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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My DH has been messaging another woman!

322 replies

Cheated85 · 16/05/2022 11:41

So my DH has been messaging another woman. I found out at the weekend. We’ve had no problems and thought we were happy. The woman in question is another mum from school who is renowned for this sort of behaviour and I can’t believe my DH has done this. I feel sick just typing it out. He hasn’t slept with her and I do believe that as I’ve no idea when this would have happened. I caught him because a message popped up from someone on his phone with a name I didn’t recognise (he’s changed her name) and asked him about who it was and I could tell by his face and he then was completely honest about the messages. Showed me everything etc. He says he’s no idea why he was doing it and what he thought would have come of it if I hadn’t found out. I’m devastated at the thought of breaking up our family unit and don’t want this for our children. He says he doesn’t want that either and will do anything to avoid that. What I’m asking is, if you’ve been through this, have you been able to move on and be happy? I feel like the trust has been broken and unsure how I can get over it? I’m embarrassed to admit this is also very much about pride. I can’t cope with the thought of people talking about me. I don’t want to let my family down and just can’t imagine life not like it is now. I know that’s ridiculous but I’m finding it so hard to make a decision on what to do for the best.

OP posts:
blueagain · 16/05/2022 19:36

@Zippy1510 that’s a brilliant plan. Stick the worst minge photos with her name all over it and write “she’ll send these to your husband so he warned. She can’t keep it in her pants”

glitterfarts · 16/05/2022 19:41

Ask him to move out for a month to give you space to breathe.

Tell her husband. Tell her you know, she is vile and block her everywhere.

The younger kids are, the easier it is logistically to leave. Harder as they get older into exam years etx.

For me, I'd kick him out and get rid. Without trust, there's nothing and I couldn't live wondering what he is doing, who he is doing, every time he's out of your site.

He deliberately hid this under a fake name. It wasn't an accident. It was deliberate. He just didn't think he'd get caught. The disrespect is unbelievable.

He's not the man you think you're with.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/05/2022 19:41

@Zippy1510 @blueagain

On the off chance you're being serious or really do think that would be a good idea, it's a criminal offence so not the best way for OP or anyone else in a similar boat to make a point as it could end in a criminal conviction. Which wouldn't be worth it.

FlissyPaps · 16/05/2022 19:49

Id also avoid publicly announcing it or sticking up any nude photos of her, (it isn’t a brilliant idea).

  1. revenge porn. Illegal.
  2. humiliation for her H and children. Why do they deserve that?

If you want to tell her H, tell him in private. He deserves the dignity that the OP’s H should have given her in the first place.

2 wrongs don’t make a right, sadly.

IncompleteSenten · 16/05/2022 19:53

If my husband was swapping explicit images with another woman it's his genitals I'd be making into a charity calender, not hers.

Men fucking LOVE this shit. Have the women blame each other and treat him like the powerless victim of the temptress, stolen, unable to resist and what was the really fucking ridiculous one? A silly man? 🤦

Fuck
That.
Shit.

Seriously. Fuck it up the arse with a pineapple. We need to stop pretending men aren't fully responsible for their choices.

Every message was a choice.
Every picture was a choice.

How many times does an unfaithful man choose to shit on you? And then they claim it was a mistake.

No love.

It was however many individual message 'mistakes,
however many individual photographic 'mistakes'.
And in many cases, the man also many a large number of penis insertion 'mistakes.'

Onwards22 · 16/05/2022 19:57

On the off chance you're being serious or really do think that would be a good idea, it's a criminal offence so not the best way for OP or anyone else in a similar boat to make a point as it could end in a criminal conviction. Which wouldn't be worth it.

I hope they’re both joking!

As not only is it illegal and disgusting that they think a womens naked body should be posted in public because she ‘deserves it’ but they’re also forgetting that OPs DH also has sent photos which can easily be posted too with the exact same comment about not being able to keep it in his pants and he’ll try it on with married women.

SpritzingAperol · 16/05/2022 20:03

Sorry this has happened to you. I just came on to say, you don't have to make a decision right now about what to do. Give yourself as much time as you need. Your decision may end up being influenced by how he behaves in the meantime. See how you feel in a month's time, in 3 months. Meanwhile, check out your financial situation, consider if you need to rethink work/study, and make sure you have his financial info at your fingertips (pension, wages, savings etc). Get legal advice so you know what you will be looking at if you split up. You can tell him you'll let him know once you've decided, but that may not be for a while.

This👆

You don't have to do anything in a hurry or make any big decisions. BUT if you feel angry BE angry.

justfiveminutes · 16/05/2022 20:13

I think you must take as much time as you need to make a decision. Don't let him guilt you into making a decision even though you want to forgive him so everything can go back to how it was before.

