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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

So, my 100% reliable, trustworthy, devoted DP has been having an affair....

428 replies

BornToFolk · 15/05/2012 21:54

I've been with my partner for 12 years. We have a 4.5 year old son. We both work full time and DS is at nursery. I had a call from nursery today to say that DS was unwell and could I pick him up. I phoned DP, got his voicemail and left a message to say I was leaving work to collect DS (he normally does it). Picked a slighly poorly DS up from nursery, got the bus home and walking down the road, spotted DP's car in the drive. Very odd, as he hadn't told me he was working from home/unwell. He'd gone to work as normal in the am and we'd been emailing about various domestic things all day.

The front door was locked, with the key inside so couldn't open it. This was very weird as DP doesn't leave his key in the door. I knocked and then went in the side way. Came through the kitchen to find DP coming down the stairs saying X (friend from work) was there "helping him" as he had a back back Hmm I get the feeling that this was more for DS's benefit than mine as I immediately clocked what was going on from the look on DP's face. He told DS that she was in the bathroom but going in a minute and then said to me "we'll talk when she's gone". I took DS into the living room to read a book and she came down and left without me or DS seeing her. We set DS up watching TV and went to another room to talk.

DP immediately owned up to having "an affair" - his words. However, it had only been the second time. First time about a month ago apparently. He said he was sorry but didn't seem particularly apologetic. In face he almost seemed angry with me. He didn't seem surprised or upset weirdly. We had a chat which got quite heated (mainly on my part, DP just took what I dished out) and then I told DP to leave, which he did.

As background, our relationship has not been the same since DS was born. Our sex life in particular has taken a back seat to everything else and our communication got really bad a few months ago. We had a big row a couple of months ago, followed by a big, honest conversation about how things weren't going as well as we'd like and agreed that we'd like to make the effort to make things work. Since then I've been happier. Actually, really quite happy. We've been making plans for the future, holidays and days out etc, all happy family stuff. It was my birthday last week and DP bought me some lovely presents and took me out for a nice dinner where we had lots of fun and conversation about things other than DS. Admittedly, our sex life still isn't great but it's been better and something that I thought we were both working on.

But apparently it's not been enough for DP. He admits he's been stupid and selfish and went looking for what he was not getting at home. He's been exactly the kind of man I thought he wasn't. I had no clue this had been going on. I would not have thought he could ever do this. I feel utterly betrayed, humilated, violated (in my own fucking bed, for fuck's sake! Practically in front of our child!), disgusted and basically like a total fucking mug

What makes me feel most mug-like is that I miss him! I still want this relationship to work. I love him, even though I am utterly furious with him.

The plan is that he's staying with a friend. He's going to pick DS up from nursery as usual, bring him back here and then we'll talk more once DS is in bed. We've spoken on the phone tonight and he agrees he's been a utter shit. He doesn't want a relationship with OW (FFS, I never thought I'd use the term "OW" about my DP, or my relationship Sad) but is not sure about a relationship with me. He loves me, loves DS beyond anything and loves our family and our home. But somehow he's scared of talking to me and telling me how he feels Hmm I laid my cards on the table and said that I was prepared to try and make things work but only if he really wanted to, was prepared to try as hard as I was, we'd get some couples counselling and he was to cut all contact with OW.

Am I being a total doormat? I am so furious with him and not ready to forgive yet but I do WANT to forgive. I don't want to break up my family over this. Can a relationship survive something like this?

I am doing OK, in general. My sister came over for moral support and to help with DS (who has been told that we've had a row and daddy has gone away for a few days, which has made me sad, hence the tears Sad) I am just wiped out emotionally now. DS is fine, recovered from whatever was wrong with him at nursery and has gone happily to bed without asking for daddy, which is a relief.

I just need some wise MNer advice. What the actual fuck do I do now?

OP posts:
seeingstars · 15/05/2012 22:58

Agree with Cogitio. At present i am pregnant and unable to have sex. My DH is gagging for it but thats just life.

FashionEaster · 15/05/2012 23:00

Sorry, MN are a tower of strength

StealthPolarBear · 15/05/2012 23:07

I took has post to mean figure out whether you even want to be with this guy before you decide to forgive

happyAvocado · 15/05/2012 23:12

not self blaming - but it isn't normal that for 4.5 years one doesn't desire one's partner

if that is the case - perhaps she doesn't love him any more - and if she realises that - it would be easier to make the right decision for herself

LulaPalooza · 15/05/2012 23:18

Oh my. Oh me oh fucking my. How really fucking unspeakably awful it must have been to come home to that, BornToFolk

I am so impressed that you kept your cool. I guess the Mummy Protector gene kicked in and you couldn't cause a scene in front of your DS, but I would have wanted to rip both his and her head off. He, obviously, is the one mainly in the wrong but how unbelievably disrespectful and arrogant of her to conduct her affair in your home.

