Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Aprilx · 19/08/2023 13:39

Aprilx · 19/08/2023 13:39

OP has already said she is 33

*the American woman that is

LouHey · 19/08/2023 13:41

Those saying there's no chance someone with 5 kids leaves them: We don't know how old the kids are. Besides, it's summer - they might all be at summer camp right now and Dad's still home if there's an emergency.

Weezypopsy · 19/08/2023 13:47

If she’s 33 and has 5 kids, the likelihood is that they are no older than early teens, and go down to much younger.

LouHey · 19/08/2023 13:47

Aprilx · 19/08/2023 13:39

OP has already said she is 33

Thanks. I missed that. Totally suspicious as hell she's testing her ovulation while staying with a male friend. I'm not jealous at all and I'd see this as a red flag and have many questions lol.

CustardySergeant · 19/08/2023 13:50

A PP's suggestion to reverse image search the photo of the husband and 5 kids is a very good one.

FMWD91 · 19/08/2023 16:56

Firstly, I'm really sorry you're having to go through this.

The difference here, is this woman isn't a long term friend of your partner's. She wasn't on the scene as their friend prior to your relationship and I think that makes a huge difference. This is a new relationship that has formed through mutual hobbies and it appears he's spending more time communicating with her than he is you - being with you and "constantly" messaging her is not okay. She isn't his responsibility, you were told it was just a place for her to put her head down to save the money she'd spend on hotels - that's purely it. You may have agreed to it when asked, but you weren't made aware of the "Ts & Cs" and it's understandable it's made you feel uncomfortable regardless of how much you trust your partner. I undoubtebly trust my DH 1000000% but even I would feel uncomfortable with this scenario.

I think this could be naivety on his part with her maybe having ulterior motives because, let's face it, some men don't see things the same way some women can do sometimes. But, as his partner, your feelings should be valid to him and his defensiveness and lack of communication with you, I imagine, isn't helping.

One of the red flags for me wouldn't even be the fact she's taken an ovulation test, it's the part that I can't help but feel she's left it there for you to see... The second red flag for me would be that she couldn't face you when you went round - she slithered off into a hotel room! If I was imposing on a relationship like that then you can bet your arse I'm involving the couple in the friendship, not only communicating with him and singling the other party out - again, it just doesn't sit right.

At the end of the day you can't control anybody's actions, but it's okay to have boundaries within your relationship. Whether he adheres to them or not is his choice, then it's your choice whether or not you want to stay with somebody who oversteps them resulting in you feeling the way you feel right now.

I hope things get better for you 💕

And remember, never allow yourself to feel inferior to a 3rd party. If you aren't at the top of your partner's priority list then it might be worth a re-evaluation.

Sending love!

LoveYouHoneyBadger · 19/08/2023 17:15

Op, I think your being a bit delusional here. You say its nothing to do with her and its between you but it's got everything to do with her.
What do you think its going to happen here? Do you think miss America is just going home to disappear?
She's constantly going to be a barrier between you. You've been together 2 years and he's sitting all day and night texting another woman ffs. Catch yourself on. Walk away while you can.
2 years, not living together , not married, no kids ..
Try walking away after over 20 years!

oakleaffy · 19/08/2023 17:23

The deliberate leaving of a pissy stick by Mrs 5Kidz is as close as you can get to a dog marking it’s territory,@Whenthepartysover

Leave crappy Manbun for a decent bloke.

dibley27 · 19/08/2023 17:25

Not being unreasonable AT ALL. It's not that you don't trust him... you don't trust her - and quite rightly - she has 5 kids and an unhappy marriage, dreams of going adventuring... to Manchester of all places?? I'm almost certain the only draw for her in Manchester is your boyfriend. The fact she is spending her days 'on holiday' either with him or texting him confirms this. She leaves an ovulation stick visible in the bin - she's checking that she isn't ovulating so she can be free to sleep with him if the opportunity arises. He may be blind to it. The weird behaviour is from her, not him, although he is being a little naive imo.

Chickenkeev · 19/08/2023 17:27

oakleaffy · 19/08/2023 17:23

The deliberate leaving of a pissy stick by Mrs 5Kidz is as close as you can get to a dog marking it’s territory,@Whenthepartysover

Leave crappy Manbun for a decent bloke.

'Crappy man bun' is hilarious!

HowlingAtTheM00n · 19/08/2023 17:41

@oakleaffy LOL this!

oakleaffy · 19/08/2023 17:44

Chickenkeev · 19/08/2023 17:27

'Crappy man bun' is hilarious!

He was so vain and self obsessed- what was a massive red flag 🚩 was when he said “ I can’t stand people who play games” ( Within a couple of dates!)- when he was the biggest game player out there.

