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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for thinking who TF does she think she is?

1000 replies

CFornot123 · 26/06/2026 19:57

Aibu for thinking this is overstepping the fcking mark

Long story so will try to condense and keep to relevant details.

Been with ‘D’H for 13 years (married 6). We have 2 DCs aged 4 and 3. He’s 38, I’m 31. He has been bestfriends with a woman, let’s call her Jane, for 25 years (since they were teens) and there’s never been any romantic history between them.

In general she’s not really my kind of person. She’s quite blunt and a bit rude, uses racist language (I’m Asian) like it’s a casual word and tbh is a bit of a bully. However, knowing she means a lot to my husband, at the start of our relationship I made A LOT of effort to be friends with her and she was even one of my bridesmaids when we got married (the theory being that if she’d have been a guy, she’d have been a groomsman so wanted her to feel involved in the wedding as she Hs best friend). We were on maternity leave at the same time, both had baby girls at the same time (she’s married) etc. but around this same time (so 5 years ago) she stopped engaging with me, started ignoring messages, every plan I made with her she cancelled and then we weren’t invited to her daughters first birthday. Throughout all of this she maintained contact with my husband and they met up regularly for coffee. I raised concerns with H at the time and he brushed it off as “it’s just what Jane does, she’s a bit flaky, don’t take it personally”.

I’ve not spoken to her now for about 4 years, bar the odd hello if she happens to be at a family/friends event (a lot of shared mutual friends/large friendship groups). But she frequently meets up with H for drinks, dinner, brunch, they have regular video calls.

H and I have been going through a lot recently (we relocated from California after spending two years there for his job, I quit my corporate legal career to basically follow him around the world for his high paying role and have moved 10 times in the last 10 years) due to stress with house moves, redundancy and, me trying to figure out what career to do around the kids following a career in law (I’m a high achiever, degree from Oxbridge) and taking a back step. He works very long hours, lots of traveling as we moved to be closer to family as the girls are starting school soon so I said no more following him.

He met up with Jane last Saturday (they’d both been invited to their mutual friends wedding - I wasn’t) and when he came home on Sunday, he asked me to “make some time in my calendar to meet with him on Friday afternoon” (like I’m a business associate…). He told me today that he “discussed me at length with Jane” and THEY had decided that WE don’t communicate in our marriage enough. SHE also, in her expert opinion as a mental health nurse, diagnosed me with a borderline personality disorder based on everything she’s heard and seen from my husband over the last 13 years and that he should gently suggest I go to the GP. For context, like (so it seems) every other woman in their 30s I’m undergoing an ADHD assessment (VERY different to BPD).

So my AIBU - wtf has DH been saying to her about me that has led her to diagnose me with BPD after not speaking to me for 5 years? And who TF does she think she is?

We had no falling out, no cross words were said, I simply stopped making an effort with her and suggesting meeting up because she never made an effort with me and somehow that’s my fault and she hates me enough to say I have BPD?

Frustratingly H said she’s sent him to information to read up on about it.

So far I’ve not reacted or responded to H. I told him that I needed some time to process the conversation we’d just had and I’d discuss it with him when I felt ready

OP posts:
DimwittedSkater · 29/06/2026 02:55

I cannot believe that she's OK with breaking up the home of two little toddlers. OMFG. I could never, ever live with myself. Jane might not care about OP, but to affect the children's lives that way defies belief. Although, of course, it's OP's husband's fault. But how anyone can be a party to the destruction of two children's childhoods, I'll never know. But the same goes for him and the children of Jane's marriage. Another blameless child who will have a compromised childhood, and a stepchild whose home will go through another break-up.

The two of them have taken a wrecking ball to the childhoods of FOUR children! Four childhoods ruined. It should be fucking illegal. All because they just HAD to rub uglies. Well, I really hope it was worth it when everyone finds out and their kids hate them in later years. I hope their relationship breaks under the strain of what's about to unleash.

HOW can people risk it all for what amounts to a quick rub? HOW? I'll never understand it.

