I've got a bad feeling about this woman.

[suspicion]

I've name changed as I think I would be to recognisable otherwise.

I'm not sure whether I am right to be suspicious or its just my insecurities taking over.
My DP has been working at his current job for over a year now. This woman started working there after him. I've not met her nor any of his other work friends.

Recently (since having a baby) I've noticed he's bringing her up in conversation quite a bit. She has bright red hair and he keeps commenting on how red hair is sexy and I should dye mine that colour. I've noticed she's been posting on his facebook a lot with cryptic messages or inside jokes and puts up pictures of him. Recently she wrote something French and sort of romantic on there. Anyone can see that he's engaged and apparently she's in a relationship.

Now he works with lots of women that I've never thought twice about but I've got a strange feeling about her. He's been going out a lot more recently but I've assumed he's telling the truth about visiting one of his work friends.

Our relationship has been a bit strained since I've had DD and I don't know if I'm just feeling insecure because I feel like I'm a shadow of my former self or if I do have reason to worry.
Surely if something was going on she wouldn't be posting things so publicly? It makes me sad to see how happy he looks in her pictures, I've not seen him that way in a long time.

What do you think? How right can instinct be.

Thankyou for all your messages. I didn't get much sleep last night but have been thinking about it some more. I'm pretty sure that its not gone as far as an affair yet but I'm pretty sure he's thought about it. He's got low self esteem right now from putting on lots of weight and I think he's enjoying having someone to flirt with.

Because of messages between him and a male co-worker of his on facebook, I do think he has just gone to his when he's gone out. He hasn't had any time to have a full blown affair, he always rings me on his breaks and comes straight home after work.

I got one last conversation with him last night before bed and he admitted that he thought she was pretty and they share the same sort of humour, but he doesn't like her that way. He had nervous body language and I could tell he wasn't being truthful.

I pointed out how its not nice to laugh in my face about it and how would he feel if it was the other way around, to which he admitted it didn't look good and he wouldn't like it if a man was doing the same with me.

I told him if she doesn't mean anything to him he has to stop talking to her. He said he was upset about doing that but didn't say whether he would or not. I know I'm not going to achieve much from that as it depends on the scale of things. He might go and tell her they have to be more discreet but in that case I have his email and Facebook passwords so can check if they start communicating more privately.
My logic is that if he truly no longer speaks to her she would stop posting things on his wall. So if he tells me he's stopped talking to her and she's still posting things I will know he's lying.

I think it would be a very good idea to get the Shirley Glass book 'Not Just Friends'. It's often recommended here and talks about appropriate boundaries in a relationship. Even if he isn't having an affair, the book will help you discuss where things are on the slippery slope to one. Also, he'd be less able to say that you are being unreasonable if it's there in black and white.

His response is that he will tell her they have to be more discreet?!

So much for having nothing to hide.

Sorry OP, it sounds like you have tried to be understanding but whether this is physical or not (and I would bet my life savings it is), it is an emotional affair. I think you need to get away from him fof a few days. This is so out of order.

Sorry OP - I see you think he might do that. I still think his response stinks.

Does he know you have access to his passwords? Regardless, I'm sure you don't need telling to keep your eyes open, I truly hope this works out well for you both, we are always here if you need to talk.

He sounds like a bairn saying he thought she had squinty eyes and now admitting he fancies her. Although it was obvious he did.

She probably doesn't fancy him anyway and is just a flirt? Still stinks though.

Wow he's done some back peddling hasn't he?

He first said she wasn't attractive and had 'squinty' eyes.

He's a cheating toss pot OP.

I really think you need to get this book:

www.shirleyglass.com/book.htm

The problem is that the only person who can stop this from going any further is him - he needs to address his issues and boundaries in order to prevent himself from going down that slippery slope.

Tbh I think your relationship is already down the toilet by the fact you check his private stuff and make him ring you all the time. I don't mean that to be nasty I just personally think if you don't trust someone to that extent it's not a good place to be in for you or him. No way would I put up with having to ring a partner every break and come straight home and never have time to myself which I'm not accountable to them.

Brandy I don't get him to ring me, in fact I find it rather disruptive sometimes that he rings me 3 times a day. He does it while he's out having a cigarette. I also don't make him come straight home, he does it at his own accord. I am in no way controlling of what he can and cannot do.

OP.

I've been in your shoes. You should be aware of this woman and your h's potential vulnerability to an affair. Buy the Shirley Glass book.

I wish I had 6 years ago.

Things sound promising OP, can you get him to take on the child care more, he needs to feel a bond with DD.
He should give up his single socialising and choose to spend time as a family.
Perhaps you could by busy and 'out' having fun when he rings (even if it's sitting in the local caf with a pretend friend), that might make him wake up.

I think unless you're prepared to be a bit more proactive and covert about this, all you can do is spell out to him the consequences of him having an affair, with this woman or anyone else.

And mean them.

What are you going to do about the stuff you both know about, like the lack of sex and affection and his lack of work in the house and with your child then?

So first she wasnt attractive, now she's pretty?

I really dont think i could put up with this behaviour, its one thing having friends of the opposite sex but i think your partner and this woman are crossing a line here.

He admitted he wouldnt like it if the boot was on the other foot so why is he doing it?

This could just be the way my mind works and I really don't want to put more ideas in your head but I find the fact he rings you all the time could be preemptive so you don't ring him when he's busy bantering with her.

Trust your instincts!

Don't know if this will help but a friend was in a similar situation a few years ago. She invited the woman to her house, plied her with vodka while remaining completely sober herself and then regaled the prospective OW with lots of stories about her DH's shortcomings. He was squirming with embarrassment at his wife's honesty, coupled with her hilarious stories about his uselessness, and no longer looked like a good catch. They are still together. He did know that she would take him on financially if he left her (they're rich!) and admitted that he had almost fallen for the flattery!

I told him if she doesn't mean anything to him he has to stop talking to her. He said he was upset about doing that but didn't say whether he would or not.

This says it all. At this point, he is considering only his own feelings. If he was really thinking about yours, or the effect this emotional affair (at least) was having on your relationship, he should be telling you he would cut all contact with her.

FWIW I don't think you sound in the least bit controlling. The opposite in fact. I think that you have tried hard to be a 'cool partner', not minding him going out and having a compartmentalised social life even though you have a baby. That's not done you any favours. He has taken that inch and run with a mile. He needs to grow up and be a better partner and a better father.

Is relationship counselling an option?