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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

Husband has been having an affair with work colleague 21 years his junior

119 replies

MrsGPie01252 · 15/06/2014 06:31

I found out a week before my 40th party. He had become increasingly unhappy at home and had cited work stress, etc. but he also became more insular and picked on me about every little thing. He hadn't initiated sex in a few weeks and then when i did... couldn't perform. That was a week before our family holiday where he remained very distant. Upon return, I found a message and confronted him.

Well the weeks that have followed have been a blur! I spent two weeks trying to save our marriage (following advice from his parents, etc) with underwhelming response from him! Eventually found another message and threw him out. Since then he took two weeks off work to repair his marriage but spent 1 week in a spa having massages and the other in hotel. He never asked to see me once! The one time I did meet him it soon became pretty obvious from our conversations that he was still seeing / in contact with her.

I even arranged for him to come round on his birthday at 6.30am do the kids could give him his presents in bed like we always do! He has continued his affair brazenly! Locally (even though she 'a not local) in bars restaurants. He took her to Paris and smart hotels in the new forest! She is 23 he is 44! Lied about EVERYTHING!!! He's using OUR money and kids money to entertain this child! And... There is NO future in this infatuation! He is rescuing her from the ghetto as her sugar daddy! Oh.. Did I mention the Porshe he just went out and bought in Feb?

Meanwhile, my heartbreaks every day for the loss of what was an AMAZING family! He has not stopped lying, but not just to me to everybody! Friends. He tells different people different things depending on who they are and what he thinks they want to hear. He even showed two of our friends a picture of her (gloating!!!). I even went to his very local hotel to see him with DS and he was sat with her in the bar!!!! How devastating for DS?? And my DD who is 12 is so upset and angry with him and wants to harm the girl.

We are living in rented while we develop our house and are supposed to be moving back in in August and now he wants to come home!!! And he wants to come on our annual holiday!!! But he hasn't finished it yet. He said he was doing it last night. I don't believe a word he says and nr will I ever again! This man lied from the day I met him 16.5 years ago and aged 44 he's still lying every day. How sad is that?

I found a really good quote that said "the test of a woman's loyalty is when her man has nothing and the test of a mans loyalty is when he has everything". He had everything!

OP posts:
Coconutty · 15/06/2014 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EdithWeston · 15/06/2014 09:14

"And he wants to come on our annual holiday!!!"

Ask him to book himself into the next hotel along, because you don't want him upsetting every day of the holiday. Also tell him you are setting up a new email account which will be the preferred for arranging logistics for the children, so he can let you know that way when he has made a parallel booking and you can work out how to divide the DC's holiday time.

(I'd add that I think that's unnecessarily disruptive of the holiday, and would prefer it if he would reconsider and perhaps take the children away at some other point. That's how it'll be for future holiday planning).

beccajoh · 15/06/2014 09:18

Get the Porsche, sell it and put the money in a savings account for your kids. What a knob.

DustBunnyFarmer · 15/06/2014 09:35

Tell him, he bought it with family money, so he can use it for his family. If he can't fit them in the car, he will have to WALK somewhere with them.

Not your problem. He can hire a car each time he has the children if need be. Or sell the penis extension and buy a proper car...

MrsSmithers · 15/06/2014 09:50

Stop feeling sorry for him. He's a grown man who decided to fuck a 23 year old while his wife kept his home going for him.

He is still CHOOSING to fuck her.

He doesn't deserve your sympathy. He should be begging YOU for a chance and doing everything he can to fix it. He isn't, so if I were you, I'd save my energy for making the best of my life.

Believe me if he isn't begging to have you back now, he never will.

Sorry to be so harsh, been there, done that, got the tshirt. Wish I'd saved my energy, we are not responsible for fixing things when a man chooses to put his dick ahead of his family. Let him have the life he wants and you concentrate on building the life you want. Take your time to think about it, but don't be pressured into thinking you have to make it work. You don't.

Butterflyspring · 15/06/2014 09:56

you can't make him better - he isn't ill - he is an unfaithful sad twat. There is no need for any conversations with him. When are you going to engage a solicitor?

