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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:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:55

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 18:38

I think if this sort of thing had been around when I was going through this I might have come across the same way. It is truly crazy making. I can’t believe I was ever that person - my 20’s were a rollercoaster.

honestly I’d forgotten what I was like. It’s only as I’ve read through OP’s replies and learnt more about her situation that the similarities have hit me. Mine had additional drug use and occasional violence but the underlying gaslighting and manipulation is identical. Why do we ladies put up with this shit?! (Well I know why I did. Honestly we should all have free therapy as a right of passage to adulthood !)

Some dark shit has been had in mine too that I am not ready to post and might never be. I do not have to convince anyone on here and I have forgiven it long ago. This is only about yesterday now and the 8,9 years ago in relation to this lady and him telling me it was all my imagination, the woman is a lovely lady he said

OP posts:
NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 18:58

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 18:51

OH my God Natty, yes - he wants these parties, He always said his mum was such a gracious host and I should not isolate him from his friends, he needs friends around all the time like he needs air

Yes my dad and ex the same and would basically shut down as soon as there was no audience. I always likened ex to a cardboard cutout unless he had an audience.

keep peeling back the layers. You’ll find your power.

Darragon · 29/06/2026 18:59

OP just to reiterate there are lots of us who have been there with how crazy someone can make you when they wear you down with their unreasonable behaviour over a very long period of time, and we are rooting for you. Some people are experts at manufacturing situations where you look like the crazy person when really it's the latest in a long line of shit that you've put up with.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:01

HedgehogSam · 29/06/2026 18:52

Why didn't you stand up for yourself and say you wouldn't block the old friend? You would have been well within your rights to do so. Demanding approval of the contacts of one's spouse is highly controlling. I can understand why your husband has refused, especially as this woman is someone he knows well. I think he's being hypocritical, since he did the same with your old school friend. Though he may say the situations are different since you didn't know each other well.

Also, you had a high school graduation? Are you from the US?

He snatched the phone and blocked the guy and deleted him then he deleted the HS group as well I was too embarrassed to ask to be added back through my bf's. It was embarrassing.

OP posts:
VividPinkTraybake · 29/06/2026 19:03

happywifeandlife · 29/06/2026 09:07

And the answer is No ofcourse it wouldn’t. Disrespect is disrespect. He’s not a faithful H.

How can you read that and still give sincere advice?

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:03

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 18:58

Yes my dad and ex the same and would basically shut down as soon as there was no audience. I always likened ex to a cardboard cutout unless he had an audience.

keep peeling back the layers. You’ll find your power.

shut down when no audience ...yes...why do they do this.....what do they really want ....

OP posts:
NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:04

Princessfluffy · 29/06/2026 18:51

You seem to be inviting drama into your life OP

I doubt she can help it. It’s addictive. You just keep reacting. It takes time to break the cycle. Even after 25 years I’ve still only recently realised that I was being repeatedly pulled in to this cycle with certain members of my family.

second phone and low contact has largely dealt with that and I sleep much better :-)
honestly this shit does So much damage and takes years to sort out (although arguably if I’d had access to counselling in my 20’s I may have avoided some shit).
the only people I lose sleep over now is my son and my husband :-)

Lugol · 29/06/2026 19:05

OP can I ask why you are sure they weren't having an affair for the two years they were running the sports club together?

Stop playing games with this man. You don't need a counsellor and you don't need to do needless point scoring or point proving.

You need a good solicitor.

You're obviously not stupid so stop acting stupid and face the fact that your marriage is over.
His actions don't speak of love, he's a skank who has so far slithered his way over not one but two women that you know of.

Stop doing all this silly name calling of this woman, forget her, she is essentially meaningless.
Your H is the one who is screwing you over and he is abusing you. He chooses this woman over you every time. He won't stop either.
The only way you can make it stop is ending this misery of a marriage.

Most women in your situation in a crappy marriage are trapped for financial reasons.
Not you though.
You are keeping yourself trapped.

If you love your kids then shore up their future and boot this man out of your life because this won't get better.

VividPinkTraybake · 29/06/2026 19:08

This reply has been deleted

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

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:09

Lugol · 29/06/2026 19:05

OP can I ask why you are sure they weren't having an affair for the two years they were running the sports club together?

Stop playing games with this man. You don't need a counsellor and you don't need to do needless point scoring or point proving.

You need a good solicitor.

You're obviously not stupid so stop acting stupid and face the fact that your marriage is over.
His actions don't speak of love, he's a skank who has so far slithered his way over not one but two women that you know of.

Stop doing all this silly name calling of this woman, forget her, she is essentially meaningless.
Your H is the one who is screwing you over and he is abusing you. He chooses this woman over you every time. He won't stop either.
The only way you can make it stop is ending this misery of a marriage.

Most women in your situation in a crappy marriage are trapped for financial reasons.
Not you though.
You are keeping yourself trapped.

If you love your kids then shore up their future and boot this man out of your life because this won't get better.

Edited

who would he go to. he hasnt chosen a decent woman who likes him back , she just plays with him.

Natty is right, hes about 4 in emotional depth.

is he really not going to block her. lets see after therapy starts.

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:09

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:09

who would he go to. he hasnt chosen a decent woman who likes him back , she just plays with him.

Natty is right, hes about 4 in emotional depth.

is he really not going to block her. lets see after therapy starts.

shit shit shit shit shit

OP posts:
NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:09

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:03

shut down when no audience ...yes...why do they do this.....what do they really want ....