I forgave xh for something similar because I just wanted everything to be ok again. Of course, it couldn't be ok again because he had spoiled everything. I fell out of love with him because his behaviour repulsed me. I would look at him in the night and wonder whether I could pretend to be ok forever, for decades, until I died.

In the end I instigated the separation and divorce. I knew I'd rather be alone than waste my life on someone so disrespectful and disgusting. I also knew I'd always be waiting for it to happen again.

Notbeinfunnehbut · 16/05/2022 20:21

Your husband made his vows to you so he is more to blame here

BUT from what you said about her marriage, her husband needs to know bless him, obviously very promiscuous, do he can at the very least get tested, he needs the truth to protect himself.

watchingrnfire · 16/05/2022 20:35

Tell her husband! She's ruined your life. Regardless of whether you decide to forgive your dh or not, you must tell her dh so he's aware of what his wife is like. She should know she can't go ruining other families and have her own happy family

watchingrnfire · 16/05/2022 20:39

Comments about most men are like this. No they are not.

PurpleFlower1983 · 16/05/2022 20:42

They’re both vile. I would tell her husband and kick yours out.

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 16/05/2022 20:43

To be blunt.
Your husband chose to put the happiness and security of his family at risk, to send dick pics to another mum at your children's school.
You don't have a other women problem.
You have a cheating husband problem.
This woman owes your family nothing, your husband had everything to lose and he chose to risk everything because excitement and sexual gratification meant more to him than you and your children's happiness!

insatiableme · 16/05/2022 21:00

I think you really need to tell this woman's poor husband what is going on. They have both done wrong. But the husband needs to have the choice to make the decision if he wants to leave also.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 16/05/2022 21:08

Onwards22 · 16/05/2022 19:57

On the off chance you're being serious or really do think that would be a good idea, it's a criminal offence so not the best way for OP or anyone else in a similar boat to make a point as it could end in a criminal conviction. Which wouldn't be worth it.

I hope they’re both joking!

As not only is it illegal and disgusting that they think a womens naked body should be posted in public because she ‘deserves it’ but they’re also forgetting that OPs DH also has sent photos which can easily be posted too with the exact same comment about not being able to keep it in his pants and he’ll try it on with married women.

I really hope so too, it's worrying people are so quick to suggest such things.

yestosummer22 · 16/05/2022 21:27

I do think that everyone suggesting OP prints the nudes and displays them all over town are joking and saying that for a laugh.
Stop taking life so seriously everyone .. I'm sure OP is smart enough to not do such a thing

Good luck op with your decision. It's not an easy one.
I hope the bastard sleeps on the sofa for now xx

Whatever00 · 16/05/2022 21:37

You seem to be very focused on your anger towards this woman. I think your anger is misplaced. Your OH took her number. He saved it under a fake name because he knew it was wrong. He engaged in illicit conversations with her. He sent pictures of his nob 😣probably while you were looking after your kids or doing some mundane task that benefited him or your kids. He got caught and is trying to save his bacon. Only be knows if he fucked her. It only takes a few minutes so it's entirely possible. He swore on his kids lives. We'll I wouldn't bet my health on it, if I was you I'd get down the clinic for a checkup. If you can't trust him on the school run I'm not sure where you can trust him.

Dimondsareforever · 16/05/2022 21:41

Take your time op. No need to make any rash decisions.

Do arrange to meet her (away from school). Ask her what was she doing sleeping with your husband … check for her reaction. That should tell you if more went on or not. Try and trip her up … basically look for flaws in the story he has told you.

I would also let her husband know. Why should your life be destroyed and hers continues as normal? I understand it will devastate him. But by the sounds of it, this isn’t the first time. So it’s only fair he knows.

But - Don't do anything rash in regards to your husband. Your are in crises mode right now and you can’t think clearly. Give yourself time. You will slowly start to think more clearly in a few weeks.

Take care op.

a1poshpaws · 16/05/2022 21:47

Cheated85
I know you’re all right, and I’d normally say the exact same thing but it’s so much different now that sadly it’s my reality. I really want to message this woman but no idea what to say. I want to out her but I can’t cope with people talking about our family. I’m still friends with her on all social media. She continues to like my posts…arghhh!!!
---------------------------

NO! Block her and unfriend her on all social media this minute, or you're colluding with them or giving the message that you don't really mind!

And you're also making yourself a victim. WTF would you allow her to be in your life in any way, now that you know what she's been up to behind your back?

Be strong and be dignified: no messaging the other woman, she's beneath your notice. (She's also no more to blame than your husband, it's a 50/50 situation, whichever of them initiated it.)

