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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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I did something stupid at the weekend. Can’t stop thinking about it. Why do I do stupid reckless stuff?

353 replies

Ineedatellingoff · 04/11/2025 01:45

Hey. I’ll try to keep this brief. First off I need a good shake. Women who are in committed relationships/marriages should not get on like this! I feel so much guilt for what I’ve done but also glad it didn’t go further as it so could’ve easily done.

last weekend I went on a mums night out with friends. The first one in a while. It was planned ages in advance. I have been struggling with several things in my life and I feel very stuck in a rut. Day to day I get lonely because I don’t work and have been trying to get back into work with little success which has really knocked my confidence. I’m a married mum who is still fairly young but not very young if that makes sense. I’ve had a lot of trauma happen throughout my life that has damaged me as a person and my self worth. I love DH dearly but things (not lately but especially the first year of DC life) have been hard and we’ve faced issues. He’s a lovely man, husband and father.

on that night out I got very drunk because I mixed my drinks (I know better and know it’s not an excuse). I’ve been having a blip with mental health this while back and things were said to me, also setbacks etc. we were having fun just catching up and dancing. We went out of the venue to go to another when we started talking to some random men. An attractive man gave me attention. I was hugging everyone like I do when drunk. We were cuddling and I allowed him to touch me (why the heck did I do that) me and my friend (our other friend had gone off with a random men) were trying to get a taxi because everywhere was full. Random man tagged along. We got into a taxi. Me and random guy were cuddling. I knew he was looking sex and if I was single I would’ve gone for it. He wanted to go into my place (DH and DC were at in laws for the night) I told him no.

when I got in my head was spinning badly and my whole body was shivering. It had been hours since my last drink. I went straight to bed and woke up hours later to feeling the exact same. I freaked out and phoned my ex who I’m on good terms with to come over because I was worried. He came over as I thought my drink was spiked. He told me it wasn’t. I told him what had gone on. We were talking and we cuddled (I don’t see that as cheating) for a while. I liked it because I’m a cuddly girly and I love being held. The way he held me felt amazing. After a while he put me to bed and we cuddled again. Nothing else happened and I was still drunk by this point. He left. When we cuddled it felt like no time had passed in a way which sounds awful.

I feel guilty for the way I acted. Like it’s not fair on DH. Why did I let myself get that way? Me and ex talked about it. He acted better that night like he did at the start of our relationship back then. I confided in him in what I was put through and he told me that I’m not happy and while that’s partly true but I love my husband but I sometimes miss the good times and being held that way. My DH holds and cuddles me too which I enjoy.

what is wrong with me?

OP posts:
noidea69 · 04/11/2025 10:11

The stuff in the club wasnt great, but having the ex over in the morning for a cuddle is completely insane.

starofthecountydown · 04/11/2025 10:13

OMG. This must be some sort of weird joke. A cuddle is cheating? 🤣🤣🤣🤣. God some people are strange. People hug every day FFS. Howling at the 'prepare for it to be over' for hugging some random on a night out.

Do you know the difference between cuddling and hugging? I mean, I give my MIL a hug at New Year (because she bloody insists) but that is not a cuddle. Oh God, I hate the word cuddle, but it is much more than a hug. Also, OP said she let the man TOUCH her. Where do you stand on that? Do you think perhaps he simply touched her arm while helping her into the taxi? I’m ‘howling’ at your naivety @XiCi🙄

confusedlady10 · 04/11/2025 10:16

Starlight1984 · 04/11/2025 10:08

So you'd be ok with your husband inviting his ex round and "cuddling" her in your marital bed whilst you were away with your children???

Really?!

Exactly! Had OP been a man who did this, he would be flamed!

ldnmusic87 · 04/11/2025 10:19

Calling up your ex for a cuddle isn't right.

Starlight1984 · 04/11/2025 10:21

Chocja · 04/11/2025 09:15

For those that are saying cuddling isn’t cheating. I think in normal situations of course it isn’t. I hug friends and some colleagues and family members all the time but in every case I wouldn’t care who was watching. I don’t care if my
DH is watching or if it was shown on TV.

