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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Slept with ex BIL and having an identity crisis

324 replies

Squirre · 25/10/2023 12:04

TL:DR - slept with my ex husband's brother. Hate myself but also enjoyed it.

Please be brutal with me. To give this some context me and my ex married in our early 20s (now early 30s) and have one dc who has cerebral palsy. All of the stress effected our relationship and we ended up seperating. Ex is from a big family and I'm still close to my in laws. My Mum died when I was 13 and dad died last year so they've always been the main support with dc.

BiL is in the navy and a few years younger. Don't see a huge amount of him but he's always been around and very loving with dc.
He was visiting this past week and helped me take dc to respite. After asked me what i was doing which was nothing and said he couldn't have that so we went to cinema which is in one of those leisure arcade things so ended up getting something to eat and playing some games as well. Got back to mine and almost as soon as we did started kissing and one thing led to another.

I honestly don't know what came over me. Haven't even been on a date since my marriage ended. It was intense and different from what I'm used to (don't want to be graphic but ex never focused on me). afterwards we fell asleep together. The morning was confusing as he acted almost like we were together? Made me tea and breakfast told me i was beautiful idk I liked it but the shame was fully taking hold of me by this point. Made excuses to get away but think he'd have stayed otherwise. Haven't addressed it since but he's been messaging me and saying when he can visit next.

I know this can't be a thing and i think it would never be mentioned again if I avoid him. Thing is if it was anyone else I'd do it again and so that i liked it is makinynke feel icky. He's also a few years younger which in anyone else wouldn't be a problem but because I've known him since he was younger is also making me feel wrong.

So please be straight with me because my head is all over the place

OP posts:
Icanttakethisanymore · 04/03/2025 08:11

ThisGiddyHare · 03/03/2025 21:04

Did your Mum hook up with your Uncle by any chance?

Or ex with a sibling? 😂

soarklyknobs · 04/03/2025 08:29

It sounds to me like your new partner stepped up for both you and your DC in a way that your ex didn't.

That makes me very happy for you both.

If your ex is uncomfortable with the situation, he only has himself to blame. I'm assuming that if he'd taken on 50/50 care of his disabled child then you wouldn't have needed to use the "respite facility" which your new DP took you to, and the whole relationship wouldn't have happened.

Hope life goes well for you all.

ShittyMon · 04/03/2025 08:31

It’s not often posts get updated beyond the short term, so I’m glad to see one, and a happy one at that. As long as you are all happy, and knowing that your dc is loved, why not! It’s an unusual situation, but really not that unusual. You deserve to be happy OP, and I am so glad you have a good chance at this!

WhatFreshHellisThese · 04/03/2025 08:33

Thanks for the update! I'm pleased for you

Naunet · 04/03/2025 08:43

I'm so pleased for you, he sounds absolutely lovely!

Swiftie1878 · 04/03/2025 08:45

Squirre · 02/03/2025 17:18

I was thinking about this thread today. I can't believe it's been over a year since I wrote it. I thought I'd add an update in case anyone ever finds themselves stumbling across this in a similar predicament. This was probably my most self-induced stressful period and triggered a bit of a mini identity crisis. So my first piece of advice would be to absolutely not get into this situation in the first place.
Having said that...we are now together. I sometimes think of the comment someone put that this all sounded medieval because blimey it really does 🙈
The situation with dc is very different for us and I think that's probably why things have actually worked out ok. In any other dynamic with children I don't think it would be fair because of the outside stigma.
When we first made a go of things it brought up a load of things in me. It turns out (unsurprisingly) I'm a little broken and feeling properly loved was a bit of an adjustment and dragged up a bunch of bottled up past traumas that I've been slowly unpicking with a therapist. We also have the plus that his work means he's not always around so things are slow by definition and that works well.
The family side of things was probably not what you'd expect but this happening was seemingly not a surprise to my in laws and my MIL and SIL was really happy...which was strangely mortifying in a way I can't explain. Exdh is probably less thrilled but there's not been any animosity. I really do think this is purely down the very specific circumstances we are all in though. If there was any risk blowing up your life I wouldn't take it.
It's not something we've shared publicly but obviously people do know and I'm sure we've generated some juicy gossip. But I can't blame anyone for that really. It just is what it is.
So with all the weird social stuff, stress and random unexpected trauma emerging was it worth it? I think it was. Its so hard to describe this because it doesn't feel like some crazy mad dramatic love it feels comfortable and safe.
So yeah, that's an update nobody asked for on the weirdest year and a bit of my life!

Awww, what a lovely update.
Enjoy being loved. You deserve it. xx

Never2many · 04/03/2025 09:11

OP when I first opened this thread I thought it was a zombie thread, but decided to read through your posts to see how things had turned out.

