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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Upset about DH seeing friend....

136 replies

felicityheather · 24/05/2019 16:51

DH has just gone out to see a friend of his and I'm almost distraught. We welcomed our DS into the world this Sunday and apart from a quick pop to Tesco's this is the first time he's left us alone.

I'm not upset because he's leaving us home alone. It's one of his oldest friend's 30th birthday today and he's having a bbq. I suggested we all popped by for a short visit or DH could go alone for the afternoon to see his friends and I meant it.

However he said he'd rather stay home with us as I'm still recovering and pretty tired.

Now however he's going out to see another friend that I'm horribly jealous of. This friend I have never heard of until about four months ago and now they catch up all the time. She's been struggling with some mental health issues and my DH has been supporting her through this. My DH has also been having some mental health challenges lately and I think they help each other a lot in this way. Initially my DH told me she wasn't keen to meet me, I think due to her anxiety? Even though her fiancé was keen for the four of us to have dinner. There were a couple of incidents a while back which made me uncomfortable. She 'popped in' once to talk to my husband, obviously upset and they stayed talking downstairs for hours while I was sort of forced to stay out there way. She was there from when I got home from work until after I went to bed. DH said she needed to talk about her mental health and problems in her relationship. A couple of weeks later she rang my husband in the middle of the night, walking the streets, suicidal. He went out looking for her and brought her back to stay in our spare room for the night. I fully appreciate that she needed support and I was happy that she had it. But all I can say is it made me uncomfortable that she is this close with my DH and in my home but we've barely exchanged names and she doesn't want to get to know me. I now feel so uncomfortable that I don't want to either. I have been honest with DH throughout and explained how I felt. I have no concerns that he is up to anything malicious but I can't trust her and feel uncomfortable that she seeks this deep friendship with my husband to discuss her problems with her relationship. I'm deeply hurt that he wants to see her and I don't know why. I hate everytime I see a message from her pop up on his phone.

He's done nothing wrong and he's been nothing but honest. He knows how I feel and he could easily have said he was gong to the BBQ or whatever. But I'm so upset. He didn't want to leave us home alone to see his old friend on his 30th. But he wants to see her for a coffee.

I don't want to take away a friend from him. I don't want to take away someone who I think he chats to about his anxieties about being a new father. I don't want to mistrust her or feel this jealous or upset. I'm sure hormones are playing a part in why I feel so hurt.

OP posts:
biggarbagetruck · 24/05/2019 18:55

I'm so pleased he's come to his senses op and realised how inappropriate it is.

You've done the right thing in not demanding anything because as much as I would probably have done, it could be seen as "controlling" or that's how I'm sure she would try and portray it to him which would only push him further away.

Plus as horrible as it sounds if he is into her in an inappropriate way, there's no point doing the pick me dance anyway. The relationship would be over anyway as he needs to want to be with you.

Good to hear that he's come to his senses for now. I can see how someone a bit too nice for their own good could be ott in helping an old albeit distant friend especially if you're not the sort to give him a hard time about it.

I hope it's positive from here on op and enjoy these early days with your baby together.

Snowfalling · 24/05/2019 18:56

I'm glad he's back and apologetic. As betty above said, don't encourage him to suggest how to seek help, it will keep him emotionally involved. She knows how ro seek help, she knew how to manipulation your dh, didn't she?

NettleTea · 24/05/2019 19:05

he also needs to make sure that when he says he cant see her, that he doesnt blame you. ie 'felicityheather doesnt want me too' otherwise it starts all the 'soulmates who cant be together' nonsense

he needs to say that his priorities are with his wife and child, that he feels she really should seek professional support, and that the amount she is asking from him is unreasoanable for someone in a relationship, never mind as a new father

NettleTea · 24/05/2019 19:07

I wonder if she said anything to make him realise, hence the 'I wont see her any more' maybe in response to you asking him to come home.

Sometimes people are so busy trying to help they dont see whats happening under their noses til its put on a plate in front of them.

ukgift2016 · 24/05/2019 19:18

OP I am glad you stood up for yourself and most importantly, that he listened!

My boyfriend had an inappropriate friendship too. We had a talk and he distanced himself from her. Choosing us over the friendship with her.

Very positive outcome. Hope everything works out for you!

Honeyroar · 24/05/2019 19:19

Poor you.

It is lovely of him to be a food friend and support her when she's struggling mentally. I've no problem WHATSOEVER with that, HOWEVER.. he cannot accept her demands to drop everything (which basically means you) and run to her aide. He cannot expect you to not meet and get to know her. He cannot put her and her needs, however much she is struggling, above his wife and child.

I would sit him down when he comes back and tell him, very calmly, that if he doesn't start intergrating you properly into their friendship and if he ever leaves you with a tiny new baby to struggle while he rushes off to her you will leave him and he can see his child as an ex husband. And if she doesn't agree to it, then she can find another friend to lean on and wreck someone else's marriage. It's not about him being unfaithful to you, but it's about him not putting you first.

Honeyroar · 24/05/2019 19:21

Sorry, missed your update, brilliant. I hope he means it. (not quite sure why he needs to drop her completely, he just needs to change things).

snowdrop6 · 24/05/2019 19:28

I wouldn’t be standing for this ..not a chance in hell.
He sees her with you there and her boyfriend,or not at all.
Probably not at all

SeigneurLapindeGrantham · 24/05/2019 19:34

5 days post partum, I'd tell him to stay with her and not come back.

