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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel like I was made a fool of by DH again

1000 replies

MonicaGeller010203 · 28/06/2026 22:55

Almost nine years ago, DH started getting mentionitis and a pretty obvious (to me) crush on a neighbour of ours. We frequently hung out together and DC's played. Got really awkward, she knew how I felt and I always believed it highly entertained her and gave her a sense of power. She was unemployed, cash strapped and with both DC in kid , she was under pressure from her H and family to find a job. She used my DH for a lot of small favours and help and used me and the DC at times too.

Cutting to the chase, moved to a new neighbourhood to upsize to the suburbs 4-5 years ago. Lost touch with them. Last week was our 20th wedding anniv and I decided to invite them too.

H had always maintained it was a good familial friendship that i ruined with suspicion even though there was nothing there. In our new community I have a fab gang of girlfriends while he has struggled to make any, he gets along like on an acquaintance level only with their husbands, and hasn't made any other friends

I genuinely thought we had moved on from all that re 8-9 years ago low key drama. But no. He swears when I tried calling him inside to plate up his food that I was seething that he was talking to her (I swear I did not even notice who he was talking as they were sitting out in the garden in a circle, everyone else had their BBQ, and other food on plates, only he had not started yt). His friend asked me why H was not eating with the rest of us. I wish to God I had plated up food for him and taken it to him rather than call him in (for just a minute to take his food).

Later for the rest of the party, he avoided me - I had planned games in the garden for the 6 couples - like musical chairs, a couples duet singing competition that our teen kids were meant to be judging us on (all in fun) - he bailed on the whole thing , took the husband of this lady (not the other men, though one tagged along behind, and the other 2-3 were at a loose end) for a walk, and left us ladies to it, though I had told them the plan was going to be couples stuff, maybe even a little music and dance.

He sulked for the next couple of hours, though was back to something like normalcy by the time the last couple who stayed back (not the ones from the old neighbourhood) to chat and share silly stories, tea and some laughs before leaving. But for me the afternoon felt spoilt

I am not sure what my question is I think the main one is Am in AIBU to feel I was trying to do something nice for him , to show him I was more secure now or I trusted more and to feel like I was made a fool of again. Or was he somehow in the right.

OP posts:
Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 17:46

There was a 2024 anniversary party too 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

What the fuck were you actually celebrating? And what was the song 😂😂

happywifeandlife · 29/06/2026 17:49

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 14:02

He heard me getting food in the kitchen for myself, tons of stuff leftover and batch cooked over the weekend he knows where everything is.

And he walks in ' Ah feeding yourself again my lovely fatty?'

I smiled and went on plating up my lunch. Then he goes heard you reminding, DS2 about lunch a while ago, what about me ? Don't you care if I have lunch or not? The boys and you run this place eh...' some such nonsense to get a reaction

I smiled with zen and said you know where everything is, eat if you want to

Edited

You cared about his lunch at the party, and looked where that got you!

Time to stop caring if he ever eats again!

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 17:51

Hey @Dontwearmysocks , the 2024 was the 20th, this one was 22nd, its all outing already so. and 25 years together. This was the song and yeah fine it was cringey, but it was a fun viral insta trend a couple of years back and I thought it was cute actually the way so many old and mid couples danced sweetly and funnily to it. I have always been a girls girl, not the Angie Jolie type he likes

[Verse 1: Kenny Rogers]
Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown
I set out to get you, with a finetooth comb
I was soft inside
There was something going on

[Verse 2: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton]
You do something to me that I can't explain
Hold me closer and I feel no pain
Every beat of my heart
We got something going on

[Pre-Chorus: Kenny Rogers, Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton]
Tender love is blind
It requires a dedication
All this love we feel needs no conversation
We ride it together, ah-ah
Making love with each other, ah-ah

[Chorus: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton]
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ah
From one lover to another, ah-ah
You might also like
Last Christmas
Wham!
The Alchemy
Taylor Swift
Family Matters
Drake
[Verse 3: Dolly Parton]
I can't live without you if the love was gone
Everything is nothing if you got no one
And you just walk in the night
Slowly losing sight of the real thing

[Verse 4: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton]
But that won't happen to us and we got no doubt
Too deep in love and we got no way out
And the message is clear
This could be the year for the real thing

[Pre-Chorus: Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers]
No more will you cry
Baby, I will hurt you never
We start and end as one
In love forever
We can ride it together, ah-ah
Making love with each other, ah-ah

[Chorus: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton]
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ah
From one lover to another, ah-ah
[Interlude: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton]
Sail away
Oh, come sail away with me

[Chorus: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton]
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ah
From one lover to another, ah-ah
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ah
From one lover to another, ah-ah
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between

And fine it was super cringey but walking away half through his own anniversary celebration. That was more cringey than singing a few lines jokingly. The way he treats his wife in public, he only gets one type of woman who always likes him

OP posts:
Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 17:51

@happywifeandlife she invited people with the express intention of stirring drama up over some performative karaoke bullshit……look where that got her.

