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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

Encouraging honesty

12 replies

Dirtybadger · 09/12/2013 14:53

Hi MN, tried to keep it as brief as possible but I don't really do 'brief'! in fact I do lengthy :(

Basically DP and I have been together for a bit over 3 years. Early on in our relationship (before the 'official' sort of stage) I fucked up a bit and kissed someone. I was honest and we recovered. Since then I've stopped drinking (completely) and done anything else I need to, to reassure him that nothing like that would ever happen again. I don't flirt. I don't go out 'to town', etc. It's easier not to and I'm not massively social so it just isn't a massive thing for me. I couldn't have done more to show that I am really serious about never doing anything so disgusting (as I think cheating on someone is- whether emotionally or otherwise) again. I have never done anything like that before and it upsets me, 3 years later, to know what I did; especially as I've been on the receiving end so many times.

Unfortunately my DP has not taken the same measures. He has been 'caught out' on numerous occasions with things like inappropriate text messages, nudie pictures, etc.

I am really bloody tired of asking him about these and getting nothing back. Some of the things I've seen, had I seen them (or understood their significance) at the time, would have been deal breakers. Fortunately for him I didn't see a few of the things until recently (they were from 2011). I want to ask him about them but I almost can't be bothered as he is not likely to make any great response.

All I want, apart from all of these things to have never happened (duh) is for him to hold his hands up and fess up about everything. Last year we had a big fall out- I moved out and although we got back together after a week of him begging I didn't move back in for about a month as I didn't want to rush back into the relationship. We had (well, I) recovered from this, I feel, in the last month or two and our relationship has been very healthy and happy.

I am so disappointed to have unearthed more bullshit. I feel crazy for caring about stuff that happened so long ago but it really bothers me that he didn't take the opportunity when I gave him it- with absolutely nothing to lose- to tell me about what I've now discovered.

How can I persuade him to open up more and be honest about what he's done? He never seems to take responsibility for his actions and I end up feeling worse for ever having mentioned it. Honestly some of the things are quite minor (some not) but there are just so many of them and so little disclosure that in my mind even after 'talking' (me, not him!) about them they nag at me. Enough tiny unresolved things become one big messy thing.

It's really important that he learns to be honest as in less than a year we are supposed to be buying a house together. I don't want to go into that without everything from the past having been dealt with but feel like as such as weak person I probably will.
It's so frustrating because he doesn't appear to be able to see that I am willing to try to forgive him for all of this, if only he'd be honest and upfront. I have told him that. It didn't appear to make a difference.

:(

Again apologies for long post

OP posts:
houmousandcarrotsandwich · 09/12/2013 15:52

Watching with great interest!
My H is getting chucked out in the next few days after I've found 'further' evidence. Again he's been found out before and last time I practically begged him to tell me everything. He minimised everything (as I have since learned that's what cheaters do) but I have recently found out more about 'that' incident.

Why do they behave like this?
You're right, it is disgusting.

So any tips on getting honesty would also be appreciated by me!

Sorry not much help to you. Just letting you know you are not alone and I encourage you to think about how this can work long term with his unacceptable behaviour.
It's taken me a long time to see (I first found out about an EA in 2007, it has progressed since), but now I'm ready to move on.

Take care of yourself x

LivingWellNow · 09/12/2013 16:34

You can't make him tell the truth. Sorry.

Dirtybadger · 09/12/2013 17:29

Big sigh. Thanks for your responses. Why do people make it so hard for themselves!? I don't get it.

OP posts:
cjel · 09/12/2013 19:40

I would be tempted to cut and run. I found mine had 2 lunches and one evening. he said he wouldn't any more and we were making a go of it. 3 months later I checked his phone bill and they were still in contact. and I didn't wait to find out more.whats the point? and that after 35 years together.

jojoanna · 09/12/2013 19:46

*cjelYou were together 35 years and split up . That was brave

OP I would be tempted to leave.

jojoanna · 09/12/2013 19:46

*cjelYou were together 35 years and split up . That was brave

OP I would be tempted to leave.

cjel · 09/12/2013 20:00

I'd say it was stupid to have stayed so long!!Xmas Smile. It was just the right timex

LivingWellNow · 09/12/2013 20:05

I don't think they make it as hard for themselves as they do for those they lie to Sad.

Meerka · 09/12/2013 20:12

dirtyBadger im afraid you can't encourage honesty. It has to come because he wants to be honest, not because you somehow make him or encourage him to be honest.

I'm afraid that if he's looking at nudie pics and inapprorpriate text messages that it's looking bad for the future. He had his chance once, and you've found stuff you're unhappy with again - he blew it.

It sounds like there's a good chance that if you carry on together that this behaviour with other women will get worse and worse and one day, probably not too far in the future, you'll find yourself cheated on.

Your instincts are telling you something strongly here. Your mind might want to deny them, but they're probably wiser than your mind.

HeartVHead · 09/12/2013 22:31

You are making it hard for yourself by putting up with it. He isnt making it hard for himself at all because he gets to have his cake and eat it knowing that you will put up with it.

Like others have said, you can't make him behave like you did about the kissing incident (has he made you stop drinking or did you choose to do that)? You are responsible for how you live and he is responsible for himself but you need to work out whether you are happy to spend your life with him as you cannot guarantee he will change.

Dirtybadger · 09/12/2013 22:52

Thanks for your responses.

Heart v Head. I made that decision. It was a long time coming. I was never an alcoholic (or coming close) but my ability to control my drinking on nights out was poor and I was suffering from black outs which wasn't really very safe.

I've got a lot to think about.

OP posts:
Dirtybadger · 11/12/2013 01:38

I'm taking the advice I needed yo hear.
I logged onto his Skype and found the conversations with the girl who sent him pics. I'm almost glad to read the dirty messages. It makes it black and white. They obviously or at least she did naughties on cam and she's a local girl. Knows my little brother. They at least arranges to meet up once or twice. and were texting. She bats him off quite a lot and says she's a virgin (not in a flirty way) so no sex but that's not the point cus poi the would have. Also found emails from craiglist from early in relationship. Prostitutes I suppose. Again doubt it ever happened.

All from at least 18 months ago but we'd been together 18-24 months so no excuse for him!! Plus he never fessed up.

Lying here heart racing.

How do I do it?
He works only until noon tomorrow. U can't have him in the house when it happens. I can't let him take the dog. If he takes the dog I have nothing to live for. No exaggeration she is more important to me than anything. We have no kids. We live with my parents.

someone help :(

OP posts:
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