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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I feel bad but AIBU

74 replies

ThisCoralExpert · 10/10/2026 13:00

AIBU to think my husband is unfairly blaming me for his son’s GCSE results?
I would really appreciate some honest opinions because I’m struggling to understand whether I’m being unreasonable here.
My husband has cheated on me multiple times. The most recent incident was the fifth time I’ve discovered him being involved with another woman. This time, she was living in another country, but he was messaging her, sending her money and hiding it all from me.
Throughout our marriage, there has been a lot of lying, gaslighting and emotional turmoil. By the time I discovered this latest betrayal, I was mentally and emotionally exhausted. I was in a really bad place because of everything that had happened.
We also live with his son, my stepson, who was sitting his GCSEs at the time.
Unfortunately, my stepson didn’t pass any of his GCSEs. Not a single subject.
Now my husband is blaming me. He’s saying that I punished his son by not helping him with his schoolwork or being involved enough in his education.
What I find difficult to accept is that, during this period, my husband himself wasn’t putting in the effort to support his son’s education. From my perspective, he seemed to be spending more time and energy hiding his relationship with this other woman than focusing on what was happening at home.
I wasn’t deliberately withholding help from my stepson or trying to punish him. I was simply struggling to cope emotionally with what my husband was putting me through.
I understand that children shouldn’t suffer because of problems between adults, and I genuinely feel sad that my stepson didn’t get the results he needed.
But I also feel that my husband is now placing the responsibility on me rather than acknowledging his own role as a parent.
AIBU to think it’s unfair for my husband to blame me for his son’s GCSE results when I was struggling mentally because of his repeated infidelity?
I’m genuinely interested in hearing different perspectives, even if you think I could have handled things differently.

OP posts:
ginasevern · 10/10/2026 14:30

Do you seriously need to ask this question? And why are you still with him? What are your circumstances that you must stay and face such constant abuse and humiliation?

Escapingafter50years · 10/10/2026 15:45

He's done a right number on you. Please read up on gaslighting. He's blaming you for what he should have been doing himself. Also please think about why you're prepared to stick with an excuse of a man, who has not been unfaithful to you once, twice, or even three times. FIVE TIMES. There is something in your background that makes you feel you don't deserve better. But you do.
No one deserves to be treated like this. You really need to leave this awful person. Please keep posting here, you will get advice and support.

user293948849167 · 10/10/2026 15:48

You need to leave him, feel sorry for his poor son

faithfultoGeorgeMichael · 10/10/2026 15:50

Please leave this awful man OP

Topseyt123 · 10/10/2026 15:54

Why on earth are you still with this fuckwit? You can't be getting anything but abuse and disrespect from the relationship, so dump him and leave.

Pallisers · 10/10/2026 15:55

Why are you even tolerating this conversation with this fool? Just leave him. If he blames you for his son just walk away. You can't change his stupid mind. You can't make him a decent person. Just leave and ignore his witterings until you get out.

I feel sorry for his son - who probably was affected by the turmoil caused by his father's infidelity and stupidity and lack of support - but that isn't your problem.

ThisCoralExpert · 10/10/2026 16:06

Thank you all. I know it’s all to do with self esteem. I know I need to leave especially for the sake my kids a boy and girl that we also leave together with , I just don’t know why o keep falling for his excuses. I will be starting therapy next week for me. It’s not finances it just low self esteem and o know it needs to be addressed

OP posts:
MyArtfulGreySloth · 10/10/2026 16:10

You are being unreasonable for still being with this piece of shit!

ChillyB · 10/10/2026 16:12

Does this awful man take any responsibility for any of his actions?
Is he now teaching his son not to take any responsibility for himself too? You can only support someone with exams to a certain extent anyway. They have to make their own efforts or was or was your husband expecting you to complete the coursework and sit the exams?
Please get yourself away from this horrible gaslighter as soon as you possibly can.

dizzydizzydizzy · 10/10/2026 16:17

He feels guilty that he didn’t help his own kid.
It’s far more comforting to lay the blame on you rather than recognize it is largely DS’ fault and DH is at fault for not seeing it coming and not doing anything about jt.

My abusive and controlling ex used this blame-shifting tactic so I am very familiar with it.

rainbowstardrops · 10/10/2026 16:21

He’s cheated on you FIVE times? That you know of.
Do people in the real world actually tolerate this shit? He’d have been gone after the first time if he was my husband.

Myli1 · 10/10/2026 16:24

Walk away from this toxic relationship before you end up totally destroyed.

SonK · 10/10/2026 16:34

Your husband cheated on you 5 times and expected you to school / care for his son?

I am going to be very blunt, so you realise and do something about it: you are a joke to your husband, he does not love you or respect you.

Get out of this mess, before he impregnates you.

Purplecatshopaholic · 10/10/2026 16:44

You lost me when you said your husband has cheated multiple times. You need to find your courage and self respect and get out op. This situation is terrible for your kids as well as you.

Winter2020 · 10/10/2026 16:46

If your step son took his GCSEs but failed them all he must have been having problems with his schooling going back years - nothing that you with half an hour and some revision cards was going to sort. It was up to his Dad to know how he was performing at school and come up with a plan years ago.

I’m sorry your husband is so rotten - I hope you find the strength to leave him.

GloriousGoosebumps · 10/10/2026 17:00

Your husband is quite a piece of work, is he also telling his son that the GCSE failures are your fault? What does your SS have to say?

Bridgertonisbest · 10/10/2026 17:10

Why are you still calling him your husband. Surely you mean exhusband??

LoudSnoringDog · 10/10/2026 17:20

This has got to be a joke? He’s cheated on you at least 5 times but the reason his son has failed his exams is because you didn’t do his homework with him?? Is your husband insane?

supportAct · 10/10/2026 17:23

@ThisCoralExpert OMG op, his son, his responsibility. He should have made sure his son had the support he needed, this wasn’t your job to do whilst he was off flirting with all and sundry.

Your DH is an absolute loser and will never ever change his cheating ways, and his son is very likely to become a NEET.

Run! Divorce the bastard.

Rosepinks · 10/10/2026 17:26

Shit husband and shit father.
What a loser.

Please leave him.

Boreded · 10/10/2026 17:29

NovemberMorn · 10/10/2026 13:03

YANBU.....and I honestly can't believe you are asking the question.

Or that 3% of people said she was…weird

Pinkflamingo10 · 10/10/2026 17:29

YABU to still refer to this bastard as your husband.

PepsiBook · 10/10/2026 17:32

That's all on him, not you at all.
It's his son, not yours.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 10/10/2026 17:33

OP, I think you will find that your self esteem will improve no end when you are away from this dreadful man.

I suspect he has a vested interest in keeping your self esteem low, so he can behave as he wants and make you think it's all your fault.

danniT2 · 10/10/2026 17:35

The fact that you are actually doubting yourself over this shows how ground down and abused you’ve been by him. He cheated. He neglected his son and expected you (a stepparent - this is relevant) to fill that gap. He’s only got himself to blame. You need to leave this abusive, cheating waste of space.