Inviting an ex around to cuddle you in your bed isn’t something I think that people would do in front of their partners or would want their partners to see on tv. I would be heartbroken to see my DH in bed cuddling with his ex

Well indeed 😂

We went out on Saturday night and I cuddled / hugged a (male) friend as we said goodbye as we probably won't see them for a while. DH was there and obviously fine with it.

I don't imagine if DH went out and I invited my ex round for a cuddle in our bed that he would be quite as ok with it.

Anyway I don't believe for a second it was just a cuddle.

when I got in my head was spinning badly and my whole body was shivering. I freaked out and phoned my ex who I’m on good terms with to come over because I was worried. He came over as I thought my drink was spiked.

Fuck off 😂If you genuinely thought any of this then you would ring your husband. Or your mum / dad. Or even a friend.

You ring an ex because you want attention and / or sex.

Starlight1984 · 04/11/2025 10:25

VictoriaEra · 04/11/2025 09:11

The word 'cuddle' is starting to sound weird to me now.

Probably because she actually means sex.

Can you imagine us believing a bloke saying he invited his ex round for a "cuddle"?

freakingscared · 04/11/2025 10:28

I think about it this way . If my husband did that to me it would be cheating imo so if I did that to him ( I wouldn’t ) it would be cheating too .
Imo you were really stupid . How you are going to deal with that , I don’t know . But maybe stay away from nights out without your husband at least

freakingscared · 04/11/2025 10:29

Wait is cuddle sex ??? Goodness me I’m by no means a prune but I’m at try going to get it with this post

Starlight1984 · 04/11/2025 10:38

ldnmusic87 · 04/11/2025 10:19

Calling up your ex for a cuddle isn't right.

But...but...

when I got in my head was spinning badly and my whole body was shivering. It had been hours since my last drink. I went straight to bed and woke up hours later to feeling the exact same. I freaked out and phoned my ex who I’m on good terms with to come over because I was worried. He came over as I thought my drink was spiked. He told me it wasn’t.

This isn't just any ex. This is an ex who will drop everything in the middle of the night to go to his exes and diagnose her (I'm assuming he's a doctor given how he knew straight away what was in your blood stream), cuddled her for a while (was he not questioning where the fuck her husband and kids were?!) and then politely put her back to bed and got a taxi home.

What a gentleman 😍

NimbleDreamer · 04/11/2025 10:52

PorpoiseWithPurpose · 04/11/2025 10:01

This sounds like it’s been written by a bloke who thinks this is how grown women talk and act.

Edited

I agree with you but I do know some women like this sadly. One of them has a personality disorder (BPD) and is forever seeking validation from men, and cries about how she is a victim and that nothing is ever her fault etc.

Praying4Peace · 04/11/2025 10:52

Calm down and forgive yourself, you haven't done anything wrong.
Wishing you all the happiness you deserve

Hyperfix8d · 04/11/2025 11:05

Starlight1984 · 04/11/2025 10:21

Well indeed 😂

We went out on Saturday night and I cuddled / hugged a (male) friend as we said goodbye as we probably won't see them for a while. DH was there and obviously fine with it.

I don't imagine if DH went out and I invited my ex round for a cuddle in our bed that he would be quite as ok with it.

Anyway I don't believe for a second it was just a cuddle.

when I got in my head was spinning badly and my whole body was shivering. I freaked out and phoned my ex who I’m on good terms with to come over because I was worried. He came over as I thought my drink was spiked.

Fuck off 😂If you genuinely thought any of this then you would ring your husband. Or your mum / dad. Or even a friend.

You ring an ex because you want attention and / or sex.

This x1000000

Stop making excuses for your sh*y behaviour. If you can’t behave when you drink - don’t drink. Inviting your ex round for a cuddle in bed??? Would you tell your DH about this? If not then that is 100% cheating.

If my OH invited his ex round for a cuddle he wouldn’t see me for dust, absolutely vile behaviour.