Odditea · 29/06/2026 03:45

OP it feels like it’s become more and more apparent that there’s something going on between them. The gaslighting and turning things around to cast you as the problematic one is just so galling

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 29/06/2026 05:10

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 01:05

Update to add - he sent her a message the morning of the wedding they attended at 6am asking her “to come up for a cuddle”…I’ve challenged him because I’m not one to keep quiet. He said nothing happened and I don’t believe him. There’s so many messages where they attack my character and he agrees with her. He’s apologized to me for “confiding in her” but I said it’s deeper than that and he doesn’t get it. There’s messages are both of them spinning how hard their lives are and how they can’t wait for the weekend with one of them saying “if you know what I mean”. I asked him what that meant and he said it meant they wanted an escape but not a physical one…

How would he feel if this was the other way around, and you were sending a male 'best friend' messages like that?
At the very least, cuddling happened, and not for the first time based on the casualness of the invitation.
I don't believe that that was all either.

And then there is the betrayal of you in the many messages where he agrees with her assassination of your character...

There is also a deeper betrayal of your marriage, and your life together - it's "so hard", he can't wait for an escape from it.

I would bet money that you WERE invited to that wedding, and he lied to say you weren't because he wanted that ''escape'' with her.

It's not reasonable in anyone's world OP.
I'm so sorry.

You have been so supportive of him, and he has treated you abominably.
There has been physical and emotional betrayal, over an extended period.

I hope you find a really good solicitor...

And consider whether you want to share the content of those messages with her husband. He has a right to know what's been going on.

PS take photos of the messages if you can...

AutumnLover1990 · 29/06/2026 06:25

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 02:47

She’s married to her husband still yes. In a lot of her messages to my H, she talks about how unhappy she is with her step daughter living with them and is very derogatory about a child. It seems like they’ve both spun a narrative to each other that they’re unhappy in their marriages

Well that's the reason she hates you. As in her mind you've got her man 🤢 Seriously get your ducks in a row now. He's not taking your feelings into account at all 😞

NewPersonHere · 29/06/2026 06:58

I’m so sorry. He doesn’t deserve your honesty right now, you need to look after your self and your children, and I feel like he’s been dripping feeding you information to make you leave. My advice: Play your own game. pretend you’ve forgiven him, and while you’re together, get all the documents you need, line up a great solicitor, and get organised. Then inform him that he can stay away.

SylvanMoon · 29/06/2026 07:07

Good lord! He really really is a tool. Is he letting you read all his past messages with Jane? If so, why? Does he not care at this point or is he wanting you to initiate the divorce so he can present himself as the victim in some perverse way?

I sincerely hope you've got an appointment booked with a divorce solicitor this week. I don't know how I could continue living in the same house as this cf without thinking of causing him serious bodily harm.

Cnidarian · 29/06/2026 07:08

DIVORCE HIM!!! You are not his primary partner, she is. The disrespect. You have performed the role he wanted to be his lovely intelligent wife who gave him children and followed him around but he has treated you like an accessory. Get back to work and get all the financial information together, this is unacceptable behaviour and it won't stop. Be prepared for them to be together shortly after. He has allowed this, I bet you were invited to that wedding he said you weren't so he could see her without you and gently introduce the idea of them to your friendship group.

Oldmamabear · 29/06/2026 07:18

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 01:05

Update to add - he sent her a message the morning of the wedding they attended at 6am asking her “to come up for a cuddle”…I’ve challenged him because I’m not one to keep quiet. He said nothing happened and I don’t believe him. There’s so many messages where they attack my character and he agrees with her. He’s apologized to me for “confiding in her” but I said it’s deeper than that and he doesn’t get it. There’s messages are both of them spinning how hard their lives are and how they can’t wait for the weekend with one of them saying “if you know what I mean”. I asked him what that meant and he said it meant they wanted an escape but not a physical one…

He does get it. Its clear now they are having an affair. Their character assassination on you is some sort of pathetic attempt at justifying what they are doing. Wake up and smell the coffee. They deserve each other and you deserve better than either of them. Start divorce proceedings and start planning a new life for yourself. You dont need to take revenge, his punishment be be losing a decent caring wife and at some point he will realize hes lost you for a nasty bit of work. Divorce isant easy but ultimately you will get your life back otherwise even if this shambles ends you will never be able to trust him again. Concentrate on you and your needs and desires now, dont waste any more of your life on him. Xx

