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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:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/06/2026 00:49

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 00:44

He has literally never ever said anything like that before. My DS is usually my staunchest supporter. I care about having his respect so much

Are you overly emotionally attached to him. You should be his supporter. He should know nothing about the situation you created.
. My DS is usually my staunchest supporter.

HedgehogSam · 29/06/2026 00:52

It does sound as though you were trying to create drama, as your DC suggested. I have no idea why you would invite someone you clearly don't trust, about whom you had suspicions, unless your intention was to set your DH up. Did you want to prove to yourself that you were right all along? Was it a hostile dig at your DH?

You may well be entirely right that your DH had a crush on this woman and behaved badly. If so, that is an issue to address. You may decide that it is a dealbreaker for you and you want to end the marriage because of it. But honestly, the time to address it was years ago when it happened, not to nurse resentment for nearly a decade and then spring this test on your DH. At a party for your 20th anniversary of all things.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 01:01

I genuinely thought I made a fuss over nothing back then as he has spent 9 years telling me so

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 01:03

EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/06/2026 00:49

Are you overly emotionally attached to him. You should be his supporter. He should know nothing about the situation you created.
. My DS is usually my staunchest supporter.

My older one was 9 years younger back then and just ending primary

but he took a separate dislike to her even when he didnt know all this as she said 'shut up' to him once when he was laughing loudly during carpool in the back seat...that was the last day he stepped into her car.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/06/2026 01:07

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 01:01

I genuinely thought I made a fuss over nothing back then as he has spent 9 years telling me so

Why did you reignite this? Think long and hard about that.
Divorce him if it’ll make you happy, cement your feelings. It comes across as self destructive behaviour.

Boreded · 29/06/2026 01:10

You tried to be clever by inviting her to your new upgraded home, only to find she didn’t give a toss and you ended up doing a pick me dance with your own husband.
That your child who is only a young adult could see through it all should tell you that you are being childish.
🤦‍♀️

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 01:14

Pansykavalier · 28/06/2026 23:23

I’m sorry, but this whole party was ill conceived, slightly cringe, and it all blew up in your face.

You are trying to put a genie back in the bottle. This will never work. The love and the trust has gone, and he doesn’t seem to care.

Time to grab the nettle and decide what you REALLY want to do with the rest of your life.

Just saw this post.....

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 01:16

Boreded · 29/06/2026 01:10

You tried to be clever by inviting her to your new upgraded home, only to find she didn’t give a toss and you ended up doing a pick me dance with your own husband.
That your child who is only a young adult could see through it all should tell you that you are being childish.
🤦‍♀️

:(

That is what it feels like now

OP posts:
HedgehogSam · 29/06/2026 01:19

If nothing else, it sounds as though you and your DH don't have the greatest communication as a couple. The issue with this woman, whatever it was, has never been resolved and you both have different interpretations of your own and each other's behaviour. You "swear" one thing happened, your DH "swears" something else happened. You're both caught up in your own versions of events, and you each think the other is in the wrong. It sounds exhausting and unhealthy.

happywifeandlife · 29/06/2026 01:31

MonicaGeller010203 · 28/06/2026 23:04

Well yes, as H for 4 years now has , everytime the topic of old neighbourhood friends, came up reminded me how I 'got all suspicious over nothing' and I know he never relaxed here and seemed to enjoy events with the new group as much as with the old group as he takes a lot more time than me to warm up

I geniunely thought we were past the silliness, I had overreacted 9 years ago and it would all be fine now .....I am still trying to understand how yet again it went wrong

But did you over react 9 years ago? He could have fancied her, and however he was acting around her made you think he did.

He still thinks you think that, and is angry, but it doesn’t mean you’re wrong about it.

Inviting her has just made him realise that you took him away from her perhaps 🤷‍♀️

EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/06/2026 01:31

Honestly don’t hold onto this crush business. If your marriage is otherwise good, seek some counselling. It sounds like you both work well together, new home, nearly grown children. If you want out? That’s fine but don’t bit your nose off to spite your face for the sake of your low self esteem, she’s funny, she’s fit, she sings in the car, so what. You are overthinking her influence.

Planting · 29/06/2026 01:35

This is maybe the 3rd time ive said this on MN op you are the red flag at this point.

Pick me dance with your own husband lol 😆, show off your new home, and this woman did not to give two flying fucks about any of it.

Quite frankly embarrassing youself your husband and your child.

newfriend05 · 29/06/2026 01:42

you played with fire and got burned, you wanted to prove a point to her and it’s back fired .. only got yourself to
blame here

TrishM80 · 29/06/2026 01:55

Arranging a party so you could do a soppy duet with your husband in front of a woman you're insanely jealous of has got to be some of the most toe-curlingly, cringiest shit I've ever heard.

No wonder he fucked off for a walk, I don't blame him!

SweetnsourNZ · 29/06/2026 01:58

He was probably embarrassed that you invited her. Even though she wasn't an ex it would be very similar. Then felt you made a display of yourself calling him away from her. It may have just been bad timing but only you really know that.
Are you known for being dramatic. Your DC commenting like that sounds like you may be.

user1492757084 · 29/06/2026 02:05

You WERE silly to invite friends from long ago.

Try buying new bikes together and joining a new cycle group.
Make a point of helping DH find a couple of groups where he can make friends.

Ignore his silly reaction to you calling him to come and serve some food.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 02:08

TrishM80 · 29/06/2026 01:55

Arranging a party so you could do a soppy duet with your husband in front of a woman you're insanely jealous of has got to be some of the most toe-curlingly, cringiest shit I've ever heard.

No wonder he fucked off for a walk, I don't blame him!

That's just it though , I cannot believe that the me I believe I am (sorry tongue twister) would envy this woman

I am - Loyal to my friends and family, kind, funny, empathetic, spiritual, gentle, sweet

she is - mean, user, manipulative, unkind, gossipy, shallow, superficial, lazy

if I am jealous of her , then I must leave this marriage.

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 02:09

I feel like Monica if she had married Paulo.

OP posts:
ItstoolateformeDaveyourselves · 29/06/2026 02:40

Corvidsarethebest · 29/06/2026 00:28

I'm guessing you have to drink a lot to do these games, OP- sober up, it will all blow over. Nothing has happened.

Agree. It best to wait till the morning on this one. He's done nothing wrong.

MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 02:44

Still up

just angrier

This time he wont have it easy

OP posts:
MonicaGeller010203 · 29/06/2026 02:45

He is going to wish he had not done this before I am finished

I feel gaslighted and crazymade by him for 9 years

OP posts:
Cremant · 29/06/2026 02:49

YABU - purely on the basis that you invited her. It feels like you needed to parade your marriage in front of her & what makes me feel that’s the case is that you’d lost touch for so long. You set yourself up for disaster here, OP

LBFseBrom · 29/06/2026 02:52

The 'party' sounds really cringeworthy with couples' songs and kids' party games, I'm not surprised your husband went out for a walk. I'm amazed he came back! It sounds like a bad episode of 'Come Dine with Me'.

The non-affair with the ex-neighbour is too ridiculous for words, you were clearly jealous over nothing.

OriginalUsername2 · 29/06/2026 02:56

Inviting a woman who’s existence caused problems in your marriage, who neither of you have seen for years, to your new big house, to celebrate your anniversary, to play musical chairs and have singing competitions in the garden… is all so very, very strange to me!

LBFseBrom · 29/06/2026 03:00

MonicaGeller010203 · 28/06/2026 23:46

Yes, if he cant sing a duet with me in front of her, then just go be with her ahole

sorry not you anne, him

I dread to think what song you had chosen.

How on earth did your children cope with even the idea of that?

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