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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

what do I do now?

295 replies

devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 07:55

DH had staff do last night and was asleep on sofa when I got up with boys this morn. He was freaking about losing his phone and I found it down sofa, it had texts on from another teacher about her wanting him and being so horny. And he was trying to get her to send him photos and basically saying that he felt the same, if only she had her own place etc. This woman has been to my house and played with my kids!

He has dismissed it as flirting and has gone back to bed. I've said to him before that she likes him. She's been round here many times.

He swears nothing happened, I think I believe him. Don't know why. Just not really sure what to do and how to handle it. Any ideas?

OP posts:
JackMatthias · 20/12/2011 16:45

Bloody hell, your situation sounds pretty similar to mine. Same dilemmas, same lack of DP running after you rather than other way round.

It's really shit, isn't it?

devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 16:50

Yes it is. He's finally showing me the respect I deserve. I want to have dinner tonight with him. I want to save what we have and I feel partly to blame for this.

I don't know what else to do but cling on to what we have.

OP posts:
devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 16:50

Yes it is. He's finally showing me the respect I deserve. I want to have dinner tonight with him. I want to save what we have and I feel partly to blame for this.

I don't know what else to do but cling on to what we have.

OP posts:
JackMatthias · 20/12/2011 16:52

Yeah, that sounds familiar. Just wish my DW would show me some respect.

TheCrunchUnderfoot · 20/12/2011 16:53

I'm sorry if I made you feel bad earlier!

In NO WAY is any of this your fault.

just trying to get that dander up for you... I'm sorry, but the way he is 'handling' this tells you everything you need to know. He PHONED HER? wtf?

Either he is a. monumentally stupid AND under the impression that no matter how badly he treats you and his marriage, it doesn't matter because there are no consequences for him, or

b. he IS having, or plans to have, an affair, and as a result you have completely taken a back seat - he doesn't CARE about making amends, he isn't panicking because right now his attention is elsewhere - as evidenced by this development. It's like his first thought is for HER! - NO WAY, NO HOW, should he have even considered contact with her WITHOUT discussing it with you. I am sadly of the opinion that Lovingfreedom's assessment of how their SECRET conversation went is probably spot on.

I am sorry but my advice earlier stands, though I hope I can reassure you that I do not think at all that you are wimping out, enabling etc. - it's BLOODY HARD and you must be in total shock.

Your first thought is your boys. Ok, is there any way you and they could get away, now, for a couple of days? You need time to think and you need to show him that he is SERIOUSLY FUCKING HANGING BY A THREAD! Can you take them to your parents? Fun change of plans for a couple of days, see Santa at Granny's?

KatieScarlettsCrackers · 20/12/2011 16:55

How are you to blame???????

Were you the one trying to arrange a nother shagfest with a work colleague?

I think not.

ClaraSage · 20/12/2011 16:57

How are you to blame?
(The marriage/relationship is the responsibility of both of you, the affair/dalliance is his and his alone)

TheCrunchUnderfoot · 20/12/2011 17:04

You feel partly to blame - how?!

What else can you do... Well, for a start, remember that you are a catch. A dignified, ADULT person who doesn't embarrass themsevles by drunkenly groping colleagues at a party. Who deals with a situation when she sees it instead of hiding in a sulk with a duvet. Who thinks of her children first. Who is, honestly, far too good for her lying manipulative shit of an H.

A woman like you does not need to cling. If I were you, and had decided to go to this dinner tonight, I would take the following approach. I would be the Ice Queen. I would be cool, dignified, aloof. It would not be possible to please or entertain me, my thoughts would be, very obviously, elsewhere, although I would be polite and amenable. I would make it clear, if asked, that I had no idea how things were going to pan out. That I was considering my options, because I was crystal clear that what happened last night was that my husband cheated on me, and that I was not willing to continue in a marriage of that kind.

And at some appropriate point in the evening, I would say 'I just want to make one thing absolutely clear to you. I will not live with this kind of behaviour, and I am not frightened to make the decision to leave you and go it alone if you want to act this way. Because, if you do continue to act this way, what I will decide is that you are not a man worth having, and a life with you will be irritating, dishonest, petty, depressing. So think about what YOU want. If you want to show me that you are that kind of man, you'll essentially be making the decision to see your children grow up without you, most probably with a stepfather that I'll have decided is twice the man you are. How you want your life and family to be is up to you, but believe me, if you decide that a cheap grope of an equally cheap colleague's bum is worth more at that point than your family and home - then you forfeit any right to have me consider your feelings when I consider MY future.'

countingto10 · 20/12/2011 17:05

Remember OP you are only 50% responsible for the marriage but he is 100% responsible for his actions with this OW. Do not let him persuade you otherwise. You do not go outside the marriage to solve problems within it. You really need to be cool, calm and collected tonight - it you feel yourself getting emotional etc just say you are not willing to discuss atm, do not let him do a number on you. If you feel stronger discussing your feelings and your H's lack of compassion, contriteness etc with a independent third party present then arrange an appointment with Relate or similar. It really helped me having someone else in the room validating my feelings and reactions etc, knowing that I was not over reacting, that it was a big deal.

