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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have confronted DH's cousin for flirting with him?

543 replies

Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 13:56

My husband and I have been together for 18 years, married for 12. We have two children, aged 15 and 13.

Years ago, long before our relationship, when DH and his female 1st cousin were teenagers, they had a brief, secret relationship with each other.

At first, I thought they just slept together, but over the years DH confided in me that he had slept with her once while staying at her house for a week during the summer holidays when they were both 16, but that they also wanted to be together but knew they could never tell anyone.

They lived in different parts of the country and rarely ever saw each other.

My DH has told me he's actually quite angry with his parents for putting them in this position. They were teenagers, who didn't grow up together, rarely saw each other, and yet when the family would meet up once or twice a year, they would always stay over and the kids would be put in the same room, on bunk beds and camp beds, without any thought of the fact that they were developing and going through puberty, just assuming they were innocent kids. He says the curiousity and strong feelings were inevitable and his parents and other adults should have been more responsible.

Anyway, noone at all knows what happened except DH, the cousin, and me.

When they reached young adulthood, the cousin emigrated to a different country and DH and I have only seen her twice in the last 15 years.
However, we are all currently all Holiday together! MIL recently won a large amount of money and took the whole extended family, 17 of us in total, away on a huge Holiday. Cousin is here.

We have been drinking every night and cousin, who is now in her late 30s, and doesn't have a husband or kids of her own, keeps relentlessly saying flirting with DH. Telling him he looks great in shorts, whistling when he takes his top off on the beach, making silly sexual jokes, and hugging him by coming up behind him and resting her head on his shoulder. Noone else seems to notice and DH says not to worry about it as he doesn't feel anything for her and nothing is going to happen and she's just being playful.
But I've noticed she's not like it with any other males here. Just DH.

The final straw for me came last night when she sat on DH's lap while we were all sitting around drinking and put her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek.

DH just laughed and told her to get up then got up himself and went to the bar.

Again, we had all had quite a lot to drink.

A few minutes later, I went off to the toilet and she was coming back towards me. She was quite drunk and came over with her arms out in front of her to give me a hug. I stepped away and looked her right in the face. I said "Stop flirting with my husband. Don't think I don't know your history. If you come anywhere near him again, I will tell everyone about you two." She looked utterly shocked. I walked away. She must have gone straight to bed.
Today, she's been really quiet all day. Everyone's commented on it but they've just assumed she's really hungover.

MIL and I were sitting on the beach and she commented that this trip has been good for her. She's had a hard time lately as a bloke she was going to marry cheated on her with his ex wife and then went back to her. She's really benefitting from being with family to support her as she's so alone out there.

I feel really guilty for saying that to her last night. I just got so jealous seeing her sitting in his lap, looking amazing in her tiny sundress, knowing their history and she was probably his first love, and felt so insecure. The stupid fling they had was so long ago and they were young and I know at least DH deeply regrets it and is embarrassed about it.

I'm worried I've now ruined her holiday. I didn't know she was going through that. I've been chatting to her to be friendly and get to know her but she never mentioned it

Was I unreasonable?

OP posts:
skyeisthelimit · 05/05/2026 13:59

YANBU, her behaviour was inappropriate and you put her in her place.

AmberSpy · 05/05/2026 14:01

She was inappropriate but your husband shouldn't have entertained it in the way he did. He needs to take her aside and tell her firmly and clearly that he's married and not in any way sexually or romantically interested in her. (She should know all that obviously but sounds like she needs to hear it bluntly from him). If she continues to cross boundaries your husband needs to cut contact with her.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that they are both at fault.

Topcoatpls · 05/05/2026 14:05

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OriginalUsername2 · 05/05/2026 14:07

I would have done the same. Her problems aren’t relevant. Hopefully she learns some boundaries from this 😬

Topcoatpls · 05/05/2026 14:08

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Topcoatpls · 05/05/2026 14:09

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Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:10

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Erm no I haven't, that was ages ago and that was my cousin, totally different cousin, different people, different things
Please don't say things that are untrue because these are two real situations I am asking for help with

OP posts:
MaryBeardsShoes · 05/05/2026 14:10

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LOL!!!

Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:10

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No I am not. And if you must know, I changed details on the first post. The cousin wasn't a cousin.

OP posts:
Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:12

And before anyone starts like things like children's ages are different, people don't want to be recognised. They change details.
Both stories are 100% true!!!

OP posts:
Topcoatpls · 05/05/2026 14:12

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MaryBeardsShoes · 05/05/2026 14:12

I didn’t grow up with my cousins but I still knew not to shag them.

Your husband should be telling her to back off, but obviously it’s landed to you so fair play for telling her.

(if this is true)

matresense · 05/05/2026 14:13

She was inappropriate. I don’t think you should feel bad about her personal circumstances - you would have been kind to her about it if she had told you, but that doesn’t excuse the flirting. You can still be kind to her. She just needs to behave appropriately for a family member.

Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:13

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I changed details because I didn't want to be recognised. First cousin wasn't a cousin. It was my sister.

OP posts:
Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:14

MaryBeardsShoes · 05/05/2026 14:12

I didn’t grow up with my cousins but I still knew not to shag them.

Your husband should be telling her to back off, but obviously it’s landed to you so fair play for telling her.

(if this is true)

Yes, well, he regrets it now and is embarrassed about it.

OP posts:
BiddlyBipBipBeeBop · 05/05/2026 14:17

Maybe she’ll behave herself now. YANBU

Daisystreet · 05/05/2026 14:18

Well done op
You did the right thing

Megifer · 05/05/2026 14:24

Cant believe your DH is blaming everyone but himself (and her) for this. Ick factor 10000 for the cousin-shaggers 🤢

And why didn't your DH tell her to do one?

Urgh, I need a shower after reading that.

deeahgwitch · 05/05/2026 14:24

Daisystreet · 05/05/2026 14:18

Well done op
You did the right thing

I agree.
I too didn’t grow up with my cousins and like @MaryBeardsShoes I knew not to shag them.

Rachie1973 · 05/05/2026 14:25

Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:13

I changed details because I didn't want to be recognised. First cousin wasn't a cousin. It was my sister.

In which case your DH should have been far more proactive in disengaging.

Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:28

Rachie1973 · 05/05/2026 14:25

In which case your DH should have been far more proactive in disengaging.

NO 🤦🤦🤦

There wasn't any sisters involved. Don't worry about that comment, it's related to something else. All the info is in the OP

OP posts:
Dollymylove · 05/05/2026 14:28

I'm a bit confused here. Lots of replies deleted. Who was shagging who?
Your DH and his cousin or your DH and yoir sister?

Temporaryusernamename · 05/05/2026 14:29

Megifer · 05/05/2026 14:24

Cant believe your DH is blaming everyone but himself (and her) for this. Ick factor 10000 for the cousin-shaggers 🤢

And why didn't your DH tell her to do one?

Urgh, I need a shower after reading that.

I know, it's gross.

They regret it massively though and definitely don't want anyone to know.

OP posts:
VanGoSunflowers · 05/05/2026 14:29

Dollymylove · 05/05/2026 14:28

I'm a bit confused here. Lots of replies deleted. Who was shagging who?
Your DH and his cousin or your DH and yoir sister?

Same, totally lost. Did OP’s DH shag OP’s sister and they grew up together? How does that work?

Happyjoe · 05/05/2026 14:29

At least the three of you know where you are at now.

But, I will say, if your hubby will cheat, he will cheat, so if he was the decent, trustworthy sort you shouldn't have had to say anything anyway. I hope you were not too jealous as that's destructive. They should never have made you feel this way and for that am sorry.

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