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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Just found out...

18 replies

Tash72 · 13/03/2024 15:05

...that my husband has been texting and calling the ex wife of a long time friend of ours. Lots of love heart emojis etc according to my 16 year old who has known since November as he is often in the car with my husband. Phone calls that end abruptly or 'can't talk now' when he's in the car and he has seen the same name flash up multiple times. This came out on Sunday when my husband and youngest were having a bit of an argument.

I don't quite know how I feel. Angry that my already anxious teen has had to keep this in for months. Shocked obvs, as I had absolutely no idea, who with was completely out of the blue and timing, well, my mother died suddenly last summer, I'm trying different HRT as I have been feeling down, our lovely old dog was PTS a month ago, eldest has left home and have recently found out that my dad has cancer. He left the army 9 years ago (without discussing it with me) and pursued a new career which has ended up with him in London two nights per week. have been basically handed a very small life in a place I would not choose to live and left to make the best of it. I have made some lovely friends but this is not where I would choose to be.

Thing is, I am not as upset as I thought I would be. I'm upset of course, humiliated but more sort of numb especially as I have only confided in one person who is at a distance and feel that I am avoiding anyone locally. The other person is physically completely the opposite to me, a successful business woman with a wealthy family, etc so I am fighting those feelings of inadequacy too.

Subconsciously though I think I have been fed up for a while, being the one at home to keep everything running while he pursues a career, travel, socialises with work etc and never has to check whether it works for me because I am always here. I have pointed this out to him and he just says, it's my job, I pay for the house etc. Have been feeling trapped, quite bored and lonely, unfulfilled on all levels. Presumably if he hadn't been 'outted' this, whatever it is, would still be going on and might have developed into something physical. I am wondering whether his behaviour is a way of getting out of this relationship without having to be the one to make the decision.

I am completely dependent on him financially, we don't have a lot, more than some but not enough to maintain two households, we don't have holidays etc but don't struggle today the bills. I have done some ad hoc and part time teaching over the years to fit in with the kids and animals as I was on my own most of the week (I have always struggled with this and did it to please my parents basically) and finally, with one flown the nest I'm on a course which I have waited for a long time to do and was planning to set up on my own. This was finally time for me to do what I wanted and would have been a chance to boost our income if I could find some clients but help do up our own cottage too. I don't know if I will ever earn enough to be independent and at nearly 52 it all seems very daunting.

IMaybe this is the catalyst for change. He says he will change but has yet to say sorry. I am not attracted to him and actually don't even like the idea of going out for a meal together let alone a holiday together. We don't enjoy doing the same things at all. Of course he has said we can move wherever I want to and he will change to be with me but this is just not realistic and we risk being equally unhappy after a huge amount of expensive upheaval.

I thought this dissatisfaction was down to hormones and the realisation that life is just too short since my mother died but maybe is something more. I can't bear the idea of living with someone that I either a) am always doubting or b) feel such a disconnect that I don't care what he does and c) would only be there for the financial security which is not respectful or dignified for either of us but without any money I feel I have little choice. 😕

OP posts:
FunnyFinch · 13/03/2024 15:13

this is diabolical that he’s made your teen lie

FunnyFinch · 13/03/2024 15:14

i did not even read beyond that.

FunnyFinch · 13/03/2024 15:15

there’s a big piece of the story missing

what happened when he was exposed?

and have you actually seen the messages with heart emojis?

FunnyFinch · 13/03/2024 15:16

so he completely accepted it? or denied it?

and has he said if i going?

FunnyFinch · 13/03/2024 15:18

how old are your children living at home?

DrJoanAllenby · 13/03/2024 15:36

Is the teenager being truthful?

Tash72 · 13/03/2024 16:18

Dr Joan Allenby - DS was definitely telling the truth. He has never even met the person he referred to with first and last names. We were in the car and he and he and my husband had a disagreement which had a 'you're 16 you don't think like an adult' comment and my son started crying and said that even though he was only 16 he wasn't stupid and knew what was right and wrong and that OH was cheating on me sending messages to X and speaking to her on the phone ' in a different voice'. He sobbed and sobbed and apologised to me over and over again. My husband went very red and din't say another word. When we got home I asked him to pack a bag and take himself elsewhere. He did so without speaking. His parents live half an hour away. I haven't seen him since. We have messaged and he hasn't denied it at all.

OP posts:
FunnyFinch · 13/03/2024 16:19

you asked him to get out

on the basis of tearful pissed off teen without any further talk?

