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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

it's all such a mess now and I don't know what to do

132 replies

AnAngelWithin · 31/07/2010 09:15

Don't even know why I am posting really. I know there is nothing anyone can do, but I need a rant I suppose.

Anyway, 12 years of marriage, dc5 born 9 weeks ago. Past year has been tough since I was assaulted and put in hospital and with the pregnancy too. DH gradually become more and more distant. Ended up feeling as though he was repulsed by my shape being pregnant. Just got on with it. The past few weeks have been even worse. Then all of a sudden, a few days ago, DH is all over me. Really weird. He had been texting so much the past few months and using up all the credit on his phone that I checked his phone records, and there was one number on there that was text over and over and over. I confronted him and he said it was a mate from work. Gave him the benefit of the doubt. Then when he started trying to be all over me he almost made himself look more suspicious to me.

Anyway yesterday, he left his phone at home. He had a lock on it. So I took the sim out and put it in mine. Wrong I know, and to be honest I wish I hadn't. Messages on the sim showed up on my phone, saying things like 'we couldn't get round that corner quick enough......' and 'how can you still want me after what happened on thursday....' and 'what if we had got caught...' I felt sick and my legs collapsed from under me reading them. So I rang his work and said 'i know whats going on, you've been rumbled'...silence...'don't bother coming home'.... he asked what i meant and I told him what I had found and he said that he would come home and explain. Told him not to bother. 2 hours later (he works 4 miles away) He came back and at first he was just really cross that I had looked at his phone. I told him I only did it cos I had good reason and that I was right. He said did the usual 'it's not what you think' routine. Then he tried to turn it on me saying he's been miserable since I was assaulted cos the woman who did it went to him and said i was having an affair with her husband (which i swear on my kids lives, fathers grave and anything else i cherish that I haven't and wouldn't. He is a slimey b&%$d and I wouldn't even look at him let alone anything else) So in a way I think he was trying to justify his actions. He left after half an hour and went back to work. Came back after work. In the end he said that it was just someone he had met through work and they got chatting and started texting. Then he said it started getting 'silly' (he wouldn't explain what he meant by 'silly') so he stopped it. He ended it last week apparently before it got 'too serious' Yet I have just looked at his phone records again and he was still texting her all day on wednesday when he was off work and supposed to be with me and the kids and while I was in hospital with our baby having her hips scanned.

I asked him what she meant by the things she said in her texts, and he just kept saying 'i don't know I can't remember, my heads messed up and I've got so much going on right now' I said 'how would i know...you don't talk to me, you talk to HER' He said it was just someone to talk to. I asked him so many time to talk to me over the past year and he wouldn't. Obviously didn't need to if he had someone else to talk to. Shes some posh business woman who is a bit older than him. Everything I am not. I don't know what to believe. He asked if he could come back after work today and talk things through which I agreed to cos at the end of the day we have got 5 kids to consider, and even now I still stand by what I have always said in that I would never stop him seeing the kids if anything happened between us (unless it was something totally unforgivable, violence etc) and he knows that.

To me, the things I read aren't the sort of things you just text, it sounds like more happened. He said he hardly sees her cos she lives ages away and she only goes to his work now and again. But he did admit that he felt they were getting closer but he realised he loved me and ended it cos he didn't want it to 'get too far'

I said that he must have been attracted to her in the first place to exchange numbers. He said he wasn't and they were just friends and it looked like it was developing into something else so he stopped it. Apparently he's been texting her for over a year, so basically while we were trying to concieve dd3

I just don't know what to do to be honest. I do love him, and part of me can't imagine a life without him, but there is no way on this planet I will ever trust him again, and I think that once the trust has gone, theres no real base for a relationship. Before we got married he 'kissed' a friend of mine at a party after sending me home in a taxi cos i was a little tipsy. It was 'just a kiss' but the trust started to crumble then really I suppose. Hindsight eh!?

OP posts:
Angelcat666 · 31/07/2010 10:16

I've never been in this position so can't really advise but didn't want to leave it unanswered. Hopefully other, wiser, posters who have experience of this will be along soon and can advise.

I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through this though Do you have a friend/family member you can talk to about this, who will support you in whatever you decide to do?

MathsMadMummy · 31/07/2010 10:28

oh you poor thing

I hardly ever use the word but your H is a total cunt, honestly.

to me it sounds like these things really happened rather than just texting, if he's telling the truth about it being over with this woman, I'll bet it ended just before he was suddenly all over you. so for you.

no advice, but couldn't read and run. hope you can get some support through this difficult time, you are far better off without him.

gardenpixie · 31/07/2010 10:38

I agree with the other posts ... what a horrible situation

The thing that struck me is that it sounds like he still isn't being honest with you. I reckon your intuition is spot on and he's trying to make you feel in the wrong for having rumbled him.

I really feel for you as I can't imagine what it's like to go through this when you have little ones but I do believe that you and they would be much better off without someone who has brought dishonesty into your lives.