I don't think I could continue to live with a man who thought so little of me and his children that he'd take a risk like this with both your marriage and your peace of mind, whether or not he's actually had sex with her.

Life as a single parent is a lot less stressful than living with a man you can no longer respect. See a solicitor and get the best financial settlement you possibly can.

Imissmoominmama · 16/05/2022 21:54

They’re both skanks, but he’s the one who made promises to you; he’s the father of your children and yet still risked it all.

Block her on everything- she’ll know you know and she’ll be shitting herself- let her stew.

Then decide what YOU want to do about your husband. None of the decisions are his now- he’s forfeited his rights.

My heart goes out to you- you shouldn’t be dealing with this- he’s a cunt.

Fraaahnces · 16/05/2022 22:37

He’s warned her that you have found the messages and are on the warpath. He may have deleted everything, but he still has her details.

Cheated85 · 16/05/2022 23:17

So I’ve blocked her on all social media. So now she will know I know. I’m not going to message her. Had a big conversation with DH tonight after the kids were in bed. It was emotional but I very much stood my ground and remained strong. I used lots of things people said on this thread today so thank you for that. He’s grovelling big style but I’ve made it very clear to him that I don’t know what I want to do. He knows how hurt and betrayed I am feeling. I still don’t know what I want to do and unsure when I will. I go from feeling pure disgust and hatred towards him to then just being so upset for my children and how vile their dad is. I need some time to try and make this clear in my head. He says he is prepared to do anything for us to stay together, unsure what that is however. To those saying I’m blaming the OW, well yes I am, but not her alone. I’m disgusted with my husband too and his horrific behaviour.

OP posts:
CherryBlossomAutumn · 16/05/2022 23:57

Saying ‘I don’t know’ is strong, you are totally entitled to space free of him in your head to process all of this. As others have said, you can take your time. Don’t let him make you rush any decision. It’s completely OK to ask him to leave temporarily, you can make up something for the kids and family. Think about it, you really do need time away from him trying to make everything OK and it will wreck your head him being around the house.

I also think it’s completely 100% fine to blame the OW too. There is something particularly painful about knowing another woman would happily cause such pain to you and your family, just to make herself feel good. It’s a horrible thing to do. Feel anger if you want (but don’t act on it) for both of them - they are small selfish people.

MsDogLady · 17/05/2022 00:08

@Cheated85, your H is indeed a disgusting pig. He felt entitled to defile your marriage, the family home, and your children’s school with his sleazy sexual affair. That he chose to humiliate you with a woman in your orbit was twisting the knife. He has made you the object of pity and gossip.

My advice is to take control, shine a light, and tackle this. Avoiding and sweeping will have pervasive, damaging consequences, and you would not be doing your children any favors. Would you want them to ignore and swallow infidelity/disloyalty in their future relationships?

H knew exactly what he was doing. He had quite the devious agenda, which rumbles his current clueless act. His disingenuousness makes him a poor risk for successful reconciliation. If you do stay with him, he needs to take full responsibility for restoring trust and helping you heal. This includes
(1) disclosing the full story (2) NC with OW with a break-up message in your presence (3) open access to devices and (4) digging deep in individual counseling to examine his weak character traits that led him to trash his family for cheap thrills and illicit ego validation.

In my view, the smart move is to employ a sharp shock by showing him the door while you process. He needs to feel the loss of you—to feel the ramifications of his cruel, unethical choices. Personally, I would make the separation permanent, but you may choose differently.

@Cheated85, you don’t yet have the whole story, so you need an STD test. (Swearing on the children’s lives is standard cheater-speak, as demonstrated by countless MN threads.) He could have rendezvoused with OW via lunch time, leaving work early, secret days off, errand running, etc.

Delete smug OW from your SM asap. Be icy cool and detached at the school run. I would inform her H. He has the right to know…just as you did. Flowers

Zerrin13 · 17/05/2022 00:22

I'm so sorry you have had to discover this about your husband. No one deserves to be treated so disgustingly. I'm sure you are reeling from the fact that you don't really know this man. The more time you have to digest the enormity of what he has done, the more you will wonder who this man is?

So you have discovered your husband has been exchanging nudes with a woman you know from the school. You say she is notorious for this type of thing.
Tell her husband if you want to but I'm sure he will take her back and carry on as he has done before. If you stay with him because you can't bear for you and your children's lives to change then that is fine.
Only you know if you can move on from this. Personally I would be consulting a solicitor ASAP and making swift plans to start divorce proceedings. I would never even like him again. To start waving his knob at some woman down the school would be the end. He didn't even spare it for someone you didn't know. As for her. She would very much wish that she hadn't started playing in my garden!