I remember Whenwillifeelnormal's response to her DH when he was trying to wriggle out of something, playing it down etc - "If it looks like a banana, is shaped like a banana and smells like a banana, then it is a banana !!".

You are a prize to be won now OP, not him.

Good luck for tonight.

devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 17:06

I don't want to leave him crunch.
He's in a bit of a state.
He cried. That's the 3 rd time in 10 years we've been together.
I know it seems shit but I really love him.
I hope it's the same for him, time will tell.

It's weird being on this this side of The thread. Normally I'd have a pitch fork after some of The things on here today.

You are a wonderful bunch.

OP posts:
MigratingChestnutsOnAnOpenFire · 20/12/2011 17:07

Yes, how the marriage is is down to both of you.

BUT!!! where he puts his hands and what he texts to other women is ENTIRELY and UTTERLY down to him. This is not your fault!

KatieScarlettsCrackers · 20/12/2011 17:10

He's crying?

FFS, he just sounds better and better.

What's he got to cry about? Being caught with his hand in the cookie jar?

Diddums.

devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 17:11

I will keep reading your messages over and over. It's funny how they make my head feel clearer.

OP posts:
devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 17:12

Well no he isn't sobbing. He had tears in his eyes.

OP posts:
countingto10 · 20/12/2011 17:13

That's self pity atm OP - Shirley Glass says you are only allowed 15 minutes of feeling guilty/self pity then you have to start to repair the damage.

My DH's therapist gave him a great quote after his affairs - "You cannot talk your way out of something you have acted your way into" - worth bearing in mind whilst he is sniffling. To be fair to my DH, he never did the "woe is me" act - I probably would have brained him if he did Grin.

countingto10 · 20/12/2011 17:14

Sorry that should read affair not affairs Blush

devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 17:17

I guess what is difficult is that you only hear me. My story.

I'm not trying to excuse him but I also have to choose the path which I feel is right for us all.

If it ever happens again, then we will be gone.

OP posts:
ClaraSage · 20/12/2011 17:18

Why the tears?
Because he's been caught.
Tears of self pity.
You're the strong one here OP.

KatieScarlettsCrackers · 20/12/2011 17:23

What's his story then?

fiventhree · 20/12/2011 17:24

Do look at the after the affair thread.

I felt partly to blame, and my h let me at first. But with counselling and also alot of thought and talking he came to the realisation on his own that although our marriage had hit a bad spot, my criticism of him, and lack of intimacy towards him generally (which he cited as reasons partly) could have been avoided if he had been more willing and able to communicate his feelings, and more willing to take my needs into account. He also says, and he is right, that it was his choice/fault only to choose the option he did.

So countingto10 is right. Mybe some of these issues are present in the marriage and do need sorting out, but that isnt quite the same thing.

And he is still damage limiting and behaving terribly disrespectfully by calling the OW.

fiventhree · 20/12/2011 17:29

You havent heard his story either, it will take a while to come out and make sense of.

I do know what you mean about being on the other side. The biggest thing I have had to deal with, apart from the constant lying, is how I ever became so weak and naive as to believe him when he denied it, 4 times at least.

It is for sure that he wouldnt have changed if i hadnt, he says so himself. So worth being wary of letting him talk you round too easily, as you are likely to change your emotions constantly over the next few weeks, and go through al sorts of stages from grief to anger to fear of trust, etc

devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 17:32

Well I guess I'm Just not that easy.
I want sex more than him and it puts pressure on us.
I can be moody.
We've had a rough year and I met someone and I had to cut him out of my life due to feelings between us.
I told DH because I wanted us to work harder together and I felt terrible. Although we never had an exchange like they had. However, I suppose I pushed him into her arms really.

We've had a lot of fights.
I know I'm to blame too and I'm sorry about causing all this pain.

OP posts:
JackMatthias · 20/12/2011 17:36

There's still no excuse and don't let him make that an excuse. (I'm preaching to myself here as much as to you!)

devilsadvocaat · 20/12/2011 17:38

I hope you figure it out Jack. Do you want it to work out? Does dp?

OP posts:
KatieScarlettsCrackers · 20/12/2011 17:43

OK

So you want sex with him - do you beat and abuse him when you don't get it?

Thought not.

You met someone and didn't have an affair because you value your marriage?

Oooh you are evil (not)

You can be moody?

Aren't we all?

All of the above are excuses my love. YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME FOR THIS