Blueberrybonanza · 29/06/2026 07:51

Why are you still faffing about giving updates, tell him you want a divorce, see a solicitor to get what you are entitled to.
I would also tell her husband and show him the messages.
This man has no respect for you, don’t be a doormat because they will both be wiping their feet on you when they undoubtedly walk off together

ThereIsThunderInOurHearts · 29/06/2026 08:04

The awful inevitable outcome of this is that this horrendous racist pig of a woman, Jane, will be in the OP's children's lives when OP's husband runs squealing to her about the terrible marriage he had to endure, etc. and her venom and racism will extend to OP's children as it already has to Jane's step child.

Jane sounds dangerous, bunny boiler territory.

The husband is a prize prick for indulging the racist sociopath and turning on his wife. He will regret it once he realises just how cunningly he has been played. Jane will never make him happy, unless the reality is that he is far more like Jane than the OP realised.

OchreRaven · 29/06/2026 08:11

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 02:47

She’s married to her husband still yes. In a lot of her messages to my H, she talks about how unhappy she is with her step daughter living with them and is very derogatory about a child. It seems like they’ve both spun a narrative to each other that they’re unhappy in their marriages

I think finding out the truth is giving you an excuse to leave because you are deeply understandably unhappy in your marriage with the way you have been treated by him. But you have never been sure your feelings were enough to leave. They are.

Whether this is a full blown affair or two disloyal self centred people making each other feel better about themselves doesn’t matter. You are being bullied by the one person who is supposed to have your back and he’s colluding with someone he knows doesn’t like you. It’s not a one off — it’s been going on for years.

Take this opportunity to leave. He can downplay it as much as he wants. You have seen the messages. If you are so awful then he shouldn’t be fighting to stay together. And if he admits he was lying when he said awful things about you then there is no motive that he can give that will make you feel safe.

TheMimsy · 29/06/2026 08:13

@CFornot123 He seems happy with this brutal honesty in his marriage and letting her be involved in your relationship - how happy would they be if you shared all of the comments and screenshots etc with her hisband?

Does her husband realise she hates her step
child, and relishes time with your husband?

it’s an emotional affair at best possibly been times they have overstepped into physical.

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 08:38

Yes I have screenshots and screen recordings of everything. Including one message where he says I’m intimidated by her

OP posts:
CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 08:40

Thank you for all of the support. I won’t be providing any further updates whilst I navigate the next steps

OP posts:
Sc00byDont · 29/06/2026 08:44

@CFornot123

he’s revolving and you deserve so much better. As do your children. Please drop this one back in the sea.

💐 good luck.

Beingseenisneedy · 29/06/2026 08:47

Good luck OP, you're right that the trust will never be restored. 💐.

Muggletum · 29/06/2026 08:49

Think about what advice you would give someone else in this situation, it often makes it a lot clearer when you see it from outside. Overwhelmingly the comments here are that you need to step away if only out of respect for yourself, it's blatantly obvious that there is more going on here and you are only prolonging the inevitable if you stay in such an awful situation. Massive hugs, this must be so difficult, but please do what you know is the right thing xx

LivingwithHopenowandforever · 29/06/2026 08:54

OP, pls do not be the one who leaves! He is the one who has been having an affair so can leave. It is really important though that you now have your game face on. It is time to play them at their own game. Be sympathetic to him, it has been so hard for him and he really should go & be with Jane. His happiness is your happiness and you need time to adjust. Just pile it on thick and get him to go to her.

How have you been able to look at his phone? Are you getting screenshots?? You need evidence of how nasty she is about her step daughter so you can use to keep her well away from your children. Did you manage to get the screenshots of her diagnosing you as having BPD?

I know there is a lot going on right now but you need to be very methodical from now on. If he thinks he has you on side you are in a very good position to get all the sordid details. It will throw him as he won’t have been expecting this from you. Play on the ‘poor me’, tell him he has nothing to feel guilty about, he has been looking after everyone now it’s your turn to help him be happy. The dumb selfish fool will not see you coming………..Jane will not know how to control this. She would have been banking on you losing control etc but the sympathetic wife is not something she ever imagined that will cause friction between them both as he on 1 hand was not expecting you to be full of concern for him and putting his happiness first so will want her to play ball as we all know men love a quiet life.