I'm so sorry if that's not a helpful response... I thought about deleting it and writing something much more bland, but supportive, but I think perhaps you need to focus on just how utterly, utterly shitty your DH has been, for now. I agree with the poster who said that you're currently probably in shock. You cannot think straight at the moment.

Can you get over it? Don't even think about that now. You need to get through the next few hours, days, weeks... don't make decisions.

Huge hugs, love

AnyFucker · 15/05/2012 23:21

HA, going off sex around ttc, childbirth, postnatally and having very young children doesn't mean you don't love your partner any more

I had a horrendous few years of fertility investigations, treatments, failed treatments, miscarriages and such shit

should I be looking to myself if my H had checked out of our marriage ?

I can see what you are trying to say, though, that OP should be sure she really does still want this man

I agree, but not for the same reasons

happyAvocado · 15/05/2012 23:28

I think when faced with tough decisions like - stick with the guy or not women often don't think of what they really want - they often thionk of other things, including practicalities
only to find few years down the line that they really should have be brave and face their own gut feelings and be honest with themselfes

that is why I am writing about it - and all that is from my own experience - I caught my ex texting with OW 2.5 years before I separated with him, I should have kicked him out then
I wobbled.... for the sake of everything but my happiness....

AnyFucker · 15/05/2012 23:34

I totally agree with that, HA

DeckSwabber · 15/05/2012 23:50

BorntoFolk, I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

He's angry with you because you won't think quite so well of him any more (No shit, Sherlock!) and he is ashamed of himself.

Sadly, what is done cannot be undone. Give yourself plenty of space to think about what has happened and what you want to happen next.

kittycatwoman · 16/05/2012 00:23

Sorry OP, there is no happy ending to this. I dont see this working out at all. Dont be hasty in forgiving him. Kick the bastard out.

sadanduseless · 16/05/2012 01:02

OP - have just seen your thread! How absolutely dreadful for you! F***G men! How dare they?

Sorry, no words of wisdom but sending lots of sympathy! MN will help so much! Take care of yourself and your DS!

Best wishes! x

Longdistance · 16/05/2012 01:25

Don't let him make any decisions. It's not up to him. Don't meet with him so soon. Have time to think, and see what your options are. How you would like to move forward. Personally, if he was not sure about having a relationship with you, then I'd personally would send him packing. But, only you know how yoy are going to feel about this.
Could you forgive him, for not only having an affair, and having her over in your own home, in your bed?

MadAboutHotChoc · 16/05/2012 08:39

So sorry, what a huge shock this must have been for you Sad how disgusting that he used your bedroom, a special space for you to shag OW!

Having experienced this last year, my advice is:

Remember you are in shock and you won't be able to make any long term decisions that you can stick to.

Remember that NONE of this is your fault - he could have talked to you, chosen counselling etc instead of resolving his issues by shagging OW.

Tell people that you will need time and space to think things through and process your feelings. You will experience a range of emotions and feel very muddled for some time.

Get both of you checked for STIs. Even if he used condoms, unprotected oral sex carries risks.

You cannot trust him as he might be minimising things to make things look less bad, e,g its only the 2nd time etc.

Get real life support.

No relate counselling for the time being - he needs solo counselling though to examine what character failings he has to justify to himself to find sexual entertainment elsewhere. Selfishness is top of the list and that needs addressing before you can take him back.

I would also get Shirley Glass's Not Just Friends to read.

Take care x

MadAboutHotChoc · 16/05/2012 08:41

your special space, to shag OW

WineGoggles · 16/05/2012 09:09

So sorry to hear about your DP, OP, what a horrible shock. I agree with other posters about don't rush into trying to talk this through with him as at the moment you haven't had time to process the situation. Get angry before talking to him as he should see/feel the damage he's done, and it will also prevent you taking him back before considering your feelings towards this. If you both want to stay together then you'll both need to be completely honest with each other about what you want and don't want, and he needs to tell you why he betrayed you. If you can talk this through in private then good, otherwise see a counsellor. Not sure if this should be separately first or not, but whatever you do make it on your terms and give yourself some headspace for a while to process things.

BornToFolk · 16/05/2012 09:50

I can't post much as I'm at work. Internet connection at home is dodgy at the moment too, so not sure how much I'll be able to post later.

But I just wanted to let you all know that I have read your comments, and thank you for the advice. I do still want to talk to DP later. I need to, for myself to try and get a sense of what the hell has been happening. But I do appreciate that I can't make any long term decisions yet and will be careful not to commit to anything or in any way let him off the hook.

I am desperate for things to be "normal" again but I appreciate the need to be very careful that I don't let his overshadow common sense and what is best for me and DS.

