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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think DH could/already has cheated

89 replies

thelightside · 07/11/2019 16:36

There's a long backstory but I'll try to keep it short.

Things haven't been great between myself and DH since the birth of our DD, one thing in particular DH struggles with is the fact I'm not ready to have sex again yet. It makes him angry and he will make comments about how it makes him hate me or will joke about how he understands why men cheat.

A few weeks ago I (accidentally) found out DH has taken an interest in one particular woman who he has met through his friend (his friends ex). They are not close, or even friends, and have no spoken for years, but he likes all of her pictures and pretty much everything she posts on social media. She is also the only woman he follows on Instagram (apart from myself). He doesn't even follow his friends or family on there.

I find him doing this weird as he has always made a big deal about how he finds it disrespectful to like pictures/posts from someone of the opposite gender whilst in a relationship and even goes as far to think it's disrespectful to be friends with/follow someone of the opposite sex on social media. I don't agree but as a result of his beliefs neither of us have ever done it, until this incident of course.

I asked him about it as I found it weird, especially after all his comments about cheating and hating me etc, and he said he could see why I would find it strange but it meant nothing.

Fast forward to today, I was out with DSis when she decides to tell me she found a text conversation on her phone from my DH to one of her friends, talking about how "he gets none" and because of this, he has "no self control".

She said she saw the conversation months ago (at the time it had happened, when DH handed her, her phone back) and didn't want to tell me but felt she should, she showed me the messages and I could see parts of the conversation had been deleted. I asked if she had deleted them and she said no and that the messages had been deleted by DH before he gave back the phone.

She asked her friend what DH was saying and her friend had said he was over sharing and being a bit disrespected towards me. DSis has asked me not to tell DH she's told me, and mentioned that he was drunk at the time (he was, I was there but wasn't sitting with them when he was using her phone).

AIBU to feel a bit uneasy about all of this? Am I overreacting? Putting 2 and 2 together makes me feel as though DH could potentially be, if he hasn't been already, unfaithful.

Wwyd in my situation if anything? Would you ignore DSis wishes and confront DH? Or would you watch quietly until you had something a bit more substantial to confront him?

OP posts:
Preggosaurus9 · 08/11/2019 03:35

Being jealous and possessive about social media before baby arrived is a huge red flag OP. It shows he thinks all male/female relationships are about sex. I.e. he thinks women are purely for sex. Which is how he is now treating you.

He is telling you who he is, a nasty woman hating abuser. Please listen to him. Get out of there. You do not deserve this treatment.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 08/11/2019 03:44

He sounds like a total pig. I'd be looking for a good divorce layer. I certainly wouldn't want to have sex with him ever again.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 08/11/2019 03:48

Lawyer not layer ffs!

plantainchips · 08/11/2019 04:11

Age old tale, I’m afraid. Relationship great, kids arrive, relationship not great, not enough sex, divorce.

MyMushroomsInATimeSlip · 08/11/2019 04:20

His behavioural is atrocious. You should be feeling loved and cherished and he should be supporting you to recover physically and emotionally from a difficult birth including doing his fair share of parenting.

Issygray · 08/11/2019 05:55

He shouldn't be telling you that he hates you Andy I understand that you have had a hard delivery but 5 months is a long time and I personally wouldn't be happy either.

Satisfying him sexually isn't just about intercourse surely there are other things you could do to satisfy his needs. He is your husband and I totally understand his frustration.

I couldn't be in a sexless marriage although I wouldn't cheat but probably just leave him just saying

brighteyeowl17 · 08/11/2019 06:17

People shouldn’t feel they have to have sex to stop someone cheating, can’t believe some people are inferring this?

Tableclothing · 08/11/2019 06:35

I cannot believe some of the "advice" I am seeing. Wtf has happened to this place?

user1374384 · 08/11/2019 08:36

I've just realised that this is posted on AIBU and not relationships. I'd suggest getting it moved OP to try and weed out the awful advice suggesting you need to satisfy his needs.

thelightside · 08/11/2019 13:22

Thanks for all your replies. I have tried (and failed) to speak to him about what he can do to improve our relationship to hopefully make me feel better and eventually help me to feel as though I'm ready to be intimate with him again. These conversations make no difference and I'm met with comments like "you shouldn't still be suffering from DD birth" etc.

DH suffers with mental health so I think he is finding it hard adjusting to being a father as someone suggested, but I myself am suffering too and I just can't imagine ever treating him like he treats me, although I know everyone deals with mental health differently.

I stupidly, have seen and listened to advice on other threads similar to this, suggesting to just have sex with him. It honestly made me feel worse, I don't think it's good advice at all.

While I understand it must be hard for him, he's not doing himself any favours and I keep telling him this.

I find it hard to explain, but just the thought of having sex with him makes me feel sick.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 08/11/2019 13:27

His behaviour and words to you have been awful. He has let you - and your DC - down v badly.

If his MH is an issue he should seek help, not be awful to you.