She has blown your life up OP & your children’s. She does not get to walk away unscathed. Get him to open up and get that evidence! Time to find out what they had been planning for their future. How does he see co-parenting? Where will they live & work? Does her husband know? What friends knew? I think you probably get the gist!!

Rosesandthorns66 · 29/06/2026 09:05

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 08:40

Thank you for all of the support. I won’t be providing any further updates whilst I navigate the next steps

I wish you all the best in the future. Please take care of yourself and your children.

Unfortunately, this appears to be a similar situation to mine.
As soon as I walked out of my marriage because of the mental and financial abuse.
(I couldn't take the stress. I was always on edge, trying to work out his lies from the truth.) According to him everything was my fault.
But It gave the other woman the chance to take my place.
It's the same in your situation, given the chance, Jane will end up with your partner.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

Rosesandthorns66 · 29/06/2026 09:12

LivingwithHopenowandforever · 29/06/2026 08:54

OP, pls do not be the one who leaves! He is the one who has been having an affair so can leave. It is really important though that you now have your game face on. It is time to play them at their own game. Be sympathetic to him, it has been so hard for him and he really should go & be with Jane. His happiness is your happiness and you need time to adjust. Just pile it on thick and get him to go to her.

How have you been able to look at his phone? Are you getting screenshots?? You need evidence of how nasty she is about her step daughter so you can use to keep her well away from your children. Did you manage to get the screenshots of her diagnosing you as having BPD?

I know there is a lot going on right now but you need to be very methodical from now on. If he thinks he has you on side you are in a very good position to get all the sordid details. It will throw him as he won’t have been expecting this from you. Play on the ‘poor me’, tell him he has nothing to feel guilty about, he has been looking after everyone now it’s your turn to help him be happy. The dumb selfish fool will not see you coming………..Jane will not know how to control this. She would have been banking on you losing control etc but the sympathetic wife is not something she ever imagined that will cause friction between them both as he on 1 hand was not expecting you to be full of concern for him and putting his happiness first so will want her to play ball as we all know men love a quiet life.

She has blown your life up OP & your children’s. She does not get to walk away unscathed. Get him to open up and get that evidence! Time to find out what they had been planning for their future. How does he see co-parenting? Where will they live & work? Does her husband know? What friends knew? I think you probably get the gist!!

This is 💯 % true.
Please plan everything very carefully, don't be hasty with anything. I can't stress this enough because I made a lot of mistakes.

He is the one that must leave otherwise Jane will be walking into your home.

Wishing you all the best for your future.

justasking111 · 29/06/2026 09:24

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 08:40

Thank you for all of the support. I won’t be providing any further updates whilst I navigate the next steps

This thread is almost over anyway so you'll be left in peace soon.

GreyCarpet · 29/06/2026 09:26

Good luck, OP.

The future will be bright even if it doesn't feel like it now.

TheBlueKoala · 29/06/2026 09:45

@CFornot123 Let your first step involve a divorce lawyer and safeguarding of all financial information. You're smart and educated. You got this (even though it doesn't feel like it right now)💚

Sortingmyself · 29/06/2026 10:03

CFornot123 · 29/06/2026 08:40

Thank you for all of the support. I won’t be providing any further updates whilst I navigate the next steps

best of luck OP. I'm so sorry for you.

Oldmamabear · 29/06/2026 10:23

One final word from me. I couldn't 'prove' my husband was having an affair so here's what I did. Im not suggesting anyone should do it or that it was a good idea. While he was in shower I edited his contact list so that her name had my number attached to it not hers. Then I put my phone on silence and sent him a message stating I was worried that our affair would come out in open and we would be caught out. He obviously received that message thinking it was from her. He replied quite quickly saying there's no way that she (me) would be able to prove anything as they had been so careful.....I had the evidence then. What I should have done was swapped it back at first opportunity. That would have caused mass confusion between them but I was so angry I showed him. He went nuts but then had no choice but admit everything whilst calling me a sneaky, low down arsehole who thought I was really clever. It wasnt clever really but I did get the evidence required.

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