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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

Marriage breakup, an affair, what a mess :-(

526 replies

onlyjustgettingby · 18/12/2012 11:53

My marriage broke up at the end of last year, after years of me being unhappy.

My husband had several affairs during our marriage and by the end I not only didnt fancy him any more, but I lost all respect for him, I met someone else which gave me the kick to leave last year (I didnt leave for the other person, I just knew that it was the end)

I met someone else in March this year, we clicked immediately and the sparks were literally flying all over the place. We have been seeing each other ever since and have fallen head over heals for each other.

I dont want to move in with anyone else, I dont want the kids to have another father figure (they have a Dad) I am happy keeping my relationship completely separate from the kids.

And this is where it gets dirty.. he has a wife and 3 kids. He has a nice life and he loves his kids, and he loves his wife too.

He doesnt want to leave and I dont want him to leave, but we seem to be falling for each other further and further.

I cant imagine life without him, I dont want to live without him in my life, I feel like he is my soulmate and I think that one day we will be together.

I know that what we are doing is very wrong and I know that I will get completely flamed, but I dont know what else to do.. I cant funtion without knowing that he is in my life somewhere. We have ended things several times because 'its the right thing to do' but then we miss each other so much that we always get drawn back together again.

I would really appreciate some advice. I know the usual, and what we 'should' be doing, but we have tried that and it doesnt work :-(

OP posts:
SleighbellsRingInYourLife · 18/12/2012 18:11

This affair makes everything OK, doesn't it?

You used to be the woman who wasn't good enough for her husband.

But now you're one of the women who lured him away (repeatedly).

Except you're even better than them because you are the ONLY woman on earth your lover would cheat with.

Your affair PROVES that affairs are passionate love affairs that can't be resisted.

It PROVES that men who have affairs are not to blame for what they do to their families.

Your marriage was not a miserable sham to a philanderer who didn't love you. It was unhappy because he was married to the wrong person.

Just like your lover. He says he loves his wife. They are lovers too.

But the affair PROVES that he must be unhappy and that he would be happier if he could leave.

You are sitting in a perfectly sealed delusion.

Everything makes sense as long as you don't face the cheap and tawdry reality of an affair to a happily married man who is in love with his wife but enjoys a bit on the side for now.

Sometimes men who love their wives and are happy in their marriages escape the stresses of life with a young family with an affair.

The person they cheat with just has to think they are great and be willing to shag them. The intensity comes from the escape from the life they value but find stressful.

These men drop their lovers like hot bricks when their wives (their true loves) find out. They cry and have "breakdowns" and very soon can honestly say that everything they felt for the OW was just based on having their ego stroked.

Often the rebuild their marriages after the unwelcome intrusion has been eliminated. Usually unceremoniously, and with zero residual sentimental feeling.

Eventually he'll see you as we see you - an unpleasant woman who was happy to destroy his family for her own ends.

Because you are not having an affair with a man like your husband. He was a philanderer.

This man (if you are right about him) is the sort of man who makes the mistake of cheating once. While he's having the affair he will lie to you and to himself.

But when it is over, and you become real, you will be nothing to him. Worse than nothing - something he is ashamed of.

"I am 'just a fuck' to him, then he is to me too."

You fool.

You are jealous of his wife.

He is not just a fuck.

But you are.

However the affair is masking that reality.

Oh and the stuff about damage to the kids is mind blowing - so if your affair with their father comes to light and they are in any way damaged by it, it wi be their mother's fault?

Because if the trauma you cause her is even noticed by the children that is her fault.

You can behave as appallingly as you like, because if a person is hurt beyond hurt by what you do, that is their problem.

You should revisit your complacent presumption that you are not a skank.

coribells · 18/12/2012 18:12

He has no problem with that .
I have been on dates with other men.

I have also polyamarous couple friends - where both partners M&F have other relationships outside of the 'primary' one.

ClippedPhoenix · 18/12/2012 18:13

OP, I'm not judging you, I think you are rather vunerable at the moment and people that are lacking in self esteem tend to hurt a lot of others.

I also know that over my lifetime I've met men that are so damn charismatic and push all my buttons that they practically take my breath away with lust. These men never turn out to be genuine (well they haven't in my lifetime), they have always turned out to be selfish self-centred narcs.

How about if you cut contact totally.

If he closes the door so to speak and is honest with his wife, leaves and spends time on his own then comes to you after a period of time, who knows?

At the end of the day no-one owns anyone else.

Morally they should deal with their shit first and close one door before opening another.

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 18/12/2012 18:15

OooOOoo that's gotta sting

right on the nose there, sleigh

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 18/12/2012 18:16

cori why are you trying to compare your set up with the OP's

they are nothing alike (apart from the shagging around, but then anyone can shag around)

NotWankinginaWinterWonderland · 18/12/2012 18:19

Jesus Cori you're a bit sex greedy are you not?

Sorry I am prude....what's with all the sleeping around though ? Xmas Confused Do you get bored easily? I hope you all use protection or you will all be diseased to the maximum, I would think.

NotWankinginaWinterWonderland · 18/12/2012 18:20

Love the word skank I used it on here once and was told off...Xmas Sad She was/is a skank though, sorry as you were...