Needadvice5 · 15/06/2014 10:01

Blimey I really can't help thinking that you are about to take this bastard back when his new little girlfriend gets fed up of him.

Have some self respect! you'll never be able to trust him again.

You are being far too nice!

Let him take the dc out for the day in his wank porshe and you enjoy some well deserved time alone to figure out how to screw him over with a bloody good solicitor!

thecatfromjapan · 15/06/2014 10:07

I think you ned to seize control of the narrative. He's been living to a quite separate narrative to the one you thought you were both following for at least a year now (at a guess). Everyone has separate spaces in their heads, and thoughts they don't share but, when you are in a serious relationship, especially with children, you are living a life with quite a high level of shared ideas/goals/aims: and a shared narrative.

So, I read what you're saying and I think that you are still dealing with all that is happening by following the same narrative you were following until very recently. But that narrative was dealing with/constructing a fantasy. not your fault: your partner was keeping a major part of your shared reality to himself - by lying to you. I always think that this "hoarding" of the truth, this peddling of a lie and theft of reality, is one of the worst things that deceptive partners do. It really messes with the other partner's head.

Anyway, no wonder you are still living by way of this "old" narrative: he has had ages to acclimatise himself to the new reality. He's chosen it, in fact. He's managing to control quite a bit of your life at the mment, with you still in shock, still floundering around to try and get a handle on things, still clinging to wreckage from a recent ship-wreck and hoping it will keep you afloat until you get picked up by a passing ship or something.

I honestly think that you need to do several things to seize back a bit of your control.

I would suggest spending some time sitting down to work out what you want. You don;t have to have just one scenario, you can put down lots, and order them, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Some may not be possible, eg. "I want to be a woman and mother, married to an amazing, caring, trustworthy and honourable man, who cherishes me. I want a marriage that is a beautiful monument to what humans can achieve through love." Thing is, getting it down on paper helps you get your head around what your motivations are, and how realistic they are, and what is still motivating you - perhaps unrealistically and unhelpfully. Putting a line throguh stuff helps you move forwards, rather than keeping you tied to a past that has gone.

The things you still want, and can have - work towards them with the energy of a woman who knows how to love practically and energetically - just learn to love where it will grow, where the ground is goo. (yourself, for a start).

It's possible that he is having one of those fabled mid-life crises, and wants you to take control and set him some boundaries. But ... perhaps he doesn't, and, most importantly, what do YOU want? Don;t spend too much time letting him control you - when he himself is not in a place to be relied on - and don't let this mean you spend your life running around after hom, rather than asking yourself what YOUR wishes and goals are.

Good luck.

antimatter · 15/06/2014 10:09

Build boundaries, see as little of him as possible yourself.
Feel very sorry that he mixed up kids in it.
They are too young to be expected to judge and be sensible about it.

kelcol · 15/06/2014 10:11

My husband of 13 years did this. Trust me once he gets over this little bit he will be miserable. My ex was 34 she was 20. I kicked him out. He is now living with her in her mums house and she now has a chronic illness. He is grumpy and having to look after his child (trog). She knew we where married and had a baby.

Our eldest has nothing to do with her and no expectations except for lie where he is concerned.

2 years on I'm happy and he is grumpy. His friends has nothing to do with her and his family don't either. I feel for you as dealing with girls this age are very difficult and childish.
Go luck

tiredandsadmum · 15/06/2014 10:14

He is spending family money on her. Even going to court you will be unlikely to get that back unless it is really significant, so you need to try and stop it now. My ex's purchase was a new lexus - tried in the court settlement to get me to pay half of it. That was finally kicked into fantasy land where it belonged. So my advise, snoop like hell. Copy any and all financial documents - yours and his. You won be able to use them in court but it will help you know if he has been truthfull in disclosure.

None of this stops you "reconciling" if you so choose, but it does mean that you are better informed.

EdithWeston · 15/06/2014 10:18

I think you need to make sure, right now, that he realises that he cannot just opt in and out of family life as it suits him.

