Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Friend says dh is a real flirt

113 replies

MilkMonitor · 06/10/2011 15:09

I've seen dh in conversation with all sorts of folk including my friend who says he's really flirty with her. We've been out for dinner with her and her oh and on other various social occasions. I've not seen dh flirt at all.

My friend is a flirt. She is very pretty etc and great fun. But she goes on about dh being so flirty and how he loves to party.

Am I missing something here like observation skills?

OP posts:
izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 10/10/2011 22:23

Spot on PhilipJ - defence is often the best form of attack by the guilty party and it's usually accompanied by words to the effect of 'you made me do it'.

tranquilitygardens · 10/10/2011 22:25

When did you last see the file? Has it gone missing before?

Can you check the bank ballances online/telephone banking or get someone to look after the kids when you nip out and see if he has cleaned out all the cash he can from your joint accounts?

What kind of mortgage do you have?

Who is responsible for paying bills?

Do you know if he has been keeping up with paying bills etc?

Lots of questions I know, more for you to put things together, than anything else!

MadAboutHotChoc · 11/10/2011 10:16

Is there a chance the friend's baby is your H's?

I think there is more to this, sorry.

Your H's behaviour is displaying the classic signs of someone having an affair, blaming the betrayed party for the faults in the marriage etc.

I wonder if your friend is trying to force the issue by hinting they are more than just friends?

garlicScaresVampires · 11/10/2011 11:04

Oh dear, MM. I'm so sorry for you, you haven't done anything to deserve this.

I started reading your thread, waiting for someone to pick up on this from your OP: she goes on about dh being so flirty and how he loves to party.
But no-one did. You do know what "loves to party" usually means in the context of "flirting", don't you?

Of course things have moved on greatly. I'm shocked that your H is trying to turn his appalling behaviour back on you - though not surprised Angry

When moving from "just friends" to an affair, cheating partners usually start picking faults in their home relationship. This allows them to detach emotionally, and gives them an excuse (in their eyes) for straying. That old chestnut about the main relationship must be faulty or they wouldn't cheat is absolute crap, you know. People cheat because the opportunity's there and they are weak. But the myth gives weight to the cheat's excuse, iyswim.

Please read "Not 'Just Friends' " by Shirley Glass. It explains all this and how to mend things - if you want to. You'll need him to read it as well.

Personally, I wouldn't want him back. I've done far too much forgiving in my time. But I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do ... except this: Don't trust a word that comes out his mouth, and don't have these difficult talks by email! Face to face is the only way for now.

Gather your friends around you (not that one, obv.) Good luck.

garlicScaresVampires · 11/10/2011 11:14

Meant to add - they may not be actually having sex yet, or have only just started (maybe on zoo day?) If this makes a big difference to you, please bear it in mind.

Try to track a timeline backwards - when did he start complaining about your sex life, what else happened around the same time (esp. irt this 'friend') and have you been getting on worse lately? When did that start? Has he given you any unusally nice presents lately (poss. guilt)?

Talk as much as you can bear - certainly to friends who know all four of you, and perhaps to the other husband as well.

MilkMonitor · 11/10/2011 12:19

I can't think straight at the moment. He came home last night saying he doesn't want a divorce but that certain things have to get better. He flatly denies any affair or wrongdoing. But that he's always been unhappy with our sex life.

I feel like I'm on shifting sands. And that I'm going mad.

Perhaps he should just leave. I mean flinging the divorce word about like that is IMO him wanting one anyway. I should just focus on keeping my act together for the dcs and let him get through whatever personal issues he has. I don't know where to draw the line in keeping dignified and maintaining some sort of open dialogue about it all because I will just get upset all the time.

No chance that baby is his btw. It was conceived abroad.

OP posts:
tranquilitygardens · 11/10/2011 12:32

Hi, MM.

How have you felt about your sex life?

If things are ok for you, then why should you change and do something you don't feel happy with, if having sex more often is not for you it is not diffrent to refusing to let a man pee on you if that is not your bag, don't let a mismatched sex drive mean that you are bullied into something you are not happy with.

I find it strange that after ten years he is complaining at the very same time your friend and he are beaving so odly, what an odd man he is to spend a decade refusing to tell the person he has a sex life with that it is unsatisfactory to him!

I would be interested in you thinking through how good a lover he is himself...

sorry you are going through this.

carriedababi · 11/10/2011 12:34

mm why did you say in your op, that your dh wasn't fliring with her?

countingto10 · 11/10/2011 13:05

I think you should go to Relate - it will give you a chance to vent too on neutral territory. I think the sex life thing is a bit of a red herring too. I think he is being very defensive (OW in his head if not his bed). Do you love him and want to be with him ?

My DH had an affair and one of the things the Relate therapist said to us was that she wished she could get to couples before one of them has an affair (because affairs do so much damage). Take the opportunity to have some counselling (some individual counselling can also be very useful).

Here may also be very helpful.

