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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:
sodthesodoff · 17/08/2023 13:23

Hey op. Just wanted to say you sound very mature and level headed. Him not so much. In fact I've got cheese more mature than him

Why do you want to see him? Do you think this can be reconciled? Do you want to be with a man child who has an online chat buddy in an unhappy marriage who abandons her kids to fly across the ocean to see him then tells you YOU'RE the only being irrational?

For a mother to leave her kids like that she must want to do something more than just hang around in parks on her own. And you know what unless your boyfriend is a total idiot he knows that too.

Honestly. You can do so much better. He's not replied to you? Fine. I'd make that permanent.

Otterock · 17/08/2023 13:24

are is another matter. But it seems suspicious. Is she having some kind of crisis and thinking she can bugger off and start a new life abroad with someone she’s possibly infatuated with?

Plantyplantplants · 17/08/2023 13:25

She came to the UK to see him. Manchester is a fab city but definitely not up at the top of the UK tourist trail.

It does sound like your boyfriend has cottoned on and isn’t reciprocative though as she’s now in a hotel.

The ovulation stick is very worrying though. Surely the only reason for using one is if you either do or don’t want to get pregnant - which means having sex.

This is the danger of online friendships and relationships- you never truly know who they are.

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:27

Sandra1984 · 17/08/2023 12:38

It's when you mix an emotional affair with ovulation sticks that things get er...dodgy?

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.

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?

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:30

Also all the ridiculous emotive language in this thread. It isnt "abandoning your kids" to go on a holiday with out them leaving them with their father.

The other day someone posted about her partner wanting to take the kids 7 hours away for a week and everyone told her she was unreasonable for not wanting him to go, but a Mum leaving her kids for a week to travel is "abandoning them"? Right 🤔

CheerfulYank · 17/08/2023 13:30

As an American with a male best friend…yeah no. This is fishy.

I don’t know that your boyfriend is doing or has done anything, but I’d bet my bottom dollar Ms Five Kids Unhappy Marriage is an Anglophile who WANTS to.

My husband is a sensitive artist type who is absolutely clueless about women flirting with him, and for some reason I feel like your BF might be the same. (My husband doesn’t have a man bun tho, he’s bald 🤣) But texting all day every day seems odd and verging on an emotional affair, and I wouldn’t like it.

sodthesodoff · 17/08/2023 13:34

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:30

Also all the ridiculous emotive language in this thread. It isnt "abandoning your kids" to go on a holiday with out them leaving them with their father.

The other day someone posted about her partner wanting to take the kids 7 hours away for a week and everyone told her she was unreasonable for not wanting him to go, but a Mum leaving her kids for a week to travel is "abandoning them"? Right 🤔

Honestly as a parent. Would I leave my kids for a week for a massively unimportant jaunt across the Atlantic to see someone I'd never met before and have bugger all plans in the city? No.

If it was important. Yes I'd get it. Of course any parent has the rights to do stuff without their kids

But the reasons for why she's dumped them are shitty to be honest. Shes prioritised a bloke she's never met over her kids. Of course she's not going to get a round of applause.

SingingKlingon · 17/08/2023 13:34

Oh my sweet innocent girl.

With all respect to Manchester, but who the fuck flys from the states to spend a week in a hotel in Manchester???

Darling, they're having sex! No if, ands or buts.

As soon as she's gone he'll be texting you. You're 23, got an amazing life ahead, with men who appreciate you and treat you well.

Well all make shity mistakes with partners when we're younger - most learn from them!

Sadly not all, as we can all see from the threads on here! I promise if you lift your boundaries now, you will laugh about this in a few years.

You're worth so much better than him. And as for her! How pathetic she is. Leaving 5 kids to run off and shag a man she hasn't even met.

Dump him and block him!!!!! Please!

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:35

sparkleshin · 17/08/2023 12:50

she could have visited anywhere but she visited manchester and the same place your boyfriend lives its clear this trip was to see him she didnt plan anything else did she? if you share a wifi router go through the wifi history better yet if you can get hold of his phone read all the messages well you know where you stand now

This is abusive. If a man took his partners phone to read all her messages wed be outraged.

Plantyplantplants · 17/08/2023 13:35

It does also sound like a bit of an emotional affair which is maybe why she got the wrong end of the stick.

I don’t think this man is long-term relationship material, I wouldn’t be happy with my DP constantly chatting with another woman online. You are young, please don’t waste your time with men who don’t truly value you. I think it’s time for you to move on from this one.

Whenthepartysover · 17/08/2023 13:37

Sorry for not replying for a while.. I called him to see if I could come back to his tomorrow. I wanted to tonight but then I'd have to just get another train late tonight to come back again when I'm coming home for the weekend anyway. Her flight leaves on Saturday so if I went to his tomorrow night I could see her.

The conversation didn't go that well though tbh. I called to be nice and didn't want an argument I just wanted to sort out a plan because not speaking at all isn't going to help. But now I'm just left feeling like what's the point.

