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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:
oldwomaninashoe · 16/05/2012 11:41

So his way of "working at your marriage" is to go and have an affair??
Says it all really doesn't it!
You poor thing, you are probably still in shock, and are desperate to go back in time and re-write history, but unfortunately you can't.

Just distance yourself from him, don't be available to him, and give yourself all the time you need to get your head round what has happened.
In your own home shows a total lack of respect for you and your son bear that in mind before you make any decisions.
Look after yourself.

diddl · 16/05/2012 11:44

When this happened to me I wanted to make it work-not tell anyone as I was ashamedHmm

But I soon discovered that I couldn´t make it work as I had now had no respect for him & thought he was a spineless twat.

AngelWreakinHavoc · 16/05/2012 11:52

I'm so sorry for You op. That is disgraceful behaviour and you must be in shock.

You are definatley more of a woman than me, I would have been straight up those stairs and ripping her head off!

I hope things work out well for yourself and Ds x

PooPooInMyToes · 16/05/2012 11:58

A lot of people in your position say that their cheating partners only made complaints about the relationship once they were being unfaithful - and engineered a row and a discussion about how bad things were in order to prolong or create the justification for an affair.

Ah! That has just explained the actions of an ex of mine!

WinkyWinkola · 16/05/2012 12:09

Why would you want this man? Things to work with him will be on his terms because he isn't that bothered, is he? I think you're setting yourself up for a lot more heartache.

ike1 · 16/05/2012 12:55

My ex is a lovely bloke. Had an affair with my friend. I found out, he went for 2 yrs to counselling plus couple therapy. 10 yrs later I discover he has been having affairs for 5 yrs. Give him up and save yourself.

BawdyStrumpet · 16/05/2012 13:03

I could never, ever forgive someone who had so little respect for me that he would shag an ow in my bed. Never. There are some very wise words here above, OP. Look after yourself!

bringbacksideburns · 16/05/2012 13:09

'I am really scared that he's ready to walk away.' - that is really sad Bornto. Do you not value yourself more highly than this?

You should be absolutely furious and he should be shaking in his shoes and full of remorse for me to be even contemplating a reconcilation 24 hours after finding him with another woman in your home.

I think you should take your time over this i really do.

sternface · 16/05/2012 13:12

Tis just shock that's all. Some people fight, some people flight. OP will be in a different place in a week, a month or a year's time.

IWantSummer · 16/05/2012 13:17

Cancel meeting tonight-talk childcare arrangements over phone or text. Give yourself time and space you need it.

BornToFolk · 16/05/2012 13:22

I need to talk to him tonight. That's definitely going to happen.

He emailed me a while ago saying sorry to bother me but wanted to check how DS was this morning and how I was too. I replied saying DS is fine but that I am not, obviously. He replied saying "yeah, stupid question" and I just sent an email back saying "do not email me again". I think he's entitled to know how DS is but that's it.

OP posts:
chocoraisin · 16/05/2012 13:35

:( I wish I didn't have advice to give that comes from experience. But all I can say is, written communication (and as little of that as possible) hurts less.

And when it does hurt, you can at least walk away, cry, shout, punch a pillow, rage on MN and then go back and compose something that sounds like you're waving your middle finger in the air like you just don't care.

I'm so sorry you are going through this x

Helltotheno · 16/05/2012 13:36

OP he just sounds like he doesn't give an eff, honestly. I wouldn't be waiting around for him to bring up 'bigger picture' things to be honest because he will for sure leave that ball in your court. He'll say he wants to work at things but he'll say it with no conviction; he won't say he wants to leave cos he wants that to come from you.

You can't win. I think you should be looking at finances and practicalities and planning your exit strategy. This is a person you've read all wrong and we all do that sometimes. There's a better man for you out there...

PooPooInMyToes · 16/05/2012 13:37

I just get the impression that this guy doesn't get the seriousness of what he has done, especially with you so keen to put it behind you so quickly!

I would imagine that you can't get the image out of your head of him with his cock up another woman in your bed? Is that right? That's what I would have trouble with. Did it make you nearly puke having to change the bedding? Or did he at least have the decency to do that before he left? What about last time? Was that in your bed? On your sofa? Did he change the bedding then or did you sleep in it that night unaware? Did the bedroom smell of her? Were you even able to sleep in there last night? Will you ever be able to again? When he came down the stairs was he still covered in her?

I'm not saying these things to hurt you (geniunely sorry if it does Sad), but if this is how you feel then you need to say these things to HIM. What he has done is absolutely disgusting! Properly, physically disgusting, disrespectful and minging! Angry

KirstyWirsty · 16/05/2012 13:40

Sorry you are going through all this Bornto ..