Nippysnippy · 11/10/2011 13:06

He is threatening you that if you don't come up to standard, which remains ambiguous, he will kick you into touch.
Nasty man.
When he leaves he can then attribute the blame to you.
I think he has already checked out of the marriage and is setting up his exit strategy.
Call time on this relationship or have a break because he is seriously trying to emotionally manipulate you and it could do you a lot of harm to play out this scenario with him.
I think you should make a list of all the areas in your relationship where he falls short. It may surprise you.

bubblegumpop · 11/10/2011 13:12

SIGH He is picking faults within the marriage, he is setting you up to fail, by listing his terms.

So it can all be your fault when he leaves, or shags her. It's so predictable.

Personally if it were me, I'd ask him to go and have a break. Losing his wife and kids might be the reality kick he needs to realise what he will lose. What with the legal bills, etc. If he acts out this fantasy with the OW. Or it may just speed up the inevitable. Either way tell him his shortcomings, why let him blame you, for his actions?

Obviously I'm saying what I would do, not telling you what to do. He does sound like he is setting you up for the blame, when he leaves.

He is being very cruel here. Not to mention defensive.

TheOriginalFAB · 11/10/2011 13:13

"I hope you managed to avoid fucking P".

It is clear from this text that other people have noticed how the two of them are together and I would be very surprised if the person who sent the text hadn't been listening to your H mooming over P.

TheOriginalFAB · 11/10/2011 13:18

Sorry, I should have read the whole thread. You need to talk honestly to each other, without any disturbances, and don't let him bully you any more.

garlicScaresVampires · 11/10/2011 13:20

he's being more generous. Bought me an eternity ring for my birthday.

I overlooked this. How does your birthday relate to the zoo trip, time-wise?

GiveMeSomeSpace · 11/10/2011 13:22

OP your H has not covered himself in glory here. To state the obvious, he's overeacted hugely.

BUT, IMO you have walked square on into your shit-stirring "friend's" well thought out plan. You and your H have reacted exactly how she wanted you to react. She would be wringing her hands in delight if she knew that divorce had been discussed. It'll bring some joy to her unhappy life.

I think you both need to get your feet back on the ground and sort out your own problems and cut this "friend" out of your life. Your problems may be bigger than you thought but they will never be sorted with a poisonous woman like this having her influence.

Good luck :)

Nippysnippy · 11/10/2011 13:29

I have experienced the 'flatly denies' part. Can be very convincing. Also can send you down the self blame route as in ' well if there isn't anyone else it must be something I'm doing'. Only later when you have tried to adapt to his rules and failed will you find out the real reason for his dissatisfaction..........
I was lucky as I saw through it and trusted my instincts.
What are yours saying?
Even if you do not believe there is someone else do you want to be in this marriage?

countingto10 · 11/10/2011 13:30

Shirley Glass describes surrounding yourselves with "friends of the marriage", this woman and your H's friend who texted "I hope you managed to avoid f**king P" are no friends of your marriage.

AnyPhantomFucker · 11/10/2011 17:19

I am so sorry you are living with a man like this, OP. Trouble just seems to "follow him" doesn't it... Hmm

Even sorrier though, that you appear to think he is some sort of prize to attempt to hang on to Sad

Nippysnippy · 11/10/2011 17:44

He's a booby prize!

TeachMonstersShockingBalance · 11/10/2011 19:26

Awful circumstances for you to have to endure, MilkMonitor.

I didn't see this mentioned, so I'll suggest it:
Do you think your dh has a sex addiction?

Maybe that is where counselling should start. The couple's counseling, Relate -I get the feeling- would be used by him to gleen strategies to use against you. This dynamic was created entirely by him. Your 'noticing' and 'protesting' does not count as a dysfunction on your part.

Sad for you too, that your supposed 'friend' couldn't/wouldn't tell him to back off.

FabbyChic · 11/10/2011 19:44

Tell him sex is a two way street, and whilst he is openly flirting and talking sex with others you don't want to sleep with him so maybe he ought to get himself sorted out before he comes a knocking on to you talking bollocks.

You need to get some anger, dredge it up from somewhere but stop feeling so down about it all and defetist.

This man openly flirts and talks sex with other women, then he has a go at you for your sex life.

Tell him you are X not 18 and have 3 children and a house to maintain, tell him if he wants the kind of sex life you have at 18 to go get himself some young dolly bird who will fuck him for cash.

Jeezus this man is taking the piss out of you trying to lay it all on you because you caught him acting the twat.

Aworryingtrend · 12/10/2011 08:56

Sex addiction my arse. He has been caught out flirting, acting inappropriately and disrespecting his wife and is now throwing out claims about being unhappy with his sex life as justification for his actions.

How are things Milk?

havinhoops1974 · 12/10/2011 09:17

I was thinking that another poster asking if the bay was his, I've just seen it was concieved abroad,

I find it very wierd her DH doesnt want it, maybe he knows/suspects shes been cheating??

AnyPhantomFucker · 12/10/2011 13:45

how is op so sure the baby was conceived abroad?

NotanOtter · 12/10/2011 14:31

This thread moves so fast
Has the op and dh taken off to renew their vows?