My heart feels really heavy and I just feel so tired from getting upset

OP posts:
Sandra1984 · 17/08/2023 13:38

@Whenthepartysover Sorry I should've cleared about the uni thing! Technically I am not back, we broke up in may but I am doing an animal science degree and they have offered an internshipSorry I should've cleared about the uni thing! Technically I am not back, we broke up in may but I am doing an animal science degree and they have offered an internship.

This changes all and you should have posted it on your initial post. You broke with him in May, so basically he's allowed to entertain whoever he wants in HIS home because you're officially not together.A degree in science, an internship etc.. you sound like a very busy twenty something yr old student with lots going on, as you should (kudos to that), you're not officially together and don't live in the same city. Sounds like you don't need him, he knows it, so he goes into the internet and find someone who "needs him", someone who puts him in a pedestal and gives the attention your poet man bun needs, someone who makes him feel "masculine", so Miss 5 kids looking for a 6th comes flying all the way from US, he's naive, she's vulnerable and (as predicted) it ends messy.

Me thinks you need to get rid of this emotional toddler and get yourself a grown up man.

redastherose · 17/08/2023 13:40

Sandra1984 · 17/08/2023 13:38

@Whenthepartysover Sorry I should've cleared about the uni thing! Technically I am not back, we broke up in may but I am doing an animal science degree and they have offered an internshipSorry I should've cleared about the uni thing! Technically I am not back, we broke up in may but I am doing an animal science degree and they have offered an internship.

This changes all and you should have posted it on your initial post. You broke with him in May, so basically he's allowed to entertain whoever he wants in HIS home because you're officially not together.A degree in science, an internship etc.. you sound like a very busy twenty something yr old student with lots going on, as you should (kudos to that), you're not officially together and don't live in the same city. Sounds like you don't need him, he knows it, so he goes into the internet and find someone who "needs him", someone who puts him in a pedestal and gives the attention your poet man bun needs, someone who makes him feel "masculine", so Miss 5 kids looking for a 6th comes flying all the way from US, he's naive, she's vulnerable and (as predicted) it ends messy.

Me thinks you need to get rid of this emotional toddler and get yourself a grown up man.

She meant broke up from Uni - not with the guy!

MotherofGorgons · 17/08/2023 13:40

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:30

Also all the ridiculous emotive language in this thread. It isnt "abandoning your kids" to go on a holiday with out them leaving them with their father.

The other day someone posted about her partner wanting to take the kids 7 hours away for a week and everyone told her she was unreasonable for not wanting him to go, but a Mum leaving her kids for a week to travel is "abandoning them"? Right 🤔

I would happily leave my kids to go on a holiday. DH can mind them. But the operative word is holiday. Not to sit inside a stranger's flat in Mancs reading fucking Emily Dickinson!

Herejusttocomment · 17/08/2023 13:41

My apologies to OP for saying this but I bet he's going to use this as an excuse to break up with her rather than admit his fragile ego needed to feel like he had a groupie.

sodthesodoff · 17/08/2023 13:42

@Sandra1984 she means broke up from uni not with the guy...

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:43

Nagado · 17/08/2023 12:54

Having a friend you text regularly who shares interests with you that your partner doesn't isn't having an "emotional affair" just because they are the same sex as you 😂 Completely agree. But what’s your point? Because regular texting is not at all what is happening here, is it? OP says they’ve been chatting every single day. This woman has a partner and five children and she’s on the internet chatting to some stranger about poetry every single day. She’s prioritising the OP’s boyfriend in her own life and the OP’s boyfriend is prioritising her above the OP.

the concept of an emotional affair is a stretch unless the partner is fully investing in the friendship and just not showing up to the relationship when their partner is emotionally available like spending limited time with your girlfriend texting your friend? That sort of thing?

Where does the OP say he spends limited time with her because he is texting his friend? It doesnt say anyway he is prioritising talking to this friend, she said he chats to her day and night when shes at uni

I have a male friend who i chat with most days tbh. Sometimes we have a back and forth gradually through most of the day. We are not and never have been and never will he having sex though. He is emotionally important to me and so is my relationship.

It sounds like this women has used the friendship as an emotional crutch due to her situation and unhappy marriage but even if that is the case and even if she has had a silly day dream that some guy in the UK is toing to whisk her away from her life that does not mean that they boyfriend has any intention of having sex with her or sees the friendship as anything more then a good friendship, and tbh its completely plausible she thinks the friendship is a good friendship.

Deciding this guy is cheating and dumping him for having a friend stay he asked permission to have stay on assumptions is ott.

RoadSignFool · 17/08/2023 13:44

Sandra1984 · 17/08/2023 13:38

@Whenthepartysover Sorry I should've cleared about the uni thing! Technically I am not back, we broke up in may but I am doing an animal science degree and they have offered an internshipSorry I should've cleared about the uni thing! Technically I am not back, we broke up in may but I am doing an animal science degree and they have offered an internship.

