Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
PyongyangKipperbang · 05/05/2026 21:50

LoyalMember · 05/05/2026 21:48

Seriously? First cousins fucking? You must approve of causing disabilities and genetic mutations in children...

Its isnt BEING normalised, it already is!

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/05/2026 21:58

LoyalMember · 05/05/2026 21:48

Seriously? First cousins fucking? You must approve of causing disabilities and genetic mutations in children...

And do some proper research. Families in which this happens have generations of intermarrying and no marrying out. One pair of cousins in one large family that has no history if intermarrying are very unlikely to have problems.

People often point to the Hapsburgs to "prove" this point that it will always cause issues but they intermarried to the point where uncles married neices and it got to the stage where cousins who were marrying were genetically brothers and sisters, the same with the uncles and nieces too.

In the OPs case, this would not be an issue. You are using that because you have an ick about it, but it doesnt make it true.

I would not do it with my male cousins as we were a very close family growing up so they really are more like brothers than cousins. But people who are technically related but rarely meet are not going to have the feeling about each other, incestuous relationships amongst brothers and sister who only meet as adults is a known and well researched phenomenon.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 05/05/2026 22:00

I’ve been cruelly dumped twice and never did I ever flirt with anyone’s husband to deal with it

LoyalMember · 05/05/2026 22:05

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 05/05/2026 22:00

I’ve been cruelly dumped twice and never did I ever flirt with anyone’s husband to deal with it

Me as well by a couple of women. I'm fairly certain I didn't react by going over to a guy's wife and making an absolute arse of him in front of his whole family.

NotAnotherScarf · 05/05/2026 22:21

Shitshowpolitics · 05/05/2026 17:47

It's an outdated law that needs to be changed. Can't they go to the next village for a shag or meet their partner.

That's the community in the UK as well as Pakistan. And arranged marriage is still a thing

Agree it shouldn't be legal

Besidemyselfwithworry · 05/05/2026 22:26

I’m sorry but if my partner or husband had slept with his cousin that’s so gross on all levels I’d never have got involved let alone married to this freak!

Lingostar · 05/05/2026 22:53

Difficult. Funnily enough, a good friend of mine has an older brother who had a similar situation to your DH. His female cousin had grown up abroad and they didn’t meet until their late teens. One night they both got drunk and one thing led to another…

The cousin remained living abroad but the rest of the family knew about it and it wasn’t treated like a big deal, in all honesty! In fact I remember years later, the female cousin was visiting and the brother’s wife wasn’t happy about it and my friend eyerolling and saying ‘they were just kids and it was a one night mistake fgs’.

I get it feels much more uncomfortable and inappropriate now to you, OP, if she’s flirting wildly. I think you could have said it a bit less aggressively to her, but booze was involved I guess! Also it should have really been up to DH to say ‘look, cousin - stop behaving like this, it’s not ok’.

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/05/2026 23:12

Besidemyselfwithworry · 05/05/2026 22:26

I’m sorry but if my partner or husband had slept with his cousin that’s so gross on all levels I’d never have got involved let alone married to this freak!

Helpful. How has that addressed any of the questions the OP asked?

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/05/2026 23:13

I tell you what is shocking on this thread, the casual and unacknowledged racism.

[Awaits the "No it isnt because....."]

ThatBlackCat · 05/05/2026 23:20

Incest is a big thing in white deep south America. I wonder how that is 'racism'?

I suppose calling out FGM would be classified as 'racism' too! 🙄🤦‍♀️

LoyalMember · 05/05/2026 23:21

ThatBlackCat · 05/05/2026 23:20

Incest is a big thing in white deep south America. I wonder how that is 'racism'?

I suppose calling out FGM would be classified as 'racism' too! 🙄🤦‍♀️

It's by no means exclusively a white thing, either.

ArtAngel · 05/05/2026 23:22

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 05/05/2026 21:20

FGS in many cultures it's not unusual.

Many years ago it was sometimes done to protect family money.

The Royal Family used to marry cousins off to one another.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were first cousins.

The late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were cousins.

King George V and Queen Mary were cousins.

I don't know why everyone is getting so freaked out by this. It's legal and not unheard of.

The late Queen and Prince Philip were third cousins.
George V and Mary second cousins

A much bigger family distance than first cousins.

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/05/2026 23:31

ThatBlackCat · 05/05/2026 23:20

Incest is a big thing in white deep south America. I wonder how that is 'racism'?

I suppose calling out FGM would be classified as 'racism' too! 🙄🤦‍♀️

Well unless you are a native of the white areas of deep south US and have personal experience of it yes it is racist. Racism isnt based on skin colour. Oh and what "incest" are you referring to? Between cousins? Because that isnt classed at incest in most deep south states, and cousin marriage is legal.

racism
/ˈreɪsɪz(ə)m/

prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

Before you continue to Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&hs=4tpp&sca_esv=08b21aac9d38c64a&sxsrf=ANbL-n6G_FTjhFya5iGU2AwXmaX7vV4y8g:1778020079966&q=prejudice&si=AL3DRZF9mDMECe4ehrGDiMmrXKhw7HPyXjecMOtaMYnmfa2Hq2rQFIOy11l3kIdNVzbWqW6bCSziX0S3DjbIF1O2BYQUaSGE-EXLrqqWwZZbHqtnlh0Azjg%3D&expnd=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiGgZT6mKOUAxVxUUEAHfYwF6EQyecJegQIHhAQ

ChocolateAddictAlways · 06/05/2026 00:00

I can't find the post which said something about '16 year olds should know better' as if 16 year olds globally don't make bloody stupid mistakes all the time. 🤣 And no I am not excusing it, I am simply acknowledging that at 16 your frontal cortex hasn't fully developed and you still have a juvenile brain.

