can't see what's going on. Don't you value yourself enough to want better than this?

Hanab · 28/04/2019 21:40

You know OP .. I just wish you the best 🌷 I wish you peace of mind 🌷I wish you all that is good🌷

I hope we are all wrong and he gives you a lifetime of happiness!

No sarcasm .. just honesty!

You want this SO bad and I wish you get it all and then some🌷

AlexaAmbidextra · 28/04/2019 23:03

It's painfully sad to read how desperately you're trying to rationalise this. It makes no sense at all.

This. 😟

Aria999 · 28/04/2019 23:04

I hope it works out too xx

Crunchymum · 28/04/2019 23:26

Are you checking his phone OP? With his permission?

You know so much and I'm wondering how.

Pomo81 · 29/04/2019 08:04

I did look at it but not with permission

OP posts:
OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 29/04/2019 09:02

Crunchymum, Yeah, coz that's the most important thing in all this after all. Hmm

OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 29/04/2019 11:03

Pomo, this must be very upsetting for you. Your instincts are screaming at you that there is a problem here, but the reality is you have a young child and a wedding coming up. And you love your dp and don't want to lose him.
The stakes are high and it's all very well for posters on here to be harsh and tell you what to do but they're not going to suffer the consequences.
I think at the very least you and he need to sit down and have a frank and honest conversation. He needs to be able to acknowledge that he has crossed a line here and to reassure you so that no doubt is left in your mind that "you" are the one for him.
Do you think he can do that?

AlexaAmbidextra · 29/04/2019 13:07

The stakes are high and it's all very well for posters on here to be harsh and tell you what to do but they're not going to suffer the consequences.

Well yes, but neither are posters on here going to suffer the consequences of being married to a man who has made it quite clear he is besotted with another woman. Nor will posters be the one constantly watching him as he still obsessively stalks OW online. Posters here will not suffer the painful consequences of being married to a man who knows full well how much he has and still is hurting his partner and doesn’t seem to care enough to curb his behaviour. Neither will posters on here bear the consequences of their husband of a few months deciding that he really can’t live without OW and bailing out to be with her.

Posters on here aren’t being harsh for the sake of it. They’re being realistic in an attempt to help OP to see that she may be heading for disaster. Unfortunately, she seems hell-bent on heading there regardless. Sad

EKGEMS · 29/04/2019 15:44

There are none so blind as those who will not see. Your fiancé is having an emotional affair just before your wedding. Get a refund on your deposits and use it to move out with your son. He is disrespecting you

Aria999 · 29/04/2019 16:03

OP think of it this way.

Let's assume you don't talk to him about it. The wedding day arrives and he's still feeling conflicted.

Does he go through with it? Or not? Either could end badly.

Pomo81 · 04/05/2019 05:38

So potentially my last update, he's now moved offices so he barely sees her in the day. I'm taking that as a good sign that he's serious

He does still watch her social media stories but I've seen him now watch all that pop up

OP posts:
Aria999 · 05/05/2019 01:30

Hope it works out for you OP. Sounds like you're feeling better about it anyway 🙂

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