I’m glad that things turned out the way they did. So what if it’s not conventional.We spend our whole lives being conventional and where does that get us.

FWIW I have a friend whose dad got together with his auntie after his parents split. In fact his mum and aunt still maintained a close relationship and they used to have dinner together and everything.

It’s far more civilised than these families who spend their time and energy avoiding and hating one another.

Best of luck.

Thatwouldbeme · 04/03/2025 09:30

I've just read this thread and I'm so happy for you, you sound very honest and extremely brave. Hope you all the future happiness

Qwee · 04/03/2025 09:36

I am so delighted to read your happy update.
You sound like a wonderful woman that life has dealt a lot of hard blows to.

You enjoy any bit of happiness that comes your way.
He sounds lovely, and you deserve no less.
Bless you and your child.

MyBoyFlattop · 04/03/2025 10:14

ItsmeImtheproblem200 · 25/10/2023 12:13

What?? How are people not seeing the issue? You could rip the entire family apart.

This is so unnecessary, their are literally millions of single men out there that the father of your child is not related to.

What about their Mum? What about your ex? What about your child? What about future family dynamics? Birthdays, Christmas, weddings, funerals????

What are you thinking? This is an horrendous idea. What if your ex slept with your sister? The ex who you built a whole life with went through turmoil of a diagnosis of your child with? Walked down the aisle with?

This is wrong. And unnecessary. You can stop it now before mistakes happen that can never be taken back and families are not torn apart to the point of no return.

This

Busephalus · 04/03/2025 10:18

If you have children they will be siblings and cousins

Busephalus · 04/03/2025 10:19

Icanttakethisanymore · 04/03/2025 08:11

Or ex with a sibling? 😂

And that's a laughing matter?

hotnotgrot · 04/03/2025 10:22

Good for you OP.

You've been a carer for a long time and you've found someone who is invested in you and your child.

Good luck!

NavyNorris · 04/03/2025 10:36

Ahhh I love this!! Thank you for the update! I read the whole thing in one go.

When I read your first post the romantic in me was hoping you'd get together!

I'm so glad it all worked out and that you're happy ❤️

GabriellaMontez · 04/03/2025 11:41

So glad you ignored the ludicrous hyperbole from some posters. Happy for you.

Some pp need to read the updates !!!

Rosybud88 · 04/03/2025 11:48

Good for you ❤️ xxx

JenniferBooth · 04/03/2025 13:33

soarklyknobs · 04/03/2025 08:29

It sounds to me like your new partner stepped up for both you and your DC in a way that your ex didn't.

That makes me very happy for you both.

If your ex is uncomfortable with the situation, he only has himself to blame. I'm assuming that if he'd taken on 50/50 care of his disabled child then you wouldn't have needed to use the "respite facility" which your new DP took you to, and the whole relationship wouldn't have happened.

Hope life goes well for you all.

THIS!!!

TheFirstTimeEverISawYourFace · 04/03/2025 14:36

Sounds like The Archers

Inthedeep · 04/03/2025 15:07

TheFirstTimeEverISawYourFace · 04/03/2025 14:36

Sounds like The Archers

What a rude and condescending comment.

Busephalus · 04/03/2025 15:16

TheFirstTimeEverISawYourFace · 04/03/2025 14:36

Sounds like The Archers

Did that happen in the archers

monsteramunch · 04/03/2025 15:58

@fiberglasscath

You might want to reflect on the fact you describe someone disabled as not 'normal' before you start preaching to other people. It was quite jarring to read you using that description about a child you don't even know.

ClarkGablesMoustache · 04/03/2025 16:05

Inthedeep · 04/03/2025 15:07

What a rude and condescending comment.

She’s not wrong though - Emma Carter married Will Grundy then left him for his brother Ed.
Her eldest child, George, is half brother and cousin to his sister Keira.

OP, I’m delighted you’ve found happiness and I wish you nothing but the best. Life as a parent with a child with significant disabilities is a hard road, and any source of kindness and joy is to be treasured.

nutbrownhare15 · 04/03/2025 16:15

Oh wow I was kind of hoping you would get together when I read your thread originally. I'm glad it's worked out so well.

Busephalus · 04/03/2025 16:16

ClarkGablesMoustache · 04/03/2025 16:05

She’s not wrong though - Emma Carter married Will Grundy then left him for his brother Ed.
Her eldest child, George, is half brother and cousin to his sister Keira.

OP, I’m delighted you’ve found happiness and I wish you nothing but the best. Life as a parent with a child with significant disabilities is a hard road, and any source of kindness and joy is to be treasured.

Nice for the lovers, but bit weird for the kids

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