Anyway the issue is what's happening now that they are both fully grown adults.

Franpie · 06/05/2026 00:05

ArtAngel · 05/05/2026 23:22

The late Queen and Prince Philip were third cousins.
George V and Mary second cousins

A much bigger family distance than first cousins.

I was wondering about this. Queen and PP were 3rd cousins on one side and 2nd cousins on the other I believe. Does that make them closer related than if they were just 3rd cousins on the one side or make no difference at all?

ThatBlackCat · 06/05/2026 00:07

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/05/2026 23:31

Well unless you are a native of the white areas of deep south US and have personal experience of it yes it is racist. Racism isnt based on skin colour. Oh and what "incest" are you referring to? Between cousins? Because that isnt classed at incest in most deep south states, and cousin marriage is legal.

racism
/ˈreɪsɪz(ə)m/

prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

Being against incest (a practice committed by all races) isn't racist. Any more than being against murder is racist.

And as a person of colour myself, I don't need a definition of racism or prejudice. I have lived experience of it.

OvertiredAndEmotional · 06/05/2026 00:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Vulnerable, my big fat arse.

RodJaneandBungle · 06/05/2026 00:49

They regret it massively or just your DH does? Looks like the cousin still has a problem with boundaries & the way she was behaving could not be described in any other way than flirting with him. I think you were right to tell her how you feel, Hope she doesn’t play the victim to your DH now tho OP. But it would have been impossible knowing their history for you to have felt any other way. YANBU.

chocolateaddictions · 06/05/2026 00:55

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/05/2026 23:13

I tell you what is shocking on this thread, the casual and unacknowledged racism.

[Awaits the "No it isnt because....."]

What?! Why?

going back to the OP - looking forward to your update. I don’t think YABU. But there are a lot of outing details in this thread.

RodJaneandBungle · 06/05/2026 00:59

Btw I wouldn’t be telling your DH till after the holiday. He’s only going to feel huge shame, guilt & fear of having hurt “vulnerable” cousin. I think he’ll make you out to be over reacting & just jealous of cousin, looks & body. And it will be hard for you to prove otherwise esp if she was just drunk, or she’s like that with everyone or she’s just a bit silly & wild. All of which is BS. Tell him when you get back o’wise it could cause a huge dampener. If he does try to gaslight you I’d be tempted to say “well shall we get some others’ perspectives on this & if they think I’m being unreasonable here? Ok no thought not”.

Tigerbalmshark · 06/05/2026 01:36

SorcererGaheris · 05/05/2026 16:27

It's in the OP. Apparently she was cheated on recently and was finding it helpful to spend time with family.

Though the actual quote (“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”) sounds suspiciously like she was shagging a married man, his not-actually-ex wife found out and so he dumped her.

suburberphobe · 06/05/2026 01:52

Sounds like something from Eastenders.

Sorry OP

asdbaybeeee · 06/05/2026 04:22

She was behaving inappropriately and your dh should have nipped it in the bud. Maybe he likes his ego stroked or maybe he didn’t want to confront her so buried his head in the sand. Telling you he’s not interested isn’t the point, he shouldn’t be accepting this behaviour from another woman particularly someone he’s slept with.
You were wrong to threaten her but it’s done and she’s in her place. I would continue to be friendly and consider it water under the bridge.

TheBlueKoala · 06/05/2026 05:42

ImFinePMSL · 05/05/2026 20:48

It is not considered incest by the law.

So fucking what?

They didn't see each other often so didn't grow up as family

Again, so fucking what?

Sick sick sick sick sick sick sick 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

OK ! I agree that it should be illegal and it's nauseabond but IT HAS NOTHING TO WITH OP'S CURRENT PROBLEM. We are not talking about people who will have genetically challenged children together so please don't derail the thread- start another about cousins in general.

And to another poster: it is not racist to point out that cousin marriage is a huge problem in some Asian cultures. It's factual. If we are not allowed to adress a problem it can't be fixed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c241pn09qqjo

A treated image of two wedding rings

Cousin marriage: The new evidence about children's ill health

A major study has found first cousin-parentage may have wider consequences than previously thought.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c241pn09qqjo

sunflowersandsunsets · 06/05/2026 07:13

ChocolateAddictAlways · 06/05/2026 00:00

I can't find the post which said something about '16 year olds should know better' as if 16 year olds globally don't make bloody stupid mistakes all the time. 🤣 And no I am not excusing it, I am simply acknowledging that at 16 your frontal cortex hasn't fully developed and you still have a juvenile brain.

Anyway the issue is what's happening now that they are both fully grown adults.

That was me 🤷‍♀️

Yes, 16 year olds make mistakes all the time but that normally involves drinking too much at a party, or skipping school, or messing about on their phone at 2am - not sleeping with their bloody cousins 🙄