Can you get some proper space and ask him to move out for a few days at least to give you a bit of a break?

I wish I could be more constructive / helpful and I hope someone with a bit more experience will chip in with some wiser words ... but feel free to rant away as he's put you in an awful situation.

LisaD1 · 31/07/2010 10:41

I don't think you should make any huge decisions just yet, you are in shock and have just had a baby so hormones all over the place (none of that takes away the fact your H is an arsehole for doing this)

Is there somewhere he can go and stay for a week or so while you get your head around it all and decide what YOU want?

Personally, I would be demanding 100% honesty about the situation and would tell H if I thought he was keeping one ounce of the truth from me it would be over-permanently. I would also tell him that may be the case anyway but I want 100% of the truth so that the decision is mine. Take back control.

Good luck to you and your DC's.

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 31/07/2010 10:56

I'm sorry this has happened to you. But given the fact he has repeatedly lied to you, even after discovery, I would imagine that he has been having a full-blown affair with this woman. Unfortunately, all the delays that were built in by him (returning after 2 hours and then going back to work) gave him thinking time to come up with what is a ridiculously implausible tale. I'm sure you don't believe for one minute that his distance from you had anything to do with your assailant's H and this awful lie is incredibly cruel and designed only to shift blame.

You will know that all the behaviour over the past year is synonymous with an affair, but when you trust your partner and in your case are in a vulnerable position, being pregnant, it's very often the last thing to cross your mind, or to want to believe.

The content of the texts tells you a lot, I think. This wasn't a "texting" relationship because it is clear that they have seen eachother very recently. The "I don't remember, my head is in such a mess" is of course a lie.

What to do? I'd suggest gather some RL support around you and tell him that you won't engage until you get the complete truth. I often suggest, as a last resort when someone is stonewalling, to say that you now have evidence of a full affair but will not reveal it and are going to give him one chance and one chance only to tell you the truth.

You can recover from an affair and build an even better marriage, but not while secrets and lies remain and not until the unfaithful party has resolved why they were unfaithful.

AnAngelWithin · 31/07/2010 12:09

thanks for the replies. I am convinced that something more has happened. Like it was said, time delays give him time to make up excuses. I am in 2 minds whether to text this woman and see what she says....

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AnAngelWithin · 31/07/2010 12:10

he says it ended last week yet he was still texting her on wednsday night.

I asked him why he was still texting her if it had ended, why could he not just ignore her?.... silence...

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SassySusan · 31/07/2010 12:30

Message deleted

wouldliketoknow · 31/07/2010 23:10

angel, take time to think what you want, and good luck whatever you decide, i don't see what good can come out from talking to that woman, but if you decide to do so, think first what you want to say, what you want to know, and when to stop the conversation,...
i agree with susan, if you want to listen to what he has to say..., give him enough rope and he will hang himself, it is really difficult to keep a lie straight if you say it over and over and over again, also look at his eyes when he is speaking, you might notice clues when he is lying, you can also try control questions, to see what his demeanour is when he is telling the truth.

important thing, do not torture yourself, it is not your fault, and whatever you decide is right.

i hope you have some support in rl, i can't imagine how you feel, hope this help...

AnAngelWithin · 01/08/2010 09:22

thank you for your messages.

Well he came back last night. Started trying to chit chat like nothing was wrong. I am afraid I ignored him. Then he tried to put his arms round me and tell me he loves me. I pushed him away. He just doesn't get it in his thick head how bad it looks. He insists it was just texting and that he ended it cos she wanted to meet up etc and he didn't. So when I asked him why if that was the case, was he still texting her on wednesday, he said he didn't know. Why didn't he just ignore her messages instead of replying to them?? I asked him if they slept together and he said no. I asked if they had kissed and he said no, but looked away and wouldn't look me in the eye and say it. He admitted that it felt like they were getting closer, but that once he realised how close, he stopped it. I asked what she meant by her texts that said things like 'we couldn't wait to get round that corner quick enough.... how can you still want me after what happened on thursday....' he says he doesn't know, and that he though it obviously meant more to her than him. I told him that for her to text him with those kind of things, he must have been leading her on at least. I got so angry I ended up hitting him and pushing him over cos he was throwing the assault story in my face again and I couldn't deal with it any more. In the end I went to bed as I was too drained to think let alone speak. He followed me up and started picking an arguement in the bedroom, waking dd3 up. In the end I told him I hated him and that I wanted him to leave. I told him I didn't love him and would never ever trust him ever again.

He has gone. I have had some long apologetic texts from him saying he is sorry and he's been an arse etc etc etc, but still insisting all it was, was texting. But to me, as far as I am concerned, he has had an emotional affair. He would get out of bed with me, and go and text her. He would text her with things he should be telling me, his wife, and then accusing ME of not talking. I have told him that in actual fact, he probably lost me a long time ago with all the times he's pushed me away in the past year. I never even got cards for mothers day, valentines day, wedding anniversary, nothing. He has hurt me so badly and he just cannot see it. And for that, I truely hate him.

