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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Woman from America staying at my boyfriends place

649 replies

Whenthepartysover · 17/08/2023 10:01

Me and my boyfriend have been together two years. I am 23 and he is 27. I am currently at uni in Leeds but I go to his at the weekends in Manchester.

He is a bit of an artsy type, he is a graphic designer and a freelance photographer. He writes poetry and has an Instagram account where he uploads all of his poems and short videos of spoken word. It's a bit of a community and he speaks to lots of people on the platform. He has been speaking to this woman now for a while. I didn't really have a problem with it because she lives in America and is married with 5 children. Plus I trust my boyfriend and try to be rational about things.

She told him she was taking a trip to the UK alone and he asked me if I would mind if she stayed with him so that she could save on accommodation and also have someone there who she knows and trusts. I said it was ok. I don't know why I said this.. I honestly felt ok about it at the time.

All the plans were made and he picked her up from the airport on a Sunday evening and I went back to uni. On Monday I was sat in my uni room alone studying and I text him to ask what he was up to. He said he had taken 'Claire' to the park and they were lay around on the grass. I immediately felt a rush of emotion imagining him strolling through the park with this woman. I couldn't control it I got very upset. I think it was because I was just sat there alone and he was with another woman. I trusted that he wouldn't do anything bad or disrespectful but I suddenly just felt very uncomfortable and like I was a bit of a mug. I tried not to tell him how I felt because what's done is done, she's here now. Nothing I can do. I just didn't realise that he would be out doing things with her. I thought he was just providing her a spare room to stay.

I did end up telling him how upset I was and he said "I did worry that this would happen". We ended up having an argument and I know that I am the one being unreasonable here. I said something was ok and then changed my mind once it happened. That's not his fault. I said I'd prefer it if he let her get on with things on her own. He was saying that it's unfair as she is in an unfamiliar country on her own and doesn't want to abandon her, and his mum agrees. Anyway she ended up staying in a hotel the next night.

It came to the weekend and I went to his. At this point she was in a hotel. I said I wanted to spend the weekend doing nice things together after our argument and just try to sort it out. I got to his to find an ovulation stick in his bathroom bin. Is it just me or is that weird? I don't know what is happening in her life. She may be struggling with conceiving and is being very strict with tracking. She already has 5 children though but that's none of my business. I just find it a bit rude to take an ovulation test and put it in the bin that's wide open. I would've wrapped it up and chucked it in the outside bin if I was in someone else's house. The bin doesn't have a lid. It's one of those bins you'd have in your bedroom but in the bathroom (he's a guy so never really had anything to put in it). I was a bit annoyed about it because I felt like she was taking the piss. But I tried to move past it and have a nice weekend. However he was just on his phone constantly replying to her texts while we were out. We had another argument and I have gone home to my mum's and we haven't spoken since.

I don't know where to go from here. I know this is my fault. But I really need some outside perspective on this. How would you feel? Do I even have a right to be upset? Do we just wait for her to go back home and then try and move past it or is it the end of the relationship? I'm trying to think logically and rationally without heightened feelings of jealousy in the way. But it's hard.

OP posts:
Whenthepartysover · 17/08/2023 16:53

@SuperFi she isn't at the hotel anymore. She went to the hotel last Friday and stayed until monday. She's been at his since

OP posts:
WongWifi · 17/08/2023 16:55

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 10:44

You are being completely unreasonable and letting yourself act badly because of your own insecurity.

Your boyfriend is allowed friends that share his interest. He is allowed female friends that share his interests.

You said she could stay there. You could have at that point said that you didnt feel comfortable with that and she should get a hotel but you let her come and stay and then when she got here freaked out and now she has to stay in a hotel and your boyfriend is being pressured to not spend time with her.

You have no idea why she took an ovulation test. If she is tracking her cycles for some reason then it makes sense she would take one if that is the bin available that is the bin.

It is ok to get insecure about things and its ok to say to your boyfriend "hey i feel insecure i need some reassurance" thats more then reasonable but you cant dictate who he spends time with because you feel insecure and creating this whole awkward situation where you said she could stay and then have made him make her stay in a hotel is ott. If i was your boyfriend I would be really mad with you.