I went through all the stresslast year with the suspected affair being denied but his has brought into my mind the time my mum popped over to my house to collect something for my daughter during last year's summer hols and STBXH was in the house - never mentioned to me about it! I suspect that the OW was in the garage!! .. why you would be so desperate for a shag that you'd get pushed into the garage to hide?? So undignified!! Stupid bint!

Please take as much time as you need and keep him away in the meantime - also be prepared for him to turn quite nasty!

On discovery my 'D'H promised to pay bills etc .. 2 days later he was demanding the house be put on the market to get his equity and he wouldn't be paying for anything!!

Do not trust him to do anything with you and his DC in mind .. he is thinking with his dick now I am afraid

xx

Helltotheno · 16/05/2012 13:43

Yeah the mind boggles when you put it like that poo, it really does.

C'mon OP you really need to read that paragraph again and ask yourself if you deserve to be treated like absolute shit by someone who's supposed to be your life partner and your best friend?
Seriously, your worst enemy wouldn't do that to you Shock

PooPooInMyToes · 16/05/2012 13:45

Helltotheno I thought it might be a bit too much!

BornToFolk · 16/05/2012 14:01

'I am really scared that he's ready to walk away.' - that is really sad Bornto. Do you not value yourself more highly than this?

Yes I do but I value our relationship too. I've worked really hard on maintaining it and I'm not quite ready to let go yet. For DS's sake but for mine too. I bloody loved my life before yesterday. I don't want it to end. But it has, I know.

If you want the sordid details, I don't think anything actually happened in the bed yesterday. It looked made went I went upstairs and I started stripping it when DP was packing to go. He said nothing happened there but I said I don't fucking care and carried on stripping it. As for the time before, maybe he changed the sheets. It was a day he was working from home and he could well have done. I probably thanked him for it if he did.

Yes, I slept (badly) there last night. It's my house. It's DS's house. Where else do I go? It's the bed DP and I bought together when we moved in together 12 years ago. It's the bed DS was conceived in. It's the bed that he was fed in, and read to and has snuggles every morning. It's tainted but it's still fucking mine.

What do I do about practicalities? DP seems to think that we (me and DS) can stay in our house and he'll support us. Not quite sure how he thinks that'll work. I work full time but it's not well paid. DP earns more than me and his prospects are better. We are not married, the house is in both our names. We have joint savings, bank account and life insurance policies. DP is named on DS's birth certifcate which I think gives him parental responsbility. Am I even right about that?!

In better news, my mum has cut short her holiday and is coming home tomorrow. Not great for her obviously but I'm glad she'll be around at the weekend for moral support and help with DS.

OP posts:
PooPooInMyToes · 16/05/2012 14:05

He said nothing happened there

Did you ask him to disenfect where it did happen then?

PooPooInMyToes · 16/05/2012 14:06

Glad your mum is coming home.

Xales · 16/05/2012 14:08

Only twice?

From what I have read on the threads in relationships cheaters never ever admit the full depth of what they have done straight out and willingly.

It always follows a script of it was just a kiss, then just a little bit more, then just the once but I felt so bad we stopped half way through, then OK maybe twice. Even when the not cheated on partner has total proof they deny until they are blue in the face.

Some still never admit to it.

Please take the only twice with a huge pinch of salt.

Please also as other posters have suggested get yourself checked out at an STI clinic and as much as you want to don't go near him until he has also been checked out.

GoPoldark · 16/05/2012 14:09

Do not trust this man again, ever. Do not.

Helltotheno · 16/05/2012 14:11

You're right it is your house and of course you have an entitlement to be there. I think the point we were making was how can you bear HIM being in the house after what he's done to you. HE should be out while you get your head around everything. It's not that I'm jumping on the 'leave him' bandwagon but I do think when something like this happens, it won't be sorted by being together in the same house, whatever chance there is if a couple gets distance from each other. Who knows, maybe he'll realise - genuinely - when he leaves that he's made the biggest mistake of his life and things can be patched up but he's sure not there yet, which is why he needs to give you some space.

Are you saying he's already offered to move out and will support you and DS?

sternface · 16/05/2012 14:11

Do you have access to his phone bills so that you can independently check when this affair started?

PooPooInMyToes · 16/05/2012 14:11

Even when the not cheated on partner has total proof they deny until they are blue in the face. Some still never admit to it.

Saw one like that on JK the other day. Unbelievable! He just denied, denied, denied despite the proof.

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