Don’t even go there as that’s making it about him. You can’t fix this. He isn’t fixable. Please trust me here. There are literally 1000’s of posts from women experiencing the same over the years. Honestly the best thing you can do is the therapy and learn to bite your tongue which is going to be bloody difficult as you’re well trained after 22 years. If I were you I’d take other advice given here and quietly get your financials in order. This isn’t going to get better. If you start putting your foot down he may up the ante and start threatening you with all sorts to keep you there. I can remember first ex telling me no one else would be interested in me. I was 23 and gorgeous! But I believed him. That’s what it can reduce you to.

Lugol · 29/06/2026 19:12

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:09

who would he go to. he hasnt chosen a decent woman who likes him back , she just plays with him.

Natty is right, hes about 4 in emotional depth.

is he really not going to block her. lets see after therapy starts.

Who gives a fuck where he goes?

You're still doing it, you just ignore any advice and still it's all about her...

There are posters being horrible to you on this thread but you're not listening to any advice.
Counselling is not going to change him and I highly doubt it's going to help you because all you want is to sound off about him and bitch about how he's only there because "He hasn't chosen a decent woman" 🙄

HedgehogSam · 29/06/2026 19:12

Well, I would have told him he has no right to delete my contacts and I wouldn't think twice about requesting to be added back. But that doesn't mean I would try a tit for tat and demand he delete the details of someone he knows well (and whom you invited to your house only yesterday). That sort of controlling behaviour is wrong no matter who does it.

Anyway, you're obviously getting something out of this thread, though I have no idea what that might be. Your perspective seems off kilter, to put it mildly. Have any of the posts here caused you to reevaluate your point of view? Or do you just want to receive validation and approval from the minority who agree with all you've said?

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:13

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:04

I doubt she can help it. It’s addictive. You just keep reacting. It takes time to break the cycle. Even after 25 years I’ve still only recently realised that I was being repeatedly pulled in to this cycle with certain members of my family.

second phone and low contact has largely dealt with that and I sleep much better :-)
honestly this shit does So much damage and takes years to sort out (although arguably if I’d had access to counselling in my 20’s I may have avoided some shit).
the only people I lose sleep over now is my son and my husband :-)

What was it that made you up and leave your first marriage in the end Natty.

OP posts:
DallazMajor · 29/06/2026 19:18

Can someone summarise the thread as it seems to have moved on quite dramatically!

LittleMonks11 · 29/06/2026 19:18

This reply has been deleted

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

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:19

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:03

shut down when no audience ...yes...why do they do this.....what do they really want ....

In the nicest way, it doesn’t matter for now. You can’t fix him. Men like this arnt fixable as many thousands of posts here will attest. Don’t waste your mental energy on trying to work out why he is, just accept he is, he can’t change, and decide what you want to do about it. The last part will take you time as he’s really messed with your head. But you’ll get yourself back in time.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:19

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:09

Don’t even go there as that’s making it about him. You can’t fix this. He isn’t fixable. Please trust me here. There are literally 1000’s of posts from women experiencing the same over the years. Honestly the best thing you can do is the therapy and learn to bite your tongue which is going to be bloody difficult as you’re well trained after 22 years. If I were you I’d take other advice given here and quietly get your financials in order. This isn’t going to get better. If you start putting your foot down he may up the ante and start threatening you with all sorts to keep you there. I can remember first ex telling me no one else would be interested in me. I was 23 and gorgeous! But I believed him. That’s what it can reduce you to.

:( ...OK ...and I am so sorry you went through that :(

OP posts:
LittleMonks11 · 29/06/2026 19:23

DallazMajor · 28/06/2026 23:41

Play stupid games; win stupid prizes.

Omg I love this. Never heard it before.

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:24

Lugol · 29/06/2026 19:05

OP can I ask why you are sure they weren't having an affair for the two years they were running the sports club together?

Stop playing games with this man. You don't need a counsellor and you don't need to do needless point scoring or point proving.

You need a good solicitor.

You're obviously not stupid so stop acting stupid and face the fact that your marriage is over.
His actions don't speak of love, he's a skank who has so far slithered his way over not one but two women that you know of.

Stop doing all this silly name calling of this woman, forget her, she is essentially meaningless.
Your H is the one who is screwing you over and he is abusing you. He chooses this woman over you every time. He won't stop either.
The only way you can make it stop is ending this misery of a marriage.

Most women in your situation in a crappy marriage are trapped for financial reasons.
Not you though.
You are keeping yourself trapped.

If you love your kids then shore up their future and boot this man out of your life because this won't get better.

Edited

This

TheJoyousHiker · 29/06/2026 19:27

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.

The whole thread is crazy.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 19:30

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:24

This

He did hit me once over the cleaning lady but that was almost 20 years ago . I would not tolerate that now

you are right mid twenties was worst

OP posts:
VividPinkTraybake · 29/06/2026 19:30

EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/06/2026 14:32

I agree.
what did people think of his ' eating again? My lovely fatty' remark this afternoon.
OP fishing for a different reaction to bash the DH. It is a madhouse.

And still people bite

NattyKnitter116 · 29/06/2026 19:31

Lugol · 29/06/2026 19:12

Who gives a fuck where he goes?

You're still doing it, you just ignore any advice and still it's all about her...

There are posters being horrible to you on this thread but you're not listening to any advice.
Counselling is not going to change him and I highly doubt it's going to help you because all you want is to sound off about him and bitch about how he's only there because "He hasn't chosen a decent woman" 🙄

Give her some grace. It’s often a very protracted process when you’re deep in this type of relationship. She’s in the equivalent of a washing machine drum going round at the moment. It took me many years and many false starts. Im
in a great place now with lovely decent bloke but it all takes time and the OP will contradict herself, be illogical, focus on things that are irrelevant and ignore essentials. She’s essentially had her brain re wired to serve his needs. The quicker she gets rid of him the quicker she can mend but it’s a process to get to that point (unless he does her a favour by doing something truly daft and criminal)

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