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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

Just discovered DP has been cheating- what now?

65 replies

SnaggleFlap · 21/06/2012 14:22

Will give background to our current relationship situation first. DP and I have always had a great relationship ( or so I thought), and we have 2 DCs aged 16 months and 6 weeks. Things have been quite stressful over the last 7 months or so, we have moved house, then moved out of house whilst it's being renovated and are currently living with his parents. Work for DP has been fine but busy, we've had our second baby, but she was hospitalised for a week a month ago due to nasty virus (is ok now), then I was hospitalised for a week with an unrelated condition, I'm ok now but will need outpatient treatment. All in all, a very stressful time, but I thought we'd coped well and we've always talked and despite the odd bit of bickering have never really argued. We're due to move into our new house this weekend.

So I'm at home with the kids, and yesterday was checking my emails on the pc. His work emails also sync to our pc, and up popped one containing a conversation between him and his PA, along the lines of him saying "I'm really glad you didn't leave, I'd have really missed you if you know what I mean?!" etc etc with definite flirting from both sides. I felt a bit sick when I read this, and subsequently searched his other work emails, and discovered one 15 May which is from 5 DAYS after DD was born when he was here at home on paternity leave, with both of them arranging to go out for dinner together, and discussing where they could go where they wouldn't be caught. :-(
I then called DP and confronted him, going nuts and crying, and admitted that they had kissed 3 months ago on a work night out, but nothing else had happened apart from a few flirty emails. He says they have never been alone together, slept together, or gone out for dinner. DP came home from work to sort things out, and appears to be devastated that he's fucked up, crying hysterically and saying that he loves me and it was just an escape from all the pressures of the last few months and that she means nothing. He told his parents straight away, crying whilst doing so, and they too are gutted.( I said he had to tell them as I couldn't live a lie whilst in their house). I'm inclined to believe him when he says she means nothing, and he doesn't have previous form, this is very out of character.

I am just devastated that he cheated when I was pregnant, and that he was arranging a meeting with her so soon after I had given birth. I thought he had seemed a little distant lately but never suspected this. I am so angry that he has ruined everything, and I'm not sure how we can move on from this. How can I wave him off to work everyday knowing he'll be working so closely with her? I hate him for tainting was should be such a happy time with our son and newborn baby girl, and moving jnto our lovely new house. I think I am still shocked and feel sick and can't eat and can't stop crying. He wants us to talk again when the kids are in bed tonight, but I don't know what to say, and how we can move on as the trust is gone. I love him and he says he loves me and will do anything to keep me. I've never seen him so upset. My confidence has now taken a massive blow and I feel numb. I just feel so vulnerable too having just given birth, and knackered from looking after 2 tiny children. I'm almost too tired to think straight and gain perspective.
He might be upset and sorry, but I worry that the email sent yesterday morning was still über-flirty, and if I hadn't have caught him, these emails and possible meet ups would have carried on. I have put this to him and he says he's glad he was caught as it's made him realise how much he loves me and how much he's got to lose.

I guess I'm asking what would you all do? I can't see the woods for the trees at the moment and can barely function. Is there hope? I'm just not sure I can ever trust him again or forget what happened. I feel so miserable.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2012 14:27

Bloody hell he is awful. The decision is yours to make, but do it on your terms and to your timescales. You say the trust is gone, if you think he can earn your trust again then tell him what he needs to do.
Are you certain he don't sleep with her? Not convinced i'd believe him so readily. May be worth getting yourself checked for stis, sorry :(

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2012 14:29

Oh and number 1 for me would be looking for a new job. Do you have support from your family?
Btw if you can't get past this, can't get the trust back, then it will be fine. And you won't have split the family up, he will. It is an option, if you need it.

BornToFolk · 21/06/2012 14:46

Oh, I'm so, so sorry. I know what that shock feels like and it's utterly horrible, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Firstly, who have you got IRL to help and support you? You are going to need people to lean on. Get them, now.

Secondly, you don't have to do anything now. You don't have to talk to your partner if you don't want to.

No one but you knows if you have a future or not. My first post when I found out my exP had cheated on me was basically asking if we could move past this as I could not imagine not having him in my life and being a single parent. I just wanted it not to have happened at all, I think.

Bear a couple of things in mind though - it's quite likely there's more to it than he's letting on. As I understand it, it's quite common for cheaters for minimise what they've done and the truth comes out slowly. In my case, exP said it had only been going on for a month, they'd only met up a few times and had sex twice. She meant nothing to him and it was just sex. The first time we spoke he said he would do anything if I would take him back. A few days later, he said that we had no future. And he was still seeing the OW. And he loves her apparently Hmm

Bottom line is, you've been lied to. Badly. It may be out of character (it was for my ex too, I always thought he was an honest person) but the lies have been huge and you need to be aware that you could still be being lied to.