Are you for real??? 🤦‍♀️

neilyoungismyhero · 17/08/2023 16:57

I would feel the same as you OP. What started off as a lone sight seeing trip with a couple of meet ups has turned into a bit of a joint holiday for them both.
She intended sight seeing on her own well that didn't happen did it. She knew you were a little upset at the intimate outings but still texted all day when you were spending the day with your BF, that was pretty devious IMO. She sounds like she has an agenda and BF has played into it..gullible ..
If he can't see why you've been upset I'm not sure he's the man for you. Sensitivity of a brick - him, devious her..

MysteryBelle · 17/08/2023 16:57

applesandmares · 17/08/2023 16:48

But an ovulation test can't tell you that? It will only confirm whether or not you'll ovulate in the next 12-48 hours - it won't tell you if you're already in the fertile period. Surely if she wanted to avoid pregnancy they'd just use a condom!

The answer to that is they don’t want to use a condom.

I’ve never relied on the pill myself nor taken it, never wanted to mess with my hormones with chemicals and pills or patches, and have never gotten pregnant accidentally. There is actually a short window in which it is possible to get pregnant and knowing how your own individual body works is an excellent thing for any woman to understand anyway regardless of how one chooses to handle the childbearing years. So I understand the natural family planning mindset.

TheShellBeach · 17/08/2023 17:00

I didn't ask him to make her stay in a hotel, they decided that between themselves which then made me feel guilty.

Maybe your soon-to-be -ex-boyfriend stayed at the hotel with her, too. How do you know he didn't? You weren't there.

He sounds dodgy AF and I do not believe that a 33 year-old woman has five children. It's nonsense. If she really has got five children, why has she left them to come to Manchester for no reason whatsoever?
The five children do not exist IMO.

TheShellBeach · 17/08/2023 17:04

And OP - I remember being your age and my boyfriend (who I would have trusted implicitly) going away for the weekend with an ex-girlfriend.

He did not tell me about it until they returned, then he told me that they were back together.

It was very painful to be rejected like that.

You've loved and trusted this man for a couple of years, but I think your relationship was over when he started texting and messaging a random woman all day and night, on Instagram. That was really your signal to bow out, I think.

I'm sorry you're feeling so down and sad about all this.

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 17:04

WongWifi · 17/08/2023 16:55

Are you for real??? 🤦‍♀️

Yes

WongWifi · 17/08/2023 17:05

Sorry Op, they’re sleeping together. Boot him one. And next time avoid man-bunners who spend their time in Instagram.

WongWifi · 17/08/2023 17:06

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 17:04

Yes

So you like being made a mug of by men then. Got it.

MysteryBelle · 17/08/2023 17:10

WongWifi · 17/08/2023 16:55

Are you for real??? 🤦‍♀️

When a radically twisted form of feminism and backwards, ironically patriarchal, blame-the-innocent-woman lecturing collide 😂

Oh the pretzel bending Dolores has to engage in to come up with her weird nonsensical reasoning. I’ve seen it a lot actually.

Dylanesque · 17/08/2023 17:12

There once was a poet from Manc
who fancied shagging a Yank
He invited Mother Claire over
for some rolls in the clover
Gal, he really ain’t worth a wank

QueenCamilla · 17/08/2023 17:14

@Dolores87

Only if you jump to conclusions. There are many reasons she could be tracking her cycle. Its very unlikely she is taking an ovulation strip to make sure she doesn't get pregnant having sex that day as thats just not how it works.

  • you are right. I'm a mum of one (and done) and have spent 99.9% of my reproductive years avoiding pregnancy. I wouldn't even know what an ovulation stick looks like!
And then there's the American woman with 5 children, and she's very well acquainted with her ovulation... Yeah, I can agree that avoiding a pregnancy is not the main use of ovulation kits... 🤔

If boyfriend was cheating or intending to cheat why would he 1. Ask if his gf minded she stay and 2. Be open about his friendship with this women. And 3. Be like "im just at the park with Claire" when his gf text?