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 08/11/2019 13:53

Do not let the way he is behaving push you into having sex with him if you don’t want sex you don’t want sex never mind with a five month old to look after and the way he is being towards you and towards other women, for me intimacy and affection are important in a relationship but there are other things that are far more vital for a healthy relationship like respect, loyalty, thoughtfulness and support, and from your comments you are not receiving any of those from him another is honesty and he may not be being that with you either and you both have to work on these things together for a good relationship if this is what you both want if you don’t or one isn’t willing to work through these things then it will never be a healthy relationship

Lyingonthesofainthedark · 08/11/2019 13:54

You don't have to let anyone tread all over your boundaries, regardless of whether they have mental health issues. And I wouldn't be wanting sex with anyone who was so pushy and hostile.

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 08/11/2019 14:00

And another is trust of corse and from what you have said about social media he doesn't have that with you either and now because of these things you said he has done yours is wavering too

Vanhi · 08/11/2019 14:59

I find it hard to explain, but just the thought of having sex with him makes me feel sick.

Then don't do it, OP. I agree with PP that he's treating you as if you're just there to service his wants (and they are wants, not needs). To him, you're an object and a possession. He's annoyed that you're not functioning how he thinks you should. It's this absolute lack of respect for you as a person which, IMO, is making you feel sick.

I do think sex and intimacy are very important in relationships. But that has to be from a position of mutual trust and caring, not from some outdated idea that men have needs that women should service. He won't die without sex. He doesn't need it. He's not interested in being loving and intimate - he wants possession. You do not have to give him this.

TowelNumber42 · 08/11/2019 15:08

Are you making excuses for not having sex rather than telling the truth?

Anyway, he's wanting to cheat so he has already checked out, I don't think it is going to last.

thelightside · 08/11/2019 15:22

@Vanhi you've hit the nail on the head.

@TowelNumber42 no, I'm very open and honest about my reasons why, he just doesn't care or think they are valid reasons, clearly.

OP posts:
marvellousnightforamooncup · 08/11/2019 15:25

Why would you want to have sex with someone who puts his libido before your wellbeing, who's first reaction to your not being ready is to threaten infidelity.

It is during these crunch points in a marriage that you really see the true colours of your partner. When you are vulnerable after birth, if you have a sick child, an illness or a bereavement etc. It is at these points when you know if you've got each other's backs. I would find it very difficult to see beyond his behaviour.

Coolwinter · 08/11/2019 15:29

Fast forward to today, I was out with DSis when she decides to tell me she found a text conversation on her phone from my DH to one of her friends, talking about how "he gets none" and because of this, he has "no self control"

That would massively hurt me. You’ve got his baby for goodness sake. I’m not sure I’d focus on whether he’s had an affair. I’d focus on why he’s being so nasty and mean and to another woman? Not nice.

Loopytiles · 08/11/2019 18:31

His sexual entitlement and lack of concern for your health, wellbeing and feelings, speaking of you disrespectfully and looking to cheat are massive red flags.

If you are on mat leave and have somewhere to go to stay, suggest doing that asap.

Couple’s counselling seems unlikely to help him reach an epiphany. Sadly some men cannot step up to parenthood and being a decent partner once a parent. There may - or may not - have been signs of this pre DC.

TowelNumber42 · 08/11/2019 18:46

I think your sister is trying to gently help you to see that you are married to a dickhead who is also a cheater.

Are you sure everything was brilliant before babies? Did he always get his own way back then perhaps?

Likeindie · 08/11/2019 18:50

@Tableclothing
Neither can I.
There is no better aphrodisiac than telling someone you hate them because they won’t have sex. Especially after a traumatic birth experience, that left them walking with crutches.

Dontdisturbmenow · 11/11/2019 14:55

I find reading threads like this so sad. Why does it always have to come up with blame and who is in the wrong?

It sounds like you both in the wrong, both ignoring each others needs and both considering that the needs of the other is not as important.

Of course he won't die from not having sex, but living with the feeling of being physically rejected by your spouse is horrible. You say it yourself, you are repulsed at the thought of having sex with him. This is extreme feelings that are just not right in your relationship, however exhausted you are.

Yes he should make an effort to be less pushy and wanting you to meet his needs but similarly, you should be reflecting on why 5 months after birth, you feel so repulsed at the thought of sex with a man you loved and you were happy to have sex with our months ago.

You are both solely focused on yourselves and totally dismissing the other one. I feel as sorry for you as I feel sorry for him. You both need to learn how to share your feelings but also how to listen to each other so you can go back to feeling some empathy for each other.

MaybeNew · 11/11/2019 15:24

Isn’t it obvious that OP is repulsed by her DH because of his behaviour ? I don’t think that she is only thinking of her own needs. I would be pretty repulsed by such a man too. The reply above is mind blowing.

AryaStarkWolf · 11/11/2019 15:34

WTF is your sister trying to protect your Dh over you? I'd be livid about that almost as much as your DH

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