Tash72 · 13/03/2024 16:20

FunnyFinch - youngest is at home aged 16. OH hasn't denied it or apologised. I told him that I hope whatever he got from the situation was worth it.

OP posts:
MrWilyFoxIsBack · 13/03/2024 16:28

Sorry to be blunt OP, but what makes you think it hasn’t got as far as being a sexual affair? Most men stray for sex not just pleasant flattering company.

I think if I were you I’d focus on my dc16. Tell them you had started to suspect an affair for a long time, and not to worry - dad did the wrong thing, got himself kicked out, and the consequences will follow at NOT in any way, shape or form DS16’s fault.

Meanwhile I suspect you will find your anger at some stage. How DARE he. I am so angry on your behalf, that he would have an affair while you’ve been dealing with so, so much. What a bastard he turned out to be, huh.

FunnyFinch · 13/03/2024 16:32

what have you and he been saying in these messages?

Fellatfirsthurdle · 13/03/2024 16:34

Sorry to hear this. Your description of him and your marriage sounds similar to mine with my ex who was also in the forces. He will never change. You deserve better. Your teen (bless him what a lot to be keeping to himself) deserves better. Life will be so much better once you're free. Move to where you want to live, spend time with people who are important to you. Live your life.

Noseybookworm · 13/03/2024 17:25

I hope your poor son is ok and that you have managed to reassure him that he has done nothing wrong and should never have been put in this position by your husband. Sending you a hug OP it sounds like you have been through the wars lately 😢 take time to think carefully about what you want for you and your children. It's scary to think about how you manage financially if you split, you need to get some legal advice asap and please confide in a trusted friend for support 💐

Tash72 · 13/03/2024 18:59

I asked him via message how he and X progressed from Facebook friends (she lives in the North of England) to regular WhatsApp. "I don't know" was the answer. "Who reached out to who? "We both did". How long has it been going on? "A few months". So when you are watching something on your iPad in another room because you say you don't want to watch what I'm watching on TV are you messaging each other. "Yes". And when you decide to just pop out to get some milk/chocolate etc in the evening is it because she has messaged to see if you are in London (free to speak) or at home. And this was a yes too. He has definitely been a bit more obliging recently and suggesting I go and treat myself to some clothes (he never does this, always careful with money and he knows I don't actually like clothes shopping!) and why don't I take myself somewhere nice for a couple of days etc. I naively thought this was because he can see I am struggling esp since my dad's diagnosis and I was also unwell for a couple of weeks but now I am wondering if he was feeling guilty.

OP posts:
Tash72 · 10/05/2024 11:45

Blindsided. So DH and I talked and he returned to the family home after three weeks of staying with his parents. Things have been better, both making more of an effort with communication and spending more time socialising ie local pub quiz etc which usually is just me with friends. He has also been saying yes to things a lot more which, on reflection, was a massive red flag ie telling me to go shopping and treat myself to something nice when we are usually so careful with money, saying I should talk to an architect about a kitchen extension (which we can't afford). I thought he was trying to make me happy . Then this morning, another long message from my teen on his way to school. He has apparently been less willing to believe DH and it appears rightly so. Sexually explicit messages between DH and another woman - no idea who she is - including sharing pics. My son took screen shots. This was from two days ago. I am appalled. DH left yesterday for a two week business trip and in a different time zones comms are tricky. I have messaged him and sent hi the screen shots and he responded with a brief apology. He has been receiving counselling since our issues surfaced in March but I suspect is not being truthful in these sessions or honest with himself let alone with me. This is the final nail but I don't know what to do or who to turn to. If I had the money at my disposal or parents in UK I would pack up as soon as son's exams are finished and go. I feel powerless and a bit desperate.

OP posts:
olderbutwiser · 10/05/2024 11:54

You are married, and it's a long marriage. So while you may be dependent on him for income the equity in the marriage is owned jointly and when you divorce you will receive your share of that. That includes pensions, equity in the house, savings, cars if they are valuable, the lot.

You have a couple of weeks to research what this would look like for you. This may seem terrifying but actually it's liberating - you can move where you want, spend time with who you want, and give you the space to focus on your son (who has to face up to the fact that his dad is a shit - which is tough, but better than facing up to a dad who is a shit and a mum who puts up with it).

Coldupnorth87 · 10/05/2024 12:26

Ignore your DH (for now).

Support your DC. Talk to his school and see if he can get some counselling. I had a close friend's H tell me about his affair at the same age and it's very awkward as you don't know what to do for the best.

Make some plans.

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 13/05/2024 01:27

Use there two weeks to work something out.

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