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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:
bigboykitty · 08/05/2026 15:21

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Not sure what this has to do with the thread you've posted on.

Applecup · 08/05/2026 15:33

bigboykitty · 08/05/2026 15:21

Not sure what this has to do with the thread you've posted on.

Oops wrong thread.

RodJaneandBungle · 08/05/2026 16:11

Goditsmemargaret · 08/05/2026 13:38

Right so two consenting teens have sex and he's to blame? Why isn't he a fucked up mess then?

Well if her boundaries had been eroded by prior sexual abuse & she’d already been sexualised she may have been more vulnerable to male attention and/or grooming. Consent is really fraught & ofc if she was fully consenting how could OP’s be DH to blame? Apart from misguided & inappropriate judgement. She equally could have been the one to make the more sexual advances on him. Nobody will ever know. It’s an unusual situation in most people’s opinion on here. Suggesting some vulnerability IMO.

goodThingGonewrong · 08/05/2026 16:39

Thank you for the update and good flight back! His cousin is an absolute drama queen and she will bring it on herself by the dramatic way she exited. I am glad your husband has been accountable.

LeDix · 08/05/2026 23:37

I think you were right to confront her, but not to tell her with exposure.

Aur0raAustralis · 09/05/2026 03:44

ByLemonLeader · 08/05/2026 14:49

OP, I'm sorry to say this but I think you now have an absolute cat in hell's chance of this not coming out.

The cousin has flounced off, 3 days early, from a family Holiday. One that was gifted to her, no less. Her mother, the auntie, knows that her excuse is bullshit and is going to want to know the real reason her daughter did such a thing. The cousin has a drinking problem which clearly lowers her inhabitations.

It's going to come out. Auntie is going to get it out of cousin one way or another.

What's more, auntie has probably mentioned that the whole thing seems sus some time in the last 2/3 days since cousin flounced, to the MIL, (who is presumably Auntie's sister?) so MIL is probably wondering what happened, and as you say MIL is a gossip, so she's probably mentioned this to someone else.

The whole thing is a ticking time bomb and I would be beside myself with anxiety if I were you.

I don't say this to be smug or clever or anything OP, I am just trying to warn you that you should probably prepare yourself and it might even be a good idea for DH go to MIL now and tell her everything so that it comes from him and not on the grapevine from crazy cuz, through Auntie.

Sorry OP, but I honestly can't see this going any other way unfortunately. :(

Completely disagree. Cousin's life is currently a car crash, how on Earth will this secret being exposed help her? She left a free holiday early to avoid it coming out, she had been drinking with low inhibitions all week and still managed to keep her mouth shut about that particular incident. If your DH was ever to think it's better to tell everyone (it isn't) he needs to discuss it with her and get her consent first.

I also disagree with PPs saying you shouldn't have threatened to expose their secret. You only did it because she was being completely inappropriate with your husband, safe in the knowledge that, as you said, if you or he challenged her then you would look like a weirdo. Threatening to tell removed that power. There's no need to feel guilty - your telling-off was brought on by her own behaviour and you didn't have all the background to what she had been through (which is still no excuse for what she did).

If she's sensible, she will tell everyone she just found it hard to play happy families on holidays given what she's been through and that seeing her similar-aged cousin and his family contrasted with where she was in life was too much.

Safarisagoody · 09/05/2026 06:42

He said I 100% have nothing to worry about, and that he isn't remotely interested in her and actually just feels really sorry for her and thinks she's a bit "pathetic" as her life is a bit of a mess in loads of ways.Turns out MIL (who likes a bit of gossip) told him too about the ex thing and the getting cheated on, but actually went a bit further, she said that she has had a drinking problem for years, and also a bit of a coke problem which no-one knows if she still has because she denies it, and that actually the bloke she was going to marry had also got her pregnant, and had asked her to marry him after finding out about the pregnancy but then left her and went back to his ex so she had an abortion two months ago so she's also going through that

this is horrible. You’re clearly jealous of her and don’t remotely feel bad as you later said. All of you in there, gossiping about her, calling her pathetic and a mess. Much of what you write is also just speculation and none of you know.

just awful.