“it’s because I’ve been put down” blah blah blah stop blaming other people and take accountability - you did this because you wanted to. That’s it.

abds · 04/11/2025 11:09

OP, you have cheated take some accountability! Like other posters I do recommend therapy. Men will never heal what’s going on with your mental health and will just add to your troubles xx

MyPurpleHeart · 04/11/2025 11:11

I dont understand why your first thought when you found yourself in trouble was to call your ex....

lola006 · 04/11/2025 11:23

Does your DH know you’re still in touch with your ex? How would he feel if he knew you were “cuddling” (seriously, is this code for heavy petting or sex?) in your shared bed? How would you feel if it was your DH and one of his exes?

Starlight1984 · 04/11/2025 11:26

MyPurpleHeart · 04/11/2025 11:11

I dont understand why your first thought when you found yourself in trouble was to call your ex....

Because she was horny from being touched up by the man in the bar and wanted a shag. Bluntly.

Starlight1984 · 04/11/2025 11:26

Praying4Peace · 04/11/2025 10:52

Calm down and forgive yourself, you haven't done anything wrong.
Wishing you all the happiness you deserve

Are you having a fucking laugh?! 😂

TeaRoseTallulah · 04/11/2025 11:27

Frustratedandpissedoff · 04/11/2025 01:57

I can understand enjoying a bit of attention from a stranger in a club, but inviting your ex round for a cuddle and not seeing why that's wrong? That's emotional cheating.

Absolutely this, you don't t see this as cheating,wtf? You need to have a strong word with yourself and stop making excuses.

333FionaG · 04/11/2025 11:29

Why on earth did you contact your ex for reassurance and cuddles? That's a hundred times worse than allowing a random man to grope you in a club. Being extrovert and linking cuddles isn't an excuse for emotionally cheating. Have you told your husband about any of this? I'd imagine your girlfriends think you're a liability as well, getting as drunk as you did - I bet one or more of them were keeping an eye on you and silently despairing. You obviously crave the male gaze, and you need to address this. Find out why you are so desperate for attention from men. And next time you have a night out, stick to two drinks, or none at all.

ThatAmpleLilacCat · 04/11/2025 11:32

When you said you allowed the attractive man to touch you, are we to assume digits inside?

Imagine if this was a bloke calling up his ex for a cuddle and getting tossed off in a club 😂

Lobleylimlam · 04/11/2025 11:33

The thing is you say you don't consider cuddling as cheating, I appreciate everyone has different ideas on what constitutes cheating or not, but i'd ask yourself would you be ok if your husband did the same thing? If the answer is no then you need to evaluate what you consider cheating or not. I doubt you'd be ok if your husband was drunk and invited his ex to come round and cuddle. You'd probably feel hurt by this and very insecure.

I am sorry you're struggling with your mental health and relationship. You really should try and get some therapy and have an open line of communication eith your husband.

Saying this from a non judgemental pov, as someone who has made alllll these mistakes when I was in my 20s!

Edit: a hug that lasts a second as a greeting/goodbye is different to sitting and cuddling for elongated periods of time. Suppose that needs clarity.

Floundering66 · 04/11/2025 11:35

If my partner did either of these things, it would be the end for me. Calling your ex just screams “I love drama” to me - sorry!

FergalHunter · 04/11/2025 11:37

You allowed this man to touch you? I think this has been glossed over in these replies. What does this mean exactly? It sounds like more than just a cuddle.

MissDoubleU · 04/11/2025 11:38

You’re using the drink as an excuse. The very fact that you try and justify the cuddling as being a “cuddly girl” - no.

You could have cuddled with your mum friends. You brought your ex over to share your marital bed with you. Take responsibility.

ChaToilLeam · 04/11/2025 11:39

I think you need a major break from drink. And to figure out why you indulge in this attention seeking behaviour. Attention from the man in the club, and from your ex, and now from us on here.

Emotionally this all sounds very teenage. You have a husband and children, sure you can have fun, but trying to "cuddle" with other men is way out of line. You're trying to minimise it and make it sound twee and cute but it's not, it's cheating.