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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:
smalltown · 16/05/2012 18:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sternface · 16/05/2012 18:55

The question to ask is not when the affair started, but when did he first lay eyes on the OW. Affairs start in the head long before they do in the bed and it's likely that there was an emotional affair for some time preceding these assignations, so FWIW I think it's entirely possible that this was only the second time she''d been to the house, but it wasn't the second time anything had happened between them.

OP have you posted before about your partner giving too much time to his hobby?

Good luck tonight - remember: questions, listening, no decisions and make notes afterwards.

sassy34264 · 16/05/2012 19:00

sorry smalltown i know its disgusting, and i never say that word, but it wouldnt quite have the same ring to it, if you were to say something polite -like secretions!

NimpyWindowmash · 16/05/2012 19:09

Bless you BornToFolk, what an absolute nightmare. Bringing back bad memories for me of discovering my H's affair by seeing messages on his phone, but 10x worse with her in your house. Good luck.

AnyFucker · 16/05/2012 19:20

this man doesn't sound like he is going to grovel (not yet anyway...at least until he is forced to confront what exactly he has trashed with his skanking around)

it sounded for a while like OP was going to do the begging and pleading, but thankfully it didn't take long for BTF to come to her senses

dignity is required here

tell him nothing, love

he is the one that should be doing all the talking

it seems he is happy to carry on as if nothing has happened, however

I think he expects OP to roll over

I sincerely hope she doesn't

EclecticShock · 16/05/2012 19:26

OP, just one thing, you mentioned you think he might have wanted to be found out. Why do you think that? Wasnt he caught completely unawares? Fwiw, I don't think it was a cry for your attention. He was liking the attention from her. If he was serious about staying together he would be saying that.

EclecticShock · 16/05/2012 19:29

Don't fall into the trap of an easy life returning to normality. Sends out completely the wrong signals to him. If it was me, I would chuck him out, see of he still wanted to make a go of things in a couple of months and take it from there. He needs to understand the consequences of what he has done. At the moment there haven't been any real consequences for him...

BawdyStrumpet · 16/05/2012 19:31

I reckon he WILL be saying that. Maybe not tonight, but in the coming weeks when he realises exactly what he has fucked up here....

EclecticShock · 16/05/2012 19:35

Anyway, hope you are ok. Completely understand where you're coming from with the wishing it had never happened, it's the first stage when you lose something or someone. But I agree with cognitos post.

mouldyironingboard · 16/05/2012 19:54

I'd have spat in his tea Smile

OP, you're doing brilliantly!

dictionarydiva · 16/05/2012 19:57

Good luck OP. Rooting for you. Enjoy that wine. x

BornToFolk · 16/05/2012 20:37

He's gone.

You'd have been proud of me MNers! He was the one begging, not me. He started by saying how sorry he was and how he would do anything to if I would take him back. I told him I was not ready to make that decision yet and would not be for a while. I told him that the 3 things minimum he has to do if we are ever to have any chance are 1) break off all contact 2) get STI testing 3) get some counselling. Just him. I also said that I was giving him those three things but I was not going to tell him what else he needed to do. He needs to put the work in, not me. I am not going to take responsibilty for saving this relationship.

I probably shouldn't have "given" him those three things but I wanted him to understand the severity of the situation and how much work there was ahead of us should we try to give it a go.

I'm not sure if we can though. I was wrong about something. It's not someone he works with. It's a friend of ours. Well, a friend of his mostly. He knows her and her husband through his hobby and they became friends of ours, partly because they have children DS's age. Yes, that's right folks. Not only is OW actually someone I counted as a friend but she also has a husband and two small children of her own. Her husband does not know because as DP said "I'm still breathing". Not only has DP betrayed me, our son, our families but also someone he counted as a good friend. I don't know if I want a relationship with someone who is capable of that.

I told him that he took my life and made it sordid. Because it is. I told 2 people at work today and they were sympathetic but when people find out they are going to gossip and snigger and I can't stand it.

DP is going to stay with his parents. He told the friend he's staying with that we had a row. He's too much of a coward to even tell his friend what he's done. I asked him what he'd tell his parents and he said the truth. He's going to break his mother's heart

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 16/05/2012 20:40

Well, you sound wonderful

He is the sordid one

Stupid, arrogant, self-entitled, sleazy man

I could never respect him again

AThingInYourLife · 16/05/2012 20:43

Well done Bornto - you were amazing :)

BornToFolk · 16/05/2012 20:43

Sorry, just pressed post as I was on the phone to my mum and didn't want to lose all that. I need to get this down while I think of it.

I told him that I don't know if I can take him back, I won't know for a while and I can't rush any decision. I need space. I told him that my mum would pick DS up from nursery tomorrow and he could do Friday and see him at the weekend.

He does not want to be a "part time dad". He wants our family back. It was just sex with the OW. He was selfish and greedy and it seemed easier to get the sex elsewhere than try and sort out with me what was going wrong.

He sees me more as DS's mum than a partner. I told him that if that's how he truly saw me then we had no future as I needed to be with someone who wanted to be with me. Then he started saying that he did love me for me and admired and respected me. But then there was more about our relationship. Not explicit blame but that we don't talk and he's scared of rejection and how he wanted sex the other night and I said I'd rather read my book. That was me being honest. I was tired and wanted to read and go to sleep. But that felt like rejection.

My sister's here. will post more later maybe

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 16/05/2012 20:45

so, his solution was to shag your friend in your bed

Good call !

EclecticShock · 16/05/2012 20:47

Well done op, you've taken control and it's brilliant. Remember that just because your relationship was in tough territory is not an excuse. He wants his family back... Well cheating is not the way to keep a family together. Let him realise what he has done and take it from there. Very proud of your strength... Keep it up. You do need time and space.

skyebluesapphire · 16/05/2012 20:47

Well Done you. You have been very strong, a lot stronger than I have dealt with my own situation. You have done the right thing, dont worry about that.

I havent found people gossiping about my own situation, people are very sympathetic when you are the injured party. I can even manage to tell people without crying now (some days...).

The ball really is in your court now and needs to stay there. Have minimal contact with him, I know its difficult and couldnt stop myself texting my husband, but I really shouldnt have.

RickGhastley · 16/05/2012 20:53

So there were some things going wrong between you?

The way to deal with that is to talk and work things out together.

NOT TO SHAG A FAMILY FRIEND IN YOUR BED.

He is beyond scum and you would be crazy to take him back - he'll think he's got away with it and do it again.

JustFab · 16/05/2012 20:54

You rock! Well done. You have behaved perfectly and I wish you total strength to get through this and to be happy again.

Mother2many · 16/05/2012 21:05

OP...hugs... Be strong. Don't jump back into the relationship... Give it time. And lots of it. I would also have him visit your DC anywhere but in your home. JMHO

Try to stop yourself if you defend him...as you did nothing wrong. Period.

Lots of great advice here.....

I would also suggest going for counselling for yourself too.... No matter what happens with the both of you... you need help to deal with your emotions too.

RightFedUp · 16/05/2012 21:14

I don't know how I'd be able to stop myself telling OWs husband.

You have been brilliant BTF. Brilliant.

AnyFucker · 16/05/2012 21:17

Oh yes, OW's H would have to know, yes indeed

HandMadeTail · 16/05/2012 21:21

What JustFab and RightFedUp said! Smile

FairhairedandFrustrated · 16/05/2012 21:36

I can't believe he said "I'm still breathing" ...... So he's more concerned about her dh's reaction than yours.

Huh!!

I think I'd have phone call to make - why the fuck should they live in ignorant bliss when your world has fallen around your ears?

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