This changes all and you should have posted it on your initial post. You broke with him in May, so basically he's allowed to entertain whoever he wants in HIS home because you're officially not together.A degree in science, an internship etc.. you sound like a very busy twenty something yr old student with lots going on, as you should (kudos to that), you're not officially together and don't live in the same city. Sounds like you don't need him, he knows it, so he goes into the internet and find someone who "needs him", someone who puts him in a pedestal and gives the attention your poet man bun needs, someone who makes him feel "masculine", so Miss 5 kids looking for a 6th comes flying all the way from US, he's naive, she's vulnerable and (as predicted) it ends messy.

Me thinks you need to get rid of this emotional toddler and get yourself a grown up man.

@Sandra1984 perhaps you are not British?

She means that the University term ended in May, not that she split up with her boyfriend. That is how we say it in the UK - “breaking up for the summer holidays”.

Sandra1984 · 17/08/2023 13:45

sodthesodoff · 17/08/2023 13:42

@Sandra1984 she means broke up from uni not with the guy...

Uh... sorry... It sounded to me like THEY had broke up by May. I still think he's an emotional toddler and she needs to find a grown up man.

Sandra1984 · 17/08/2023 13:46

@RoadSignFool perhaps you are not British?

Correct, I'm not British, sorry 😓

MotherofGorgons · 17/08/2023 13:46

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:43

Where does the OP say he spends limited time with her because he is texting his friend? It doesnt say anyway he is prioritising talking to this friend, she said he chats to her day and night when shes at uni

I have a male friend who i chat with most days tbh. Sometimes we have a back and forth gradually through most of the day. We are not and never have been and never will he having sex though. He is emotionally important to me and so is my relationship.

It sounds like this women has used the friendship as an emotional crutch due to her situation and unhappy marriage but even if that is the case and even if she has had a silly day dream that some guy in the UK is toing to whisk her away from her life that does not mean that they boyfriend has any intention of having sex with her or sees the friendship as anything more then a good friendship, and tbh its completely plausible she thinks the friendship is a good friendship.

Deciding this guy is cheating and dumping him for having a friend stay he asked permission to have stay on assumptions is ott.

She says man bun dick has long deep convos every night with Joni Mitchell.

Nanny0gg · 17/08/2023 13:47

Whenthepartysover · 17/08/2023 11:03

Thanks to everyone for your opinions, it really is good to read both sides because I was really going insane inside my own head.

I will call him this afternoon to have a talk. He is very stubborn, he will absolutely not text or call me if I don't do it first so it has to be me

Well that doesn't bode well, does it?

If she was coming over anyway, she doesn't seem much like an independent traveller

Frankly, if it walks like a duck...

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 17/08/2023 13:47

Frisate · 17/08/2023 12:40

What you went though is the sort of thing that would make most women uncomfortable and as people have said before, trust your gut! Our gut is very important in these things, I know because I’ve been there before. Also, your boyfriend spent the weekend texting that woman after you’ve just had a row because of her - he’s a dick and you can definitely do better than him.

I agree. You are asking if you are in the wrong because you don't know. Its pretty clear Man Bun thinks you are.
Previous poster said it was deceitful that the occasion was described as a casual friend saving on accommodation costs during a UK visit. That was what you agreed to.
You did not agree to what transpired. It was not at all what was described.
An argument where he stood up for her and spent the day responding to frequent texts from her when he should have been with you. Also her comment about moving out for a few days so that you and he could "sort it out" is a real cheek.

It could all be innocent, just pangs of jealousy despite potential red flags, however what is clear is that he is NOT meeting you halfway at all and if he was as saintly as he says then he should be.
Also you are very clear in saying that he is waiting for you to contact him, presumably to apologise and that he will not be contacting you first under any circumstances which shows a real lack of effort or attempt at understanding. You have not accepted the whole situation without having doubts or queries and he's not OK with that. I'd have to ask what give and take there is in this relationship.
Forget the other stuff, that, and the texting (including the past six months) and the lack of sightseeing plans except for your BF being included all seem a bit like he's not making the effort with you. If he was I think you'd be less worried about raising doubts with him - because you wouldn't need to.
Well done for sticking with your training instead of racing back as well.!

shortandpaleandoldandugly · 17/08/2023 13:48

He was stroppy when you phoned OP because he doesn't want you there while she is. I'd place bets on him being very different on Saturday afternoon when she's gone.

Dolores87 · 17/08/2023 13:48

sodthesodoff · 17/08/2023 13:34

Honestly as a parent. Would I leave my kids for a week for a massively unimportant jaunt across the Atlantic to see someone I'd never met before and have bugger all plans in the city? No.

If it was important. Yes I'd get it. Of course any parent has the rights to do stuff without their kids

But the reasons for why she's dumped them are shitty to be honest. Shes prioritised a bloke she's never met over her kids. Of course she's not going to get a round of applause.

She hasnt dumped them, she has left them with their dad to travel for a just over a week. Stop being ott.

I would absolutely leave my kids for that long to go on holiday including if that holiday was to visit a friend (probably more likely to visit a friend actually thinking about it ) especially if I was struggling with my home life and needed time to reflect. Their Dad is more then capable of caring for them without me for that amount of time and I am pretty sure children are not going to experience life long trauma because their Mum went went away for a few days.

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