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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to want to smash up a toy from woman DH had affair with?

126 replies

scarecrow22 · 28/12/2020 18:36

I met DH in 2000 and we married in 2004. In 2006 I was signed off work with depression, a problem I’d coped with for many years.

In 2007 DH woke me up one night to say he couldn’t sleep because he felt so guilty he had had an affair with a colleague - and somebody I thought I’d shown friendship to. Let’s call her G. DH said he’d felt very lonely living with somebody who was depressed and always stressed and upset about work (where I was being bullied), and that G had been a really good friend, had been a listening ear and somebody he could share his stresses with. But it went too far. He told me he had told her he loved her and was going to leave me for her. I agreed to “forgive” him, but he kept trying to see her (platonically, so to speak), using greater and greater subterfuge.

The following year we had a child, DD (now just ten!) and things calmed down. G gave DD a gift of a small Playmobil racing car with driver, she got another boyfriend, had a son, then moved away.

I’m just clearing out DS’s toys and he too has grown out of the car, so it should be in the charity bag. But a couple of years ago, for work, DH went to the city where G lives, and saw her two nights in a row. He told me he wouldn’t and he hadn’t, but it cropped up in an email by accident. One evening was a social, another he visited her and her son, alone in their home.

Now I just want DC to go back to school, to put the car and blameless driver on the back patio, get a mallet from the shed, and smash them to smitherines. And then smash the smitherines.

I can see how this is really anger with my marriage, but AIBU or childish?

OP posts:
lightsoul · 28/12/2020 19:18

Leave him he is not helping your mental health.

AnyFucker · 28/12/2020 19:19

He went to visit this woman and her son for 2 days ?

Is the child his ?

Cherrysoup · 28/12/2020 19:21

Do it, smash the fuck out of it. I’m somewhat horrified that she had the cheek to give your dc a gift.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 28/12/2020 19:22

I’d take the mallet to the H or the marriage tbh

LolaSmiles · 28/12/2020 19:22

Is it bad that I feel sorry for the innocent driver and car? 🤣

Toy aside. Your DH is has shown himself to be a liar and a cheat. He appears to be treating you with contempt and seems very sure that you'll tolerate his behaviour. That attitude is horrible and is unlikely to be helpful to your mental health.

On a few threads where it's clear a man is relying on their wife's desire to remain with the children some wise posters always point out that for this sort of man, they'll never fully step up anyway and the mum will still get most time with her children. If he wants to be chasing fancy women then he's going to want his weekends free.

You're worth so much more OP.

An0n0n0n · 28/12/2020 19:23

You can make excuses to stay with him but you aren't ok. And smashing the car is symbolic of that. It won't feel empowering you will have a mess to clear up. Deal woth the actual problem, which is that your husband has kept one foot in both doors.

anothernc4you · 28/12/2020 19:27

I’d be throwing the husband out with the car. He must think you are a real push over to keep seeing her after the affair.

PegasusReturns · 28/12/2020 19:29

I suspect your mental health would improve significantly if you were rid of your arse of a husband.

bringingonbackthegoodtimes · 28/12/2020 19:32

@AnyFucker my thoughts exactly

WandererLost · 28/12/2020 19:32

Just saw your update OP.

Like PP said, men like this rarely want 50/50 care even if they threaten it as a way to make you stay!

My ex threatened me with this. Turns out he was bluffing. He sees them 4 days a month and I always have Xmas eve/day.

Him being out of your life and perhaps having the DC for a few days might possibly turn out to be good for your mental health and give you chance to recharge a bit?

TheCovidHalfStone · 28/12/2020 19:33

He sounds absolutely awful and like he’s trying to keep you dependent on him. You would be amazed what strength you will find when you need to without him.

Mamamia456 · 28/12/2020 19:35

Why has he kept in contact with this woman all this time?

Garlicinyoursoul · 28/12/2020 19:38

Good Lord, how you’ve put up with this shit for so long and not smothered him in his sleep, I really do not know.

Santaisonhiswaytoday · 28/12/2020 19:40

Just donate it to charity. Smashing it up is a shame if it can be of use to another child and help charity.

Santaisonhiswaytoday · 28/12/2020 19:41

And yes ,throw him out , you can do so much better!!

DeftandGlory · 28/12/2020 19:45

I don’t think your mental health is helped by having someone who is a cheat, as a partner.
I get what you mean about your son but you’ll need time some time your own to get your life back, go on dates get new hobbies.

Or smash the car, wait another 8 years until your boy leaves home and your husband more than likely goes off too.

TankGirl97 · 28/12/2020 19:46

My MIL went through an almost identical situation, when my DH was a child. DH found out about the affair at the time, and told me how he smashed the toy gift from the OW. It's the only time I've seen absolute rage on his face.
MIL and FIL are still together, it happened 30 odd years ago.
So, yanbu. I can't imagine how you've felt, watching your kids play with that.

Tistheseason17 · 28/12/2020 19:46

Another one here who thinks her son may be your DH's.

PicsInRed · 28/12/2020 19:48

I have absolutely zero doubt that your mental health will immeasurably and permanently improve with a divorce.

Begin by smashing the car up and chucking it away. Don't tell your husband as he'll say it proves you're mentally unwell (I would contend it would in fact be the one of the healthiest things you've done in a decade).

Fuck your husband and his little car too. Flowers

PurpleMustang · 28/12/2020 19:49

Wait let's go back here! You forgave him but he kept in touch with her and then even when she moved away he went to see her. Yeah, he really respects you doesn't he? And for what it is worth that car would of not been in my house past the first day. As soon as I could it would of been out of sight and then gotten rid of. Smash the thing up but think of your husband while you do, not her

category12 · 28/12/2020 19:58

Your MH would probably improve greatly if you weren't having the constant cognitive dissonance between "this man betrayed me and kept doing it, and I still don't trust him now" and "I need his support" - you don't.

Whatwouldnanado · 28/12/2020 20:00

Smash the car if you feel like it. Then calmly begin to be brave, know your worth and think of the example you are setting your children. New year new start. Plenty of support and advice here on how to become independent.

ConcertinaWorm · 28/12/2020 20:01

Go for it and smash that car as hard as you want. Then think seriously about leaving your DH.

My depression and anxiety lifted after I divorced over a decade ago and I’ve had no recurrence. Sometimes we aren’t mentally unwell just living with the wrong person.

You and DS deserve so much better.

hardboiledeggs · 28/12/2020 20:01

Smash away and tell you DH his balls will be next if he sees her again!

Candyfloss99 · 28/12/2020 20:02

I would have smashed it up a long time ago. And the husband would be long gone.

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