I really just want this not to have happened.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 16/05/2012 10:09

Sadly, in the list of things you want, 'not to have happened' is a non-starter. Life tends to go in a straight line most of the time, you can see the road heading far into the distance unbroken, the future is certain, and then something like this comes along, everything takes a ninety-degree turn and you're forced into a different direction. Your future is in your hands but it's no longer the one you were anticipating. Best of luck

joanne34 · 16/05/2012 10:16

Am I the only person that would be f*cking fuming ?

In your home, in your bed. This man has no respect for you what so ever.

The man is a complete pig !

Just because a relationship is'nt all swinging and happy and constant sex, does not give either partner the right to go and do that, let alone in your home, where 'your' child lives !!!

Seriously ? Why would you want this man ?

keelybooboo · 16/05/2012 10:16

OP you are me 14 months ago....

Read my thread 'will it ever go away'

The mistake i think I made was within a day saying that I wanted to get through this, be stronger for it, work at it and understand it. I made all those decisions before I gave it a chance to soak in

I don't have answers but I do know that you need to put yourself first right now not your relationship with him... Let him do the begging to talk, let him do all the running. And if he doesn't, then you'll have a much clearer picture of where you're at

GoPoldark · 16/05/2012 10:19

'He loves DS beyond anything'

no he doesn't, in fact the sum total of his love for him and devotion to keeping his family and childhood intact is slightly less than the importance of getting his leg over for an afternoon. Say that to him.

And as others have said, this is going to bite you on the bum. You've just discovered this, and are immediately telling him you want to make it work? Why? Don't you need just a bit of time to ponder whether you can actually, long term, deal with being a partner to pond scum who puts dipping his dick ahead of your family and health?

Get an STD check and insist he does too.

Tell him now that it's sunk in a bit you are not so sure about what you want to do.

If you don't make him believe, even for only a couple of sick-making cold-sweat days, that you are thinking of leaving him for this and making a better stronger family WITHOUT him, then this man - who simply seemed angry that you had discovered this - will do this again and again.

Read that again. He will do it again and again - because he is the type of man to have an affair. Think about that before you go too quickly down the forgive and forget route, because you are working on the now outdated belief that this is essentially a good man. He isn't, the proof of that is before you.

WinkyWinkola · 16/05/2012 10:19

What an awful awful brutal shock, op. You must be feeling absolutely dreadful and bewildered. Unbelievable cruel behaviour.

What a creepy man - f*cking another woman in his 'marital' bed. Shudder.

He has zero respect for you or your ds, op. He has risked everything and doesn't actually seem that bothered really. I would be very unavailable for a while and not be there for him when he wants to call or chat about things.

He will do it again.

I would look to create your own stability and not let him even have a chance to pull the rug from under your feet.

WinkyWinkola · 16/05/2012 10:22

I would also be broadcasting this event to all my family and friends so they knew exactly what kind of a man he is.

Get your sexual health checked out asap. This woman may not be the only one. God knows if he's made you ill or not, besides emotionally wrecking your mind. Dirty fleabag.

PostBellumBugsy · 16/05/2012 10:27

I'm stunned BorntoFolk - that your DP would be so utterly without shame as to have sex with the OW in your own home.

What a shit. That is beyond the pale IMO & I speak as someone, whose ex-H had an affair. I honestly think if the OW had been in my home & my bed, I would have ripped ex-H's dick off.

Take your time. There is no rush. Think about the future you could have with this man.

Huge hugs to you - I just cannot imagine how you coped yesterday.

LisaD1 · 16/05/2012 10:31

So sorry to read this OP.

I would not be able to get over the total lack of respect that he has shown for you and your DS but shagging someone else in your home, in your bed! It would be bad enough if the sleaze bag had gone to a hotel (and for me that would still be game over - I think, who knows until we're in that position) but there is no way we would EVER get past what your H has done, not a chance.

I think you need to consider your options very carefully, forgive him too quickly (if at all) and in my opinion you are giving him green light to treat you like shit for the rest of your life.

I hope things work out for you, how you want them to, and that whatever you decide you do what is best for you and makes you happy. Good luck.

BornToFolk · 16/05/2012 10:36

I'm not sure how I'm coping either. I'm not sure if I even am coping. I want to email him. I want him to come home! I know that must sound crazy, it feels crazy but I just want my life back.
I know, rationally, that's not going to happen but that's what I want and that's why my heart is breaking.

Honestly, this is so out of character for him. That's what's so stunning. He is not the kind of man to do this. I did 100% trust him, I never thought he would hurt me as badly as this. Even when things weren't great between us we were still friends (that was one of his complaints, that we were like co-habiting, co-parenting friends, not a couple) Even if he didn't want a relationship with me, I can't believe he would do this to a friend.

OP posts:
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