-that's basically how I conducted my affair in the beginning, if that helps?
My husband even gave me lifts to/from my "friends" house.

Apologies for bursting the bubble.

MysteryBelle · 17/08/2023 17:14

Dylanesque · 17/08/2023 17:12

There once was a poet from Manc
who fancied shagging a Yank
He invited Mother Claire over
for some rolls in the clover
Gal, he really ain’t worth a wank

Nice. Now here’s a poet, Op! Take heed. Bin the little ass and get on with your life.

goinghome2022 · 17/08/2023 17:23

YANBU.

I mean this kindly, you're so young; I used to be so keen to be seen as a "cool girlfriend" when I was your age too, but you don't have to be. Nothing you've said about your behavior indicates you've been overly territorial but in any case if you don't feel good about it you should be able to talk to your partner and receive reassurance and understanding, not attitude. You deserve better.

mirax · 17/08/2023 17:25

Dylanesque · 17/08/2023 17:12

There once was a poet from Manc
who fancied shagging a Yank
He invited Mother Claire over
for some rolls in the clover
Gal, he really ain’t worth a wank

8 out of 10. Marks deducted for missing the man bun.

Op, trust your instincts and stand your ground. All the best.

RoadSignFool · 17/08/2023 17:26

Dylanesque · 17/08/2023 17:12

There once was a poet from Manc
who fancied shagging a Yank
He invited Mother Claire over
for some rolls in the clover
Gal, he really ain’t worth a wank

Sorry mate, Dylan was a much better poet than that. It doesn’t even scan…

ittakes2 · 17/08/2023 17:32

Ignore everyone else and trust your instinct. Even if your boyfriend does not have an any ulterior motives sounds like she might. I mean why would she just show up in Manchester and then be worried about not knowing anyone? I actually doubt she is married - who in their right mind is ok about their partner travelling half way around the world to stay with a bloke she has met on the internet?
In my experience she’s left that stick in an open bin hoping you will find it to cause tension between you two.

HowlingAtTheM00n · 17/08/2023 17:34

@Whenthepartysover sorry, but it dosent add up to me.
The fact you already know she's in an unhappy marriage .. why would she be doing an ovulation test? Clearly you wouldn't be trying to get pregnant by someone your miserable with. Anyway, why would you even bother as it you were ovulating and actively trying she's thousands of miles away from her husband . Surely by now after 5 kids she knows her cycles. Bit odd that she would plan a trip in uk around ovulation time if she was trying and even odder to take a test when not trying. Something very fishy.
It's also extremely odd that a woman leaves 5 children to go to UK to spend all her time with your boyfriend and clearly has absolutely no intention of sight seeing. It's also extremely disrespectful she's texting him all day when he's with you. Can't she be alone and do some sightseeing by herself like she claims she planned? Another odd thing , what man would let his wife travel across the world to stay in the house of an absolute stranger and look after her 5 kids.
100% this woman planned her trip just to see your boyfriend. Anyone who says otherwise is naive. Could they have been chatting romantically online ? I don't know of they've slept together but my bet is they have. She has no good intentions. She's an unhappy married woman who probably wants a change.
My advice. I would Dump your arsehole boyfriend. What kind of man brings a random woman of the Internet to stay with him, spend all day every day with her and when he's with his girlfriend he's constantly texting her?? That should say everything you needed to know there. Do you really want to spend your life with someone like that. He should be putting you first. Not his bored American housewife.
The women is infatuated by your boyfriend. She's can't leave him be. Please open your eyes and don't set yourself up for hurt later on.
I would be confronting her about why she is texting him all the time when she knows he's with you and I'd be asking her what's with the ovulation stick. For all you know she's in love with him and planned her trip fully knowing she's ovulation with the intention of getting pregnant by him because she wants him. People cheat. How can you be sure your boyfriend hasn't slept with her? How many men are going to say no.
I thought my ex of 19 years would never be unfaithful and he was cheating on me for years with women online. You can never trust anyone and you should always be aware of red flags and that is a major red flag . Is so odd that I don't believe it

slore · 17/08/2023 17:39

This is totally inappropriate behaviour from them both, it sounds like an emotional affair at least.