OP posts:
daisystone · 01/08/2010 09:47

Do you still love him or did you just tell him you don't because you are hurt and angry? Do you want to remain together but just can't see how it is possible at the moment?

Your emotions are very raw at the moment so of course you are feeling as though you hate him and want to kill him. However, when that starts to dull a little, will you still want to try and be together or is this it for you?

AnAngelWithin · 01/08/2010 09:51

I don't know. Up until this happened, I knew I was still 'in love' with him. I would still get butterflies when he came in from work. Yes, right now, I do hate him. I hate him for what he has done and how much he has hurt me. But most of all, I hate him for not even acknowledging that he's done anything wrong or even trying to apologise.

At the moment, I can't even stand to look at him let alone anything else. I need time.

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SassySusan · 01/08/2010 09:55

Message deleted

mamas12 · 01/08/2010 09:56

Oh Angel.
You need to have a break from him completely for a while.
Tell him not to contact you for a week or something and get a breather from him.
You are in shock now and need some friendly loving rl care now.
Hope you ring family or someone to come over and help 1. with the practical dcs stuff and 2. with your emotions.

daisystone · 01/08/2010 10:05

Yes I agree you need time to think.

He is playing it down purposefully I think. In his mind (in a lot of men's minds) he probably thinks that if he makes a big deal and apologises profusely it will seem as though more happened than texting so he is trying to be a bit more blase.

Of course he doesn't seem to realise that what you have found out is just as much of a betrayal to you as anything physical. Until he realises that, he won't realise how much damage he has done.

Maybe he needs time to miss you and be apart from you and realise what he has done to your relationship.

daisystone · 01/08/2010 10:09

I wonder if the woman he was texting realises that you have just had a baby? I would want to put her straight if it were me - but that's just me and I am hot headed.

I don't know how a woman could mess around with another womans husband - particularly when he has a newborn. Totally disgusting of her and I just hope she didn't know.

AnAngelWithin · 01/08/2010 10:13

i don't know where he has gone. i heard him come back in the night. he left a note for the kids just saying he had to go to work early.

he is supposed to be off work from tomorrow for a week. we are supposed to be visiting my nan, going to the beach, the zoo etc.

i have nobody in RL as such. i have a couple of really good friends on msn but they live miles away, so a hug, chat and a cuppa aren't really an option I have my homestart lady who is a great friend, but i feel she has got enough on her plate gerself without being burdened with my problems.

OP posts:
AnAngelWithin · 01/08/2010 10:19

sorry xposts daisy, he said she knows he is married with kids. i am in 2 minds whether to text her and say if she wants him she can have him. i asked him what he thought she would say if i contacted her to ask what went on between them and he said he didn't know...not that she would say nothing happened, so i think he is worried now....

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mamas12 · 01/08/2010 10:30

I would carry on your plans for the dcs and invite someone to come stay with you to help and for support.
Wouldn't count him in as a support again for a while.
Carry on as if he isn't there, and in fact if he does take the time off I would just take the baby and go visit myself and leave him to it for a few days.

mamas12 · 01/08/2010 10:31

If you feel you can deal with the other woman then by all means but i would wait a while to get stronger first then do it.
On the other hand it could make you stronger to find out.

AnAngelWithin · 01/08/2010 10:35

i wouldn't know what to say i suppose if i did try to ring or text her.

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AnAngelWithin · 01/08/2010 10:37

i dont think it will hurt me anymore than i already am, as I am already assuming the worst as such seeing as he hasn't told me anything. Hearing her side might give me some clarity on the situation. But then she might not reply anyway.

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suspiciousandsad · 01/08/2010 10:54

I have been in your position and I have texted/rung. I've never had a go at the woman, nor have I blamed her. After all, he is my husband. I have made it very clear that he is married to me and we have children and it is not appropriate.

The first time I did it, I made a mistake and she was a work colleague.

The other two times I was right.

Today he has had his third strike and is out.

I feel your pain, I really do.

daisystone · 01/08/2010 11:01

you could double bluff and say "he told me you only had sex a couple of times" and see what she says.

That is if you want to expose anymore if there is more to expose. But then it could get complicated - not that it isn't already.

I don't know - but I would want to tell her what a disgusting piece of crap she is and that you hope someone does the same to her a few weeks after she gives birth.

I would also probably try to make her feel like crap by saying that your husband said she was insignificant and he was only messing around and he didn't realise how needy and clingy she was - or some such bullshit. I find a few good lies can really hit someone where it hurts.

Really though, you just need some space to get your head sorted. Also, try and do those nice things with your children and get out of the house with them.

AnAngelWithin · 01/08/2010 11:10

suspiciousandsad, I am sorry for you. I hope you husband behaves from now on!

daisy, I don't think I really want to go down the double bluff road really. Could get too messy, though it would be more satisfying as such. But then I suppose he could be telling the truth and nothing happened...but he sure as hell ain't doing anything to instill confidence in me!!

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