Manbun? 🚩 🥯-RUN🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️💨💨💨

l

oakleaffy · 19/08/2023 17:45

oakleaffy · 19/08/2023 17:44

He was so vain and self obsessed- what was a massive red flag 🚩 was when he said “ I can’t stand people who play games” ( Within a couple of dates!)- when he was the biggest game player out there.

Manbun? 🚩 🥯-RUN🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️💨💨💨

l

Damn! Half my post isn’t there!
Describing a pony tailed bloke I endured that sounds like Op’s one

Chickenkeev · 19/08/2023 17:49

oakleaffy · 19/08/2023 17:44

He was so vain and self obsessed- what was a massive red flag 🚩 was when he said “ I can’t stand people who play games” ( Within a couple of dates!)- when he was the biggest game player out there.

Manbun? 🚩 🥯-RUN🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️💨💨💨

l

I wouldn't want to attribute dickishness to a particular hairstyle but i really don't appreciate man buns. I always think the men are a bit 'up themselves'. Totally wrong and irrational but there ya go! DH is pretty much bald so not something i have to worry about 😁

Kippp77 · 19/08/2023 18:43

Whenthepartysover · 17/08/2023 21:59

I wondered about her husband too. I asked my boyfriend what her husband thought about it but he said he didn't know, but she apparently told him that he isn't bothered and he basically just ignores her anyway and their relationship is non existent (so then what's the ovulation test for??) so he doesn't care where she is or what she's doing.

I'm going to try and get some sleep. Thanks everyone for the comments, appreciate it

This seems like a Freudian slip, he doesn't know if the husband knows but he does know the husband isn't bothered. Bothered by them having a fling? Op your BF is gaslighting you so he can sleep with what he perceives to be an exotic American women... I read through everything and I've been in this exact situation. He's cheating on you and keeping you around for his own enjoyment/safety. This American women and him formed a plan to fool you in plain sight. Think about it... an ovulation test shows up in a bin just before she gets a hotel?? They clearly had sex, whether at the hotel in order to hide the scent before you showed up etc. She also left it there on purpose as a big middle finger. You're likely dealing with two sociopaths who enjoy mind fucking people and gaining their devotion through a web of lies. You're wasting your time on someone who doesn't exist, your bf is not who he seems to be. Respect yourself, don't allow yourself to be a vessel for this literal unhinged psycho. Run fast op.

GreenFritillary · 19/08/2023 19:00

oakleaffy · Today 17:23
The deliberate leaving of a pissy stick by Mrs 5Kidz is as close as you can get to a dog marking its territory

Spot on!

T1Dmama · 19/08/2023 19:23

I would assume that she’s doing an ovulation test so she can shag about and not get pregnant …. I wouldn’t be happy with this at all!!
Either that or she has done one so she knows when to get pregnant with number 6 child?!…. Maybe all her kids have been conceived this way?? Seems odd for someone with 5 kids and a husband to travel alone tbh??….. I’d be wary too…. Even if you trust him I wouldn’t trust her.

MsDogLady · 19/08/2023 19:36

The issue…doesn’t concern her anymore. I just want her to leave and never hear of her again.

@Whenthepartysover, Claire is very much a part of your relationship and she’s not going anywhere. Your BF opened a wide window to her and developed an intimate connection. You’ve been sharing space with her ever since. That’s not going to change, as she provides him significant ego supply, and if a sexual component has been added, that will continue.

I foresee his manipulating you to get you back on side after Claire leaves. This type always craves validation, and he’ll be confident that you’ll move back into your slot to provide that. If you value your self-esteem and peace of mind, you won’t do that.

Twazique · 19/08/2023 19:57

Sounds like he continued the argument when you spoke to him so you wouldn't come and spoil their time together.

Nutterjacks · 20/08/2023 10:23

YANBU OP

This has red flags all over it!

She's already told him she's in a unhappy marriage and after chatting for six months is definitely emotionally invested in your bf.

As many pp's have said, who would leave their five kids and jet off alone half way around the world.
It's bloody nuts!

This is no way innocent.

HowlingAtTheM00n · 20/08/2023 13:42

@Twazique you hit the nail on the head

Marleeeeen · 21/08/2023 07:59

Desperate to know if you kicked him to the curb OP. Just reading your post makes my blood curdle. How arrogant of your boyfriend to think that this whole situation is in anyway ok. As other posters have said - in what world would he be OK with it if the shoe was on the other foot !?!

Run for the hills darling girl

23hol · 21/08/2023 08:41

How you getting on @Whenthepartysover ?
You've shown such maturity in your posts. Hope you are ok whatever you've decided.

Whenthepartysover · 21/08/2023 09:11

It's over. I'm at my mum's because I don't want to be on my own atm I'm devastated

OP posts:
AliceOlive · 21/08/2023 09:13

@Whenthepartysover Im so sorry. Glad you are with your mum. Take care of yourself.

Swipe left for the next trending thread