Keep posting here, you will get huge amounts of support. And you can do it. I'm 5 weeks in now and still breathing! It still hurts like a motherfucker but I am coping much better than I ever thought I would, and you can too.

Xales · 21/06/2012 14:52

Don't believe he is telling you everything upfront and honestly right now. He has been deceiving you for a while... A lot of cheaters try and minimise what happened. It was just a kiss, the a few kisses, then OK we slept together once, then you find out about the full blown affair going on for ages Sad

To be honest his reaction is massive for just a kiss and few emails... Completely hysterical crying over what he has lost because he has been found out. I don't see a single comment that he is actually upset as to the devastation he has caused you. It is all about him and what he has now lost... I think there was more going on personally Sad

Please do get yourself to an STI clinic and get a complete check up. If you decide to make a go of the marriage ask him to do the same before sleeping with him again.

I won't begin to say I know how you feel. Be prepared to swing between, hatred, anger, hurt and betrayal over and over.

Take all the time you need. What happens now is your choice the right one for you and your DC not what anyone else says you should do.

See a solicitor so you know where you stand whether you need to use the information or not.

Look after yourself and your little ones. Good luck.

HectorBrocklebank · 21/06/2012 14:53

Really sorry. Gone through something very similar recently and I know too well how devastating it is. Just try and get through the next few weeks and give yourself a chance to sort out what you want. Important thing is your health after having a baby.

The sickening feeling comes and goes but the feelings of betrayal, disgust at what he has done and wondering if you can believe anything he says ever again don't leave.

Lots of sites on internet offering insight and advice.

One clip that I copied that helped me a bit was
"Contrary to what you may think, adultery is not merely about sex. In fact, sex is often a bonus to the affair. People cheat for varying reasons, but the most common reasons- probably the vast majority of reasons people have an affair is for emotional connectedness, the feeling of being wanted, needed, understood, important, and heard. They are feelings that are deeply lacking in the current relationship, which cause the cheater to obtain them elsewhere. The unloved and misunderstood wife, or the controlled and endlessly criticized husband- two very common sterotypes that are vulnerable to straying. To those on the receiving end however, adultery is a selfish betrayal of trust that brings with it devastating consequences."

On advice from other MNs I bought the Shirley Glass book which has helped. Made me appreciate how even so called good marriages can suffer from affairs and that there is a way back if both partners really want it.

It is so difficult - will be thinking of you.

MadAboutHotChoc · 21/06/2012 14:55

So sorry Sad

I would be wary about believing him now that he is a proven liar - it is very very common for cheaters to minimise their behaviour (it was only a kiss, we only did it once or twice etc etc) so please be prepared for more revelations.

None of this is your fault - he chose to have the affair as a way of resolving his issues and problems.

You are in shock and it will take you months to process your feelings and thoughts - do not make any long term decisions as you will keep changing your mind...

You will need a lot of space and time - ask for this, even if it means him moving out on a temporary basis.

Get real life support from close friends/family - hopefully his parents will help.

Get Shirley Glass's Not Just Friends.

MadAboutHotChoc · 21/06/2012 14:56

crossposted with Xales and Hector

BornToFolk · 21/06/2012 14:58

By the way, I've got Shirley Glasses Not Just Friends. I haven't been able to read it yet, partly because I know there's no future for me and ex but if you want to borrow it, you'd be welcome to. PM me.

dondon33 · 21/06/2012 15:00

What an utter knob!! ahhh poor him, he's had so much to cope with lately :@ so have you and you haven't been flirting, meeting or possibly shagging someone else while coping with it all.

His crocodile tears don't mean much to me, to be honest....it's a natural reaction to being found out and he's shit himself at the thought he can not have his cake and eat it. He probably never had any intention of leaving you, he wanted some fun without being caught with the wife and the DC tucked quietly away at home waiting for him, but you finding those messages has compromised everything.

I'm not surprised you can't think clearly, with a 6 week old baby, you've enough physical and emotional stress to deal with already, without what he has just thrown at you.

Take your time, don't make any rushed decisions. You need to wait until you can accept what has happened and whether you believe him and go from there.
His parents may well be disgusted with him at the moment and fully behind you but don't be pushed or feel forced to accept what he has done...as much as they mean well, they won't want to see your relationship end and could start trying to convince you to stay.

I agree with stealth about him getting a new job, it would be a demand of mine if I decided to try to repair the relationship.

I'd also be tempted to send a message back to this woman slut assuming she knows about you and children, I'd make it clear to her that if she contacted your DH again then you will personally ensure the whole office knows what a home wrecking, moral lacking whore she is.

