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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU about DH’s privacy after he cheated years ago

162 replies

OhSoLost · 25/08/2020 18:22

DH visited a prostitute one night around 6 years ago. I couldn’t get hold of him and he had obviously lied about where he was. I found out because of some suspect phone activity, including checking his bank statement and dialled numbers a few weeks later (yes I snooped) and then he came clean and said that he had done it once. I went back through his bank statements and accepted he could only have done it the one time. Put it down to one disgusting mistake rather than a pattern of behaviour.

The only way I was able to forgive him was because he gave me full access to everything, his location (allowed me to use the life360 app to track his whereabouts if I was ever feeling anxious) his bank statements (no large sums of money taken out ever), and his phone and email passwords were always shared and he would let me use his phone whenever. Slowly I got to the point of not having to check up on him.

I think I know deep down IABU on several fronts. ie. Why did I stay with him. Why did I need to track him and have access to everything, it all sounds very unhealthy I know. But it’s the only way I was able to get past it and trust him again. Or so I thought.

Fast forward 6 years and he’s now all of a sudden saying he feels “suffocated” because I have access to everything. I’ve read online about how awful it is to spy on partners but while he was willing and while I was able to I had reached the point where I didn’t need to anymore.

He also mentioned he would be changing his banking and email and phone password because he’s sick of having no privacy. FWIW he has full access to everything of mine too and was able to track my location with the same app. Often asking where I was or why my tracker wasn’t working for example, even though I’ve never cheated. AIBU to feel suspicious about this sudden change? It was accompanied by him saying he needs to take a large sum of cash out to give to his church. Hmm I’m feeling so uncomfortable about all of it, and obviously it’s shown me that I don’t trust him at all. I think he’s up to something again.

But I’m fully prepared to be told I’m batshit, either for taking him back in the first place or for needing access to everything or for now not trusting him despite the fact he clearly hasn’t done anything in 6 years. Actually think it will help me to be told YABU because it might make me cut him some slack and try to have a “normal” marriage from now on.

So AIBU?

OP posts:
SenorFrog · 26/08/2020 12:55

Thank you all. I guess the general consensus is that this was doomed when he cheated.

I disagree. My dh cheated 13 years ago, it was a bloody horrible time but I came to the conclusion that if I had to spend my life snooping on him then that was a marriage I didn't want to be in. We had counselling and we've moved on, the affair is far behind us. Although dh cheated he still needed to be happy in the marriage and not constantly mistrusted and punished. It's a vicious circle, you mistrust them, they're unhappy and the marriage suffers, so you mistrust them more. In the end something needs to break the cycle.

Imworthit · 26/08/2020 13:17

Tried to help based on experience and you laughed 😢

Your vitriolic and clearly suited for each other. It's so genuinely sad ☹️

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 26/08/2020 13:30

Yo don't trust him because he is not trustworthy. I think if he just felt suffocated by the tracking, that would be okay after 6 years. However, it coinciding with him saying he needs to take out a large sum of money would set off alarm bells for me.

ItsLateHumpty · 26/08/2020 14:46

Oh haha LOL OP your poor husband paying a ‘not spring chicken’ to drop her kecks and fuck him. Couldn’t he afford someone younger?

Please don’t feel bad that she was preferable to you - it was only the once so obvs he wants you. She was ‘just’ available. Don’t try and compete. Just know he absolutely really loves you. He’d just rather be with her.

Also please don’t call her again.

And yes, it he def def def got caught out the first time.

backseatcookers · 26/08/2020 14:47

@Imworthit

Tried to help based on experience and you laughed 😢

Your vitriolic and clearly suited for each other. It's so genuinely sad ☹️

Sad isn't it? People trying to protect / defend / reassure OP she isn't mad or unreasonable for finding this impossible to get over six years later and her response is vitriol towards posters and the prostitute and claims her husband is a fundamentally decent man. So disappointing.
user1481840227 · 26/08/2020 21:28

But wow the fact that no one here could ever forgive such a transgression saddens me. But I think from reading other threads I’m not the only one who has forgiven something like this and then been able to move on from it and have a happy marriage.

And why do people know they wouldn't forgive it?? because look at the consequences here....you have been checking up on him for 6 whole years after it and only felt safe and secure because you were able to check on everything. That's why...because it ruins lives, marriages, self esteem. It's not a small thing that he did at all. One mistake can have consequences on the partner for the rest of their lives if they stay with the person!

I think people on AIBU seem to detest when people either try to work at their marriage (because a marriage can’t have low times or shouldn’t need work or some other bizarre reason) or can’t stand when someone forgives a man they couldn’t. Leaving someone might show you have an immaculate moral compass but one final note from me, forgiveness shows strength too.

You're trying to work on your marriage now only because your husband has forced your hand!! This isn't your choice.
Also your forgiveness appeared to be conditional on needing to check up on him all the time to make sure he didn't get a chance to do it again!

Bluntness100 · 26/08/2020 22:27

But wow the fact that no one here could ever forgive such a transgression saddens me

What? You didn’t forgive him, not remotely. And you don’t trust him an inch, that’s why you started this thread. Reread your op, Pretending you’ve forgiven him doesn’t make it true and proclaiming it’s sad others couldn’t like you couldn’t is very odd. You even wrote you don’t trust him and think he’s up to something,

You clearly thought he wanted to shag another prostitute. That’s not forgiveness, and with forgiveness comes trust, not monitoring and thinking he’s over the side again and needing to stalk him.

Your marriage isn’t happy, he’s sick of the lack of privacy. You’re shit scared he’s paying for sex.

I’m not even sure what you’re doing, convincing yourself?

GarlicMcAtackney · 27/08/2020 00:12

Your replies are disgusting OP, sounds like you and your coerced penetration choice of scum are well suited. ‘Lol’

PlanDeRaccordement · 27/08/2020 04:06

@Bluntness100
Good post. 👏

garlictwist · 27/08/2020 05:33

What your husband did was awful but you can't keep tabs on him like this forever. Trust is defined by an absence of proof - either you trust him or you don't, and if you don't you shouldn't be together.

I have nothing to hide and have never cheated but I would hate to have a tracker on my phone. That's just horrendous! Neither of you should be keeping tabs on the other like that.

GabsAlot · 27/08/2020 13:10

ah bless he only done it once never mind-your kids will find out one day you know and mayb e think its normal as you know her parents are still together

Bellabatwings · 27/08/2020 13:29

Why are you shouldering all the responsibility of hurting the children, breaking up your marriage etc?
I’m not being rude but from what tou have said, your life sounds shit!
Your idea of a good marriage is certainly not mine!

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