Wagyue · 29/06/2026 17:51

He sounds like a really abusive, controlling, nasty narcissistic prick.

You are not allowed spen £50 on therapy?
So he is financially anusive too?

Sounds like coercive control.
I think you need to channel your anger into reaching out to Women's aid and get legal advice.

I think you are so ground down by him, deliberately that you haven't known your arse from your elbow.

He is a bad man.

Gather your financial information.
Can you transfer all money that is yours into an account that he can't get at?
Let him go to court, but you will have money.

Don not trust him.
He is a liar and a con man who has used you and gaslit you for years.

Have you family and friends to tell the truth to?

BeardySchnauzer · 29/06/2026 17:53

how many people were at the party?

Passingthrough123 · 29/06/2026 17:54

Oh lordy.

Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 17:56

@MonicaGeller010203

I wouldn’t just have walked away halfway through, I would have sprinted full pelt outta there.

You thought it was ‘cute’, he , rightly imo, considered it dreadful and naff.

Breadcat24 · 29/06/2026 17:56

I hope you are ok OP, because you sound a little manic. Also your event was bizarre - couple singing duets? Wtf?

zingally · 29/06/2026 17:57

I think the only person who looks a fool here is you.

You were under some immature assumption that you'd invite this woman to a "look how wonderful our marriage is" party, planned a load of "couples" games, just to prove to her/you/your DH how secure your marriage is now.

You should have left this woman far in the past, where she belonged, but you've just stirred up old ground through pure immaturity.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:04

Wagyue · 29/06/2026 17:51

He sounds like a really abusive, controlling, nasty narcissistic prick.

You are not allowed spen £50 on therapy?
So he is financially anusive too?

Sounds like coercive control.
I think you need to channel your anger into reaching out to Women's aid and get legal advice.

I think you are so ground down by him, deliberately that you haven't known your arse from your elbow.

He is a bad man.

Gather your financial information.
Can you transfer all money that is yours into an account that he can't get at?
Let him go to court, but you will have money.

Don not trust him.
He is a liar and a con man who has used you and gaslit you for years.

Have you family and friends to tell the truth to?

I've booked in for the consult and sessions and waiting to hear a time now @wagyue. Not financially abusive just tight about some things and try to convince me he is right

Like therapy for me ? total luxury. Oh boo hoo , he just bought TV no 5 !!!!!!!!

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:07

Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 17:56

@MonicaGeller010203

I wouldn’t just have walked away halfway through, I would have sprinted full pelt outta there.

You thought it was ‘cute’, he , rightly imo, considered it dreadful and naff.

Lol...fine it wasn't the classiest idea. He could have showed he cared in some other way. But he chose to show the fascinating to hill to the next best thing to walking her there, walking her husband there. Hearing about her life now? Maybe residues of perfume on her Hs coat? FFS fuck her already. This is disgusting. There is no way she would choose you over her H and you know it.

I want the big house that I paid for, and my son's and for him to leave

OP posts:
oliviaAustin · 29/06/2026 18:08

Why does he think he gets to say what your income is spent on? Do you have financial freedom? So long as the bills and necessities are paid I cannot see why he thinks he gets to say whether you can or cannot spend money on your health.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:09

Oh by the way, I forgot to mention the most important bit of the therapy to get clarity conversation.

I said well I do not need clarity from therapy if you can give it to me by just blocking her on whatsapp and leaving that group of her and her H

and he looked cornered for a minute, and said I can't do that when I am not even interested in her and haven't messaged her on that group in ages.

Make it make sense. So why not leave and block then. WHY.

He needs help more badly than me

OP posts:
VividPinkTraybake · 29/06/2026 18:09

3luckystars · 28/06/2026 23:44

Well he is hardly going to admit he likes her to you is he? Of course he would lie.

Trust yourself x

How can you read all this and still tell her to trust her instinct? This catchphrase of mumsnet is so dangerous

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:10

zingally · 29/06/2026 17:57

I think the only person who looks a fool here is you.

You were under some immature assumption that you'd invite this woman to a "look how wonderful our marriage is" party, planned a load of "couples" games, just to prove to her/you/your DH how secure your marriage is now.

You should have left this woman far in the past, where she belonged, but you've just stirred up old ground through pure immaturity.

Fine, so he should have no problem blocking her then. See my post above.

He will not block her he says because he is not interested in her and has not used the group in ages anyway

OP posts:
Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 18:10

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:07

Lol...fine it wasn't the classiest idea. He could have showed he cared in some other way. But he chose to show the fascinating to hill to the next best thing to walking her there, walking her husband there. Hearing about her life now? Maybe residues of perfume on her Hs coat? FFS fuck her already. This is disgusting. There is no way she would choose you over her H and you know it.