Ravenesque · 24/05/2019 19:39

I'm really glad he's come back and seems to get why it's just not right. You take care of yourself and because I forgot to say it earlier, HUGE congratulations on your brand new person. I hope that now this is out in the open you can relax and the two of you can enjoy this wonderful time in your life with your DS. x

ChillaxingInMyKimono · 24/05/2019 19:41

Well done.

But the proof is in the pudding. Next time - and there will be a next time - he needs to tell her he won't be meeting up. Be ready to follow through.

In one of your earlier posts, you seem to be desperate not to make him upset.

Why? He damn well should be upset at how you're feeling about this.

Crunchytowel · 24/05/2019 19:48

Oh fuck this OP. She wants to fuck your husband, if she hasn't already. I'd be nipping this in the bud ASAP. Hubby has lived without her this long, she's managed without his sage advice so far, she can do it again. Now is the time for you and your baby, not her. You need to absolutely pull rank and be firm here, or you're going to be a single mum

Crunchytowel · 24/05/2019 19:51

Ah just read your update. Good to hear it. Stick to your guns though

EKGEMS · 24/05/2019 19:57

Don't rest on your laurels assuming he will keep his word AND she leaves you alone -she sounds infatuated and unstable so I'd keep my head on a swivel. Also if her fiancé was suggesting you all have dinner he's probably fed up to the back teeth of this situation also.
Personally my husband would be in the fucking dog house to run out to his emotional affair mistress when I was four days postpartum

MRex · 24/05/2019 19:59

Congratulations on your new baby. YANBU of course. I suspect she did or said something tonight to make her intentions plain and luckily your DH finally had a moment of seeing sense. If he did, but let's hope he did for now. It might be useful to chat about how now you aren't a couple, you're a family. That means there are different obligations and responsibilities, the baby is not your sole responsibility and he needs to step up. It may help in taking the focus off her and where it belongs. It isn't about her and can't be about her any more, it's about the 3 of you as a unit.

As for coming in your house but doesn't want to meet you - I don't care what mental health issues she has, she can get to fuck and stay there! He should have shown her the door then, nobody should be allowed to disrespect you in your own home and to your own husband.

Ilove31415926535 · 24/05/2019 20:14

I suspect there'll be another suicide threat/attempt when DH pulls back. If so? It's nothing to do with you, and it's absolutely not your fault! Stable people don't threaten/attempt suicide if someone doesn't contact them.
I think both this woman and your H have acted inappropriately, and I hope DH realises how badly he's behaved.
Wishing you a cozy, snuggly, evening with your brand new person CakeFlowers

BumbleBeee69 · 24/05/2019 20:21

I suspect there'll be another suicide threat/attempt when DH pulls back. If so? It's nothing to do with you, and it's absolutely not your fault! Stable people don't threaten/attempt suicide if someone doesn't contact them.
I think both this woman and your H have acted inappropriately, and I hope DH realises how badly he's behaved.

This Flowers

GinUp · 24/05/2019 20:25

I agree that she's quite likely to ramp things up in an attempt to draw your DH back in.

I would suggest he either switches his phone off at night or keeps it on silent, just in case he gets another one of those middle-of-the-night 'emergency' calls.

foreverhanging · 24/05/2019 20:28

Wtf he left you and his 5 day old baby to go see some woman for a coffee? What planet is he on?

PeoniesarePink · 24/05/2019 20:29

I hate to say this, but I saw a very similar situation between two family friends. They were hiding an affair - very badly as it turns out.

The fact he prioritised her needs over yours is very worrying, OP. He needs to switch his bloody phone off, and concentrate on his new family.

She's taking the piss, and he's all puffed up like a knight in shining armour. Only he's helping the wrong damsel...........

foreverhanging · 24/05/2019 20:46

Op.. if the first words out of his mouth before you'd even explained anything were 'I'll stop seeing her' he clearly knows it is wrong.

Hold him to it.

SinkGirl · 24/05/2019 21:01

Hope you’re okay OP - glad he’s seen sense but time to hold him accountable now

BrienneofTarthILoveYou · 24/05/2019 22:25

Well done Op - definitely hold him to that now.

drinkygin · 24/05/2019 22:37

Op, I’m usually a benefit of the doubt kind of person but...the fact that as soon as he walked in he said ‘I’ll stop seeing her’ sets alarm bells screaming to me. If it was totally innocent why would it occur to him that there would be an issue. I’m not trying to make you feel worse, and I truly hope it’s innocent and he’s just realised he’s been a dick. Just be wary. Flowers congratulations on your baby x

Thatnovembernight · 24/05/2019 22:52

I’m another one that says hold him to it rather than try to be laid back about it. It’s not an appropriate friendship plus she is not all alone on the world - she has a fiancé.
My exh has a similar situation but with a so called mutual friend that leaned hard on my husband after a break up, multiple threats of suicide, driving off to find her in the night etc. Two family holidays (a year apart) ruined with constant texting and phone calls. He’d say he was going to cut it back but he didn’t. There were a lot of other issues though and every situation is unique. But don’t be afraid to make a boundary. Insist he prioritises your new family.
Hopefully it’s just a weird blip in a happy relationship. Congratulations on your baby.

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