SerafinasGoose · 09/05/2026 10:49

Safarisagoody · 09/05/2026 06:42

He said I 100% have nothing to worry about, and that he isn't remotely interested in her and actually just feels really sorry for her and thinks she's a bit "pathetic" as her life is a bit of a mess in loads of ways.Turns out MIL (who likes a bit of gossip) told him too about the ex thing and the getting cheated on, but actually went a bit further, she said that she has had a drinking problem for years, and also a bit of a coke problem which no-one knows if she still has because she denies it, and that actually the bloke she was going to marry had also got her pregnant, and had asked her to marry him after finding out about the pregnancy but then left her and went back to his ex so she had an abortion two months ago so she's also going through that

this is horrible. You’re clearly jealous of her and don’t remotely feel bad as you later said. All of you in there, gossiping about her, calling her pathetic and a mess. Much of what you write is also just speculation and none of you know.

just awful.

I agree with you as far as MiL is concerned. I cannot bear gossips: it's toxic behaviour and usually does the gossiper no more favours than it does the gossiped-about. I actively avoid people in offline life who I know do this.

Cousin is still responsible for her own actions, however. There are a lot of people in this story whose actions don't particularly cover them in glory.

Safarisagoody · 09/05/2026 11:30

SerafinasGoose · 09/05/2026 10:49

I agree with you as far as MiL is concerned. I cannot bear gossips: it's toxic behaviour and usually does the gossiper no more favours than it does the gossiped-about. I actively avoid people in offline life who I know do this.

Cousin is still responsible for her own actions, however. There are a lot of people in this story whose actions don't particularly cover them in glory.

She is responsible, I completely agree. But it’s abhorrent, the mil. Likely her aunt, is gossiping about her private life in this manner. The op on line sharing it with ten million people. Her husband calling this woman pathetic, the op following him to her room in case “she tries anything” and her husband falls dick first into his own cousin. The op attacking her due to her own jealousy over her appearance and using what happened when they were kids as a weapon.

none of them have come out of it covered in glory and probably one of the ones who came out of it cleanest is the cousin herself. The op just looks jealous and insecure, her husband judgemental and doing that awful thing of calling a woman pathetic, the mil gossiping about very private information, inc a miscarriage.

it’s fucking appalling. If all the cousin did was get drunk and be too friendly, a bit flirty with someone she saw as safe as she’s just had a bad break up. Then at least she’s not judgmental , jealous, insecure. Gossipy and mean. They are all putting her down to make themselves feel better.

I’m really pleased for her she saw the sense to fuck off out of it, and draw her boundaries in place.

Shitshowpolitics · 09/05/2026 14:56

Safarisagoody · 09/05/2026 11:30

She is responsible, I completely agree. But it’s abhorrent, the mil. Likely her aunt, is gossiping about her private life in this manner. The op on line sharing it with ten million people. Her husband calling this woman pathetic, the op following him to her room in case “she tries anything” and her husband falls dick first into his own cousin. The op attacking her due to her own jealousy over her appearance and using what happened when they were kids as a weapon.

none of them have come out of it covered in glory and probably one of the ones who came out of it cleanest is the cousin herself. The op just looks jealous and insecure, her husband judgemental and doing that awful thing of calling a woman pathetic, the mil gossiping about very private information, inc a miscarriage.

it’s fucking appalling. If all the cousin did was get drunk and be too friendly, a bit flirty with someone she saw as safe as she’s just had a bad break up. Then at least she’s not judgmental , jealous, insecure. Gossipy and mean. They are all putting her down to make themselves feel better.

I’m really pleased for her she saw the sense to fuck off out of it, and draw her boundaries in place.