Mirabai · 17/08/2023 17:40

I’ve only read the OP’s posts. No-one crosses the Atlantic to see Manchester - it’s small and ugly. If it were London or Paris I could believe it. She came to see your bf.

You did go OTT on them taking a walk but he clearly wanted to stir jealousy by telling you they lay on the grass together. All he needed to say was they went to the park.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 17/08/2023 17:40

I'm not going to sugar coat this because I'm 30 years older than you and have been round several blocks.

I am VERY familiar with the arty, poetic, man bun wearing, guitar playing indie guy because I was obsessed with this type when I was your age.

My take away from dating about 5 of this particular species is that their neediness is off the chart. It's always about THEM. You have to spend your time agreeing that their art is amazing, analysing it, listening to it, critiquing it, sympathising while they agonise about it. Some of this is just the reality of being in a relationship with a creative, but a lot of the time it's because there is only room for one ego in the room at a time.

There is NO FUCKING WAY your bf hasn't displayed these behaviours to her. Six months of online chat? She 100% thinks she's Sylvia Plath to his Ted Hughes.

They are having an emotional affair at the very least. You sound like a lovely, switched on woman - I wouldn't waste a whole lot more time on this one.

Also- if she can raise five kids she sure as shit should have the money for a hotel.

XStardustX · 17/08/2023 17:41

Wife : I'm unhappy with you. Do you mind if I jet across the world to see a random man I met on Instagram

Husband: sure , I'll look after the 5 kids. Don't forget your ovulation sticks.

Boyfriend: how would you feel if I invited a random woman of the Internet that I've been talking to every single day all day long to come and stay with me.
Oh and by the way when you come to see me I'm going to be texting her the whole time.

You .. OK. This all sounds perfectly innocent

Bluesky85 · 17/08/2023 17:41

You haven’t done anything wrong. You are allowed to change your mind - since the circumstances you were happy with are now nothing like that.

it is weird that she’s flown all the way from America, leaving her husband and children behind to visit…. Manchester (no offence) for no specific reason. Obviously your boyfriend is the reason. He may well be innocent in all this and naive to what’s going on but since she’s in an unhappy marriage she’s probably become infatuated with your boyfriend and even if nothing happens she wants to enjoy some attention and feel attractive/ young/ free again.

the ovulation stick is really weird. She doesn’t need to check when she’s ovulating if she’s not planning on having sex! While she’s in England surely she’s away from her husband so sex is off the cards so she’s ‘safe’ from getting pregnant so no testing required. When she gets back to America she can test again once sex is back on the cards. This is honestly WEIRD! And as you say weird that it’s just there for all to see. Imagine meeting some guy on the internet and leaving an ovulation test in the bin. What is your boyfriend meant to think? If that was me I’d at least wrap in toilet paper or put in the kitchen bin or something.

basically I think there’s something going on with her. At best she’s just looking for an escape and a break and wants some flirtation and a friend to hang out with. At worst she’s planning on making a move on your boyfriend.

your boyfriend may be oblivious to all of this and maybe he too thought she’d be out and about a bit more, but he probably feels responsible for her now and embarrassed that her trip has taken a turn.

but don’t let him gaslight you into thinking you are being unreasonable/ jealous/ crazy because you aren’t. Something doesn’t add up.

Roselee1 · 17/08/2023 17:45

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ThanksItHasPockets · 17/08/2023 17:50

Mirabai · 17/08/2023 17:40

I’ve only read the OP’s posts. No-one crosses the Atlantic to see Manchester - it’s small and ugly. If it were London or Paris I could believe it. She came to see your bf.

You did go OTT on them taking a walk but he clearly wanted to stir jealousy by telling you they lay on the grass together. All he needed to say was they went to the park.

Liverpool would be plausible! I’ve known lots of Americans who are keen to take in Liverpool on a trip to the UK because of the Beatles. Manchester, not so much unless they are serious football / soccer fans. Sorry Manchester.