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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

no idea how to respond

7 replies

frumpylump · 29/07/2013 18:49

have namechanged for this but been on mn for quite a while. I am in my mid 40s and been with the same guy since uni. We have 4kids, one is autistic, and dh works away probably 4 or 5 nights a month. I work part time. Dh has always been a bit needy, I daresay he in part liked my nurturing side. He has no model for a long term rel as his parents split due to his dad's affair when he was about 6. Both parents have had subsequent unsuccessful ltrs as well, but both now settled with partners. My parents married for ever but lead pretty separate lives.
Last night out of the blue dh accused me if having an affair. The guy in question is an old work colleague. Years ago this guy made it clear he fancied me, I told dh I found him a bit creepy and inappropriate and distanced myself. Said guy then met someone and has been happily married for about 9 years with two kids. We don't work together any more but this guy invites us over and we have been over a handful of times as our kids are similar ages. The last time I saw him was when I bumped into him in a shop about 18 months ago, but he sent a facebook message asking if we all could get together for a barbeque over Summer. For some strange reason dh saw the message alert, got suspicious, went into my fb account and read all my messages with him (about 7 since 2007!). The first reads 'Would you guys like to come for supper. Don't worry I won't tell (dh) about your dalliance with a guitarist, ha!'. I haven't refered to this in my brief response and it is this that dh is basing his accusation on. I can barely recall except that it was a joke, I am pretty cettain that I had referred to 'shagging the guitarist' on fb after a friend's 40th, at the time dh was guitarist in a little hobby band that played friends' parties.

I don't know whether to be bloody angry that dh snooped, frightened that my dh appears to have no trust in me and might end my marriage for something I haven't bloody done, or worried about his mental health. I was so flabberghasted last night that I obviously didn't come across as upset enough....I was completely taken aback, and didn't cry at all...how can I prove a negative? I have never been unfaithful btw, not a snog or a kiss or even an emotional affair. When this guy was flirtatious, I stepped back. I have nothing to justify, except that our relationship is 25 years old, I feel old and oerimenopausal, and don't want to shag 3x weekly. We do still have sex weekly and I will often do oral sex between times. I feel like telling him to grow up, but what role models has he had? What should I do?

OP posts:
tribpot · 29/07/2013 19:01

Sorry but you are being far too understanding with this role model stuff. He's presumably also in his mid-40s and has had plenty of time to consider relationships other than his parents' (even leaving aside the fact they have both now settled down successfully as well).

So your DH is accusing you of an affair in 2007? I'd suggest you turn the tables and ask him what he would do if you did the same - it clearly can't be proven or disproven. Are you meant to have had an affair with the creepy friend, despite him apparently referring to a third party in this message? He could always ask him directly if he doesn't mind looking like a complete fool.

A word of warning: accusing a partner of infidelity is sometimes done by a cheating partner as a form of misdirection. Have you any reason to think he is having an affair?

frumpylump · 29/07/2013 19:11

No he's accusing me I think of an ongoing affair since 2007. It really doesn't make much sense, which as I say makes me wonder about his mental wellbeing. He says its easy as he works away. I pointed out that that would actually make it harder, as I'd have to book a babysitter or bring bloke here, which I think our teenaged son might mention to his dad....pretty certain he isn't having an affair. He was absolutely shaking and the accusation was a gutteral cry. Poor guy was devastated, for absolutely no reason.

OP posts:
fuzzywuzzy · 29/07/2013 19:17

If a partner accused me of having an affair I wouldn't cry I would be furious.

Ex used to do this, he was the one having an affair,

How exactly is your husband proposing to deal with this?

I'd suspect him.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 29/07/2013 19:43

What a shock. Show him your phone. Ask what possibly put the idea into his head.

Is he projecting?
"I don't know where this has come from but I hope to God you've not been cheating on me while you've been away."

If this is his way of announcing he has concerns about your marriage it's a strange way of going about it.

ThePinkOcelot · 29/07/2013 19:51

My mum always says "evil thinkers are evil doers"! I would be livid if I were you, and certainly wouldn't be referring to him as "poor guy"! He is the one who has the opportunity of having an affair, what with working away. I would be turning the tables on him if I were you.

themidwife · 29/07/2013 19:56

Tell him "you were the guitarist you stupid twat" & then tell him until he is ready to apologise you don't wish to discuss it again! Oh & there won't be any blow jobs until he's on his knees for a change!

Missbopeep · 29/07/2013 20:00

He's just being silly.

It's not the comment on Fb that is so weird it's him making a huge fuss over something without any real substance.

Most men would see it as a joke- as it was intended.

I think you should just tell him again that it was a joke and if he can't see it well he's a stupid arse.

As others have said- does he have the opportunity? is HE tempted- has he resisted? And if he has, does he think it's all so unfair because while he's resisted his wife has been having it away with a guitarist.

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