You believe that don't you. The op is the only one who has boundaries. How you came to that conclusion and please don't tell me on this occasion I don't want to know. This thread is already freaky enough as it is, please don't add to it. Who knows how far she was willing to go before op stepped in.

I do hope the cousin goes to rehab and gets counselling. Her life is in turmoil because of her wreckless decisions. People should be honest with her because lying only enables and makes the person worse.

Safarisagoody · 09/05/2026 14:58

Shitshowpolitics · 09/05/2026 14:56

You believe that don't you. The op is the only one who has boundaries. How you came to that conclusion and please don't tell me on this occasion I don't want to know. This thread is already freaky enough as it is, please don't add to it. Who knows how far she was willing to go before op stepped in.

I do hope the cousin goes to rehab and gets counselling. Her life is in turmoil because of her wreckless decisions. People should be honest with her because lying only enables and makes the person worse.

Love this, made me properly laugh. Absolutely love.”I’m going to say something weird but I beg you not to respond “ 😂

Goditsmemargaret · 09/05/2026 17:47

Safarisagoody · 09/05/2026 11:30

She is responsible, I completely agree. But it’s abhorrent, the mil. Likely her aunt, is gossiping about her private life in this manner. The op on line sharing it with ten million people. Her husband calling this woman pathetic, the op following him to her room in case “she tries anything” and her husband falls dick first into his own cousin. The op attacking her due to her own jealousy over her appearance and using what happened when they were kids as a weapon.

none of them have come out of it covered in glory and probably one of the ones who came out of it cleanest is the cousin herself. The op just looks jealous and insecure, her husband judgemental and doing that awful thing of calling a woman pathetic, the mil gossiping about very private information, inc a miscarriage.

it’s fucking appalling. If all the cousin did was get drunk and be too friendly, a bit flirty with someone she saw as safe as she’s just had a bad break up. Then at least she’s not judgmental , jealous, insecure. Gossipy and mean. They are all putting her down to make themselves feel better.

I’m really pleased for her she saw the sense to fuck off out of it, and draw her boundaries in place.

This is a seriously weird read on a situation honestly.

The woman had a secret relationship with him yet was hiding under the shield of being his cousin while flirting in a really aggressive way. She was sitting on his bloody lap.

KiwiFall · 09/05/2026 18:52

I don’t think you were unreasonable to have said what you did, or particularly the way you said it. Although your husband should have shut the situation down long before you had to. I would be far more concerned about that.

Given the instability of the cousin though I wouldn’t guarantee their secret remains so forever and I’d be prepared for someone else in the family to find out and it seems family members like to gossip about one another’s love lives so prepare for everyone to find out. If it does come out I hope your husband deals with it and doesn’t bury his head in the sand and expect you to deal with it (like he did with the cousin’s flirting).

RodJaneandBungle · 09/05/2026 23:25

Given the way the cousin has reacted there is a risk of her telling her version of events to family members & that version may be different to the one disclosed to you by your DH. Tread carefully!

Fullofcorn · 11/05/2026 08:24

When you go on holiday as a family of 17 @Temporaryusernamename …: where do you stay? Hotel? Villa? Air BnB?

Sounds… hellish

Goditsmemargaret · 11/05/2026 08:54

Fullofcorn · 11/05/2026 08:24

When you go on holiday as a family of 17 @Temporaryusernamename …: where do you stay? Hotel? Villa? Air BnB?

Sounds… hellish

What a dick post.

Fullofcorn · 11/05/2026 08:57

Goditsmemargaret · 11/05/2026 08:54

What a dick post.

Why? Don’t you think this kind of holiday sound hellish? Loads of awful family dynamics and history and arguments and drama and sparked in booze?

I just asked where they all stay?

LeDix · 11/05/2026 11:03

Completely disagree. Cousin's life is currently a car crash, how on Earth will this secret being exposed help her

Because the OP has threatened to tell everyone. So getting her own version out might feel like damage limitation.

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