ClippedPhoenix · 18/12/2012 18:21

Everything makes sense as long as you don't face the cheap and tawdry reality of an affair to a happily married man who is in love with his wife but enjoys a bit on the side for now

I didn't have a problem with anything you just said there sleigh apart from this one.

Does that make men "allowed" to have a bit on the side then?

lolaflores · 18/12/2012 18:22

cori the OP strikes me as a very fragile, damaged person, replete with anger at herself and life. You on the other hand are not. But, I do not equate your happiness with your love set up. You are possibly just naturally buoyant and I also get the feeling that you want others to be so too. But, this OP is no more cut out for poly what have you than I would be. Too neurotic, too sensitive to what others think, chasing validation from out side myself.
So I bought the same t shirt OP is wearing. Snot encrusted from crying, shabby and wrinkly, but it is at the back of the wardrobe now, just as soon as I wised up and realised I am a little piece of crystal best kept safe which is what my DH does for me, treasures me and cherishes me and I him. OP would last 5 minutes in your world, she simply isn't made for it.

ClippedPhoenix · 18/12/2012 18:23

Or are you saying that this is how the man sees things?

coribells · 18/12/2012 18:24

LOL, I'm not trying to compare my situation at all. However I might be able offer some empathy to the OP rather than hiding you lot are giving her.

lolaflores · 18/12/2012 18:27

coribels she needs sense not sympathy. If you see the posts which are very understanding, but she would not listen. if you empathise with her what shall be achieved? Less self harming behaviour for her

ClippedPhoenix · 18/12/2012 18:28

I wouldn't say you were in a poly relationship then cori as it's not your only relationship so that doesn't really add up. I'd say that you have been so burnt that you are still all over the place. You yourself said that you still had the tshirt on vunerability.

ClippedPhoenix · 18/12/2012 18:31

There's a fine line between empathy and enabling Sad

Mincepiesforme · 18/12/2012 18:32

I think this name calling and the post from Sleigh is getting out of hand.

This is an anon forum- but it doesn't mean you dish out hurt to someone like this- no matter how much you disagree with their behaviour. men and women have had affairs from the beginning of time. They aren't right but FGS- it's not murder .

I wonder how many of you would put your real name and location to these insults, eh?

OP one thing that you said you didn't want to reveal- how you met. You see for me, that is the clue to all of this. IME people are " ripe" for affairs long before they happen. They are bored, a bit miserable, isolated in their main relationship.

If you met this man online or socially then he was clearly looking for some fun. If it was at work you are each playing with fire- more than you are already.

At some point both of you crossed a line. It was easier for you- you are single. But he had to cross the Rubicon. Why? What's he getting from you except sex? If he is unhappy at home why doesn't he leave her for you?

Saying that people should end one relationship first is all very well- but in RL it's often messier. What you have to ask yourself OP is do you want this man and all his baggage and guilt that may come with it?

What do you want? I don't think you know.

fedupofnamechanging · 18/12/2012 18:34

I'd put my real name to this. If I knew the OP irl, I would say exactly what I've said here. I think sleigh was spot on.

MorrisZapp · 18/12/2012 18:36

I thought sleighs post was sexist and mean. So the cheating bastard who is married turns against his mistress who is not married, and he's in the right?

He's the unpleasant one. He's breaking vows, and lying to the person he's supposed to love. I think op needs to see him for what he really is, not the other way round.

All this women blaming women and skank talk is bloody depressing.

Mincepiesforme · 18/12/2012 18:37

Well go ahead karma- the floor's yours .

fedupofnamechanging · 18/12/2012 18:40

My name is Sarah and I am in South Wales.

SleighbellsRingInYourLife · 18/12/2012 18:41

I didn't say he was in the right.

He's a shitbag.

But possibly one his wife will want to forgive.

Mincepiesforme · 18/12/2012 18:41

Oh ha bloody ha Karma. That's really honest isn't it. Is there only one Sarah in S wales?

ClippedPhoenix · 18/12/2012 18:43

I think sleigh was coming from a different very angry and rather bitter (at the moment) angle here. I didn't have a problem with her venting as such but I did find it very harsh to read.

NotWankinginaWinterWonderland · 18/12/2012 18:43

Bob from Scotland.

I have no idea what the OP wants here though, advice I know but advice on what?

She is sleeping with a married man, she is going to get hurt, imo!

Bob
x

ClippedPhoenix · 18/12/2012 18:45

Did you forgive him then sleigh? I don't thing you have really then have you? Does he repeatedly do this? Do you repeatedly forgive?

fedupofnamechanging · 18/12/2012 18:45

The man doesn't come out of this without blame. Obviously he owes his wife loyalty and respect and his wrongdoing is greater than the OP's in the sense that he made vows to his wife and the Op did not.

However, none of this reflects well on her as a person and she started this thread - not because she wants advice on how to extricate herself from this, but because she wanted everyone to say 'never mind pet, you've had a hard time and you deserve this'. Well, no one is going to validate something which is inherently wrong and harmful to his wife and dc (and the OP, in the long run).

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