Stay strong, speak with him if you choose to (mainly to see if you can catch him out anywhere) and think of yourself and DC first and foremost.
This is not your fault, it's his. xx

SnaggleFlap · 21/06/2012 15:00

Thanks Slealth, I guess I don't know for sure that he never slept with her and probably never will, so should get checked for stis Sad however, I'm wondering when he would've found the time tbh as we've been so manically busy lately, his affair mainly seems to be emails, although now I'm doubting whether he's been where he really says he has.

The job thing is tricky as his line of work is quite specialised and decent roles are few and far between. We'd be up shit creek if he jacked it in, which pisses me off even more as I feel I can't win. I did email OW yesterday to tell her I knew all about them, and she emailed back saying how sorry she was and how it meant nothing, and how she'd leave the company ( whether she will or not is another matter). She has a lot to lose too as has bought house with her bloke and they're getting married this year. My family aren't nearby and I'm loathe to tell my mum as she loves DP and would be furious at him and devastated, and I'm worried that if we do stay together then she would hate him and it would change family dynamic for the kids. I'm close to his family though, and his folks are totally supporting me and are so upset that he's been a twat.

OP posts:
MadAboutHotChoc · 21/06/2012 15:04

I wouldn't contact the OW at all.

He is the one who made those wedding vows - he has to be the one who initiates the end of the affair, stop and refuse all contact and establish his boundaries.

Contacting the OW may even push her even more towards your H and you could look like the vindictive crazy wife who deserves to have a straying husband.

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2012 15:06

Ok so insisting he leaves the job would be cutting off your nose to spite your face. So pass it back to him - if he continues to work with her, how is he going to reassure you he's not doing anything inappropriate.

Anyway, thats for thinking through whn you can think straight. At the moment you just need to be looked after and allowed to do what you want - whatever that might be, cry, shout, not see him.
6 week old baby ! I really feel for you, a newborn takes everything you've got and you just need the rest of your life to be stable for a short while. What. An. Arse.

MadAboutHotChoc · 21/06/2012 15:06

You would be surprised that he can find the time for an affair - fake conferences/meetings and using up half days etc.

Xales · 21/06/2012 15:09

Amazing how these two people were happy to screw up the lives of 2 other adults, several children and the extended families (plus extended social network) for something both of them have said meant nothing.

That is what they really thought of you, your DC, her P and every else when they embarked on this. They thought nothing of you.

SnaggleFlap · 21/06/2012 15:10

Sorry, thanks everyone else for replying so quickly. So lots of you seem to think there might be more revelations to come? Is there any good way of finding out for sure?

He has said he's so sorry he's hurt me, and isn't just upset for himself. Doesn't make me feel better though!

OP posts:
BornToFolk · 21/06/2012 15:12

"Is there any good way of finding out for sure? "

I don't think so, sorry. About the only thing you do know for sure now is that he's a liar. If he's serious about ending it with OW and making it work with you he needs to prove it, by actions as well as words.

MadAboutHotChoc · 21/06/2012 15:15

It may be too late but I would check his phone, check his internet history, computer deleted folders and deleted emails for evidence such as hotel bookings, check bank and credit card statements, pockets/drawers for receipts etc.

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2012 15:16

Given you've already emailed the ow, you could email her again asking for her version of events.

MadAboutHotChoc · 21/06/2012 15:16

Insist on STI checks for him (and ask to see the results yourself).

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2012 15:17

Actuall you'd have to tlk not email

SnaggleFlap · 21/06/2012 15:28

Good call on the checking statements, hadn't thought of that. May email and ask her exactly what happened but not sure she will tell me.

OP posts:
24HourPARDyPerson · 21/06/2012 15:37

How awful for you Snaggleflap and at such a special but vulnerable time too.

She is his PA?

So there will have been more than just email contact, it would have been RL flirting too, at least.

I think you should throw him out.
It will show him you mean business and the onus is on him now to win himself back into your home.
If he doesn't, he wouldn't have stayed anyway.

I am sorry for your situation.

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2012 15:45

They live with his parents

SnaggleFlap · 21/06/2012 16:00

Yes we're at his parents at the moment, moving into new house this weekend. He has offered to stay elsewhere for the time being when I move back in, but I'm not sure that's what I want for DS sake more than anything, and selfishly I could really do with the help with the kids, I'm so tired after being ill and we usually split nightfeeds. Gah, I just can't win really Sad

OP posts:
24HourPARDyPerson · 21/06/2012 16:08

well whatever you decide you can change your mind, don't feel like any decision you make ow is set in stone, or would somehow be unfair to retract

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