I want the big house that I paid for, and my son's and for him to leave

You are so far removed from reality. I hope you get help.

@oliviaAustin have you not read this thread in it’s entirety?

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:11

I agree I am the only one looking a fool here too @zingally

She also plays him for a fool too though I think

OP posts:
Passingthrough123 · 29/06/2026 18:11

But he chose to show the fascinating to hill to the next best thing to walking her there, walking her husband there. Hearing about her life now? Maybe residues of perfume on her Hs coat? FFS fuck her already.

What a batshit take.

VividPinkTraybake · 29/06/2026 18:12

This reply has been deleted

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

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:13

oliviaAustin · 29/06/2026 18:08

Why does he think he gets to say what your income is spent on? Do you have financial freedom? So long as the bills and necessities are paid I cannot see why he thinks he gets to say whether you can or cannot spend money on your health.

He thinks therapy is a luxury for the rich. Or maybe only for deserving people like her when they are recovering from the trauma of petite neck sprain

He thinks the fifth TV was an essential

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:14

Passingthrough123 · 29/06/2026 18:11

But he chose to show the fascinating to hill to the next best thing to walking her there, walking her husband there. Hearing about her life now? Maybe residues of perfume on her Hs coat? FFS fuck her already.

What a batshit take.

Is it though? IS IT.

Why wont he block her even to save 50 GBP an hour in therapy from his perspective

Come on MNers , he is crazy about her.

OP posts:
Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 18:15

@MonicaGeller010203 you are insanely jealous of this woman, who your husband did not have an affair with, so you invited her to your home so you could show off.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:16

Dontwearmysocks · 29/06/2026 18:15

@MonicaGeller010203 you are insanely jealous of this woman, who your husband did not have an affair with, so you invited her to your home so you could show off.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Define Jealous

The woman is ugly on the inside.

OP posts:
NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 18:16

Ok I’ve caught up. Was a bit of a drip feed, but I understand why. Do the therapy and make sure it’s nowhere he can hear. Do Not tell him what you talk about or what therapist says.

it’s now clear to me that he’s actually the same type of mysogynist bully that my exes were snf my father is. They all hid it very well too and I always appeared to be the crazy one.

sorry, it wasn’t apparent from your initial posts. Now I’ve read it all what’s apparent is that you are/were so desperate for things to work that you are telling yourself back is white. Not surprising that you fall apart when you’re faced with the reality. This is how I coped for years with ex. Told myself I didn’t want to mess up things as would affect my child.

counselling wasn’t really a thing then plus there were no definitions like coercive control.

my only option would have been to go back to parents (impossible) or in to a DHSS B&B (difficult with disabled kid).
then the Blair govt came in, the laws changed and I was able to get him out of our flat and get on with my life. Best day ever.

That was 25 years ago. It may surprise you if I said that I’ve only recently realised that my parents 67 year marriage is codependent and my dad is these previous relationships.

ive discussed it with my mum and she doesn’t want to leave. I’ve offered her financial help to move to sheltered retirement but she said she hasn’t long left. It’s sad but there you are.

so once I realised who my dad was, I went in to therapy for 6 months (I’d already resolved much of the trauma and healing in the last 25 years of being in a safe relationship and having decency and appropriate boundaries modelled). It was very helpful as I was very angry at him
in much the same as I was with my ex and you are now.
for now that anger is going to help you get out of this marriage.
don’t doubt his ability to be nasty. See a solicitor. Do Not tell him what you are doing.

one last thing. My son, who is now 30’s had to start therapy last year - kicked off by the partner he has chosen (he needs to leave but that’s in his gift, no one else’s and I keep my opinions to myself.

him and I have had many deep discussions over the last year and come to realise that my parents created a toxic environment ( it was very much about performative look how great our marriage is), neither of their faults, just the wrong combination of people (although I do think my mum could have had a decent marriage if she’d gone for a less shiny and more substantive prize. I don’t think my dad could have a mature relationship with anyone, even a pet animal- he has emotional range of a 4year old).
anyway that environment led me to choose the partners I chose and I perpetuated the damage.

we’re now working to repair things. Son more together than I was, largely down to my more aware parenting and a good village around him.
it maybe that there’s roots in your childhood. Maybe not. Sometimes the most together people can just be bloody unlucky and pick a wrongun, but generally if you stay there probably something more going on and that’s what therapy will help you unravel.
Good luck. Stay grey rock. Put him in Archive and mute it! Be busy or out as much as possible. Find that new life. Don’t worry about your kids. They may initially blame you - depends how much of a number he’s done on them but be gracious. I never said a negative word about ex for years until he started abusing new wife in front of son and half sis (which was massively upsetting) which tipped son I. To depression as all his childhood memories came flooding back so I had to be honest with him.

don’t allow yourself to be fucked up for longer than necessary.

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