He needs to know he has chosen a new reality, and things like cars and holidays are his separate responsibility now. As the situation is new, there needs to be a time of adjustment and you will negotiate on certain details of that from the basis of what is best for the DC (so some of their already booked family holiday could be with him, but not all staying together). And there will be new arrangements once thse things which are already booked have passed. If he needs a different sort of car, for example, he will need to buy one and he can hire until that is sorted out.

And if that leads him to regret his choice, then he has to sort out what he wants and go for it wholeheartedly. But that doesn't give him a free pass back to the family he chose to leave. You need to decide if he can ever be someone you truly want in your life. Right now, that doesn't look like a sensible choice.

MrsGPie01252 · 15/06/2014 10:27

This helps!

Husband has been having an affair with work colleague 21 years his junior
OP posts:
Isetan · 15/06/2014 10:35

He's thrown a grenade into your marriage and he's left you and your children to pick up the pieces. Disappointingly but not unsurprisingly, his parents have prioritised themselves and their son above you and their grandchildren. Seek rl support from those who will prioritise you and your children's need over the wants of a very selfish man.

You can support and serve the best interests of your children without protecting him from the consequences of his selfish whims. Show your children that they can still see their father without sacrificing their dignity and without burying their feelings.

You and your children's lives can't be put on hold indefinitely, in the vain hope that this man comes to his senses. Finding out your legal rights does not obligate you to LTB but it will educate you on how to protect you and your children's interests. Change doesn't damage children but prolonged uncertainty will.

I understand your bewilderment and desire to return to the time before he prioritised his needs over his family but time travel isn't viable just yet. You have to deal with the man he is now, not the man you hope he might become. No ones expecting you stop loving or caring about this man but please do not let that interfere with protecting you and your children.

You can and will get past this but it will take time and it's going to be very hard.

Vivacia · 15/06/2014 10:54

I'm struck by a few things,

  • you're still very much in a relationship with him. He isn't still in a relationship with you.
  • your comments about his girlfriend are understandable but not edifying.
  • you need financial and legal protection yesterday.
Rightallalong · 15/06/2014 11:56

I just lived your dream OP.

I let him back and guess what - he did it again.

Take the benefit of my crap experience and don't give him a chance yet. Just don't.

If in a year he's had time to think about what a cunt he's been then maybe, but get to a solicitor and get back into your home without him ASAP.

Please, detach. It's really hard but the minute you start your future without him is the minute you'll feel better, I promise and I'm only 5 weeks in xxx

kaykayblue · 15/06/2014 13:07

WHATEVER YOU DO PLEASE PLEASE GO AND SEE A GOOD DIVORCE LAWYER NOW.

Sorry for the caps, but it is a giant red flag ON FIRE that he is using YOUR money to entertain this child. Ring the banks. Tell them you are separating and wish to freeze all the joint accounts effect of immediately until you have gone to court. This will prevent him from emptying the accounts in the meantime. Please please do this today. I cannot emphasise strongly enough how important this is. You will be liable for any debt on those accounts as your name is also on them.

tipsytrifle · 15/06/2014 13:08

I'm reeling with your shock; truly i am. It's oozing from every word while you batter around like a ball in one of those machines?

I think you might consider slowing right down and forcing some clarity into this utter mess. Detachment is your best path towards this.

He needs to know it's over if this is what you have chosen. In truth i think it needs to be considered over so that financial clarity can be established and a Plan initiated. He needs to leave properly, fully (like with stuff and everything) and you need to establish whatever support you are entitled to from him. Legal help is required for this one, i think?

He needs a place of his own to take kids when contact is established. His car/transport is his problem. Though it might be kind of cool of he wrote you a note saying the Porsche is yours too? Sorry ... couldn't resist ...

There's no way you can maintain some kind of front here with the kids, father's day and whatever the next alleged celebration is ... he done wrong, ever so .. he should leave and Things should be Sorted.

Family holiday? What family?

There is absolutely no point in pretending that this isn't happening. No amount of getting on a plane, buying cars, maintaining the daily routine is going to make this situation disappear. It has to be coralled, tamed and sorted out for everyone's sanity.

tipsytrifle · 15/06/2014 13:10

Hmmm .. if you have joint accounts it might be better if you withdraw what you can/think you should .. once frozen no-one gets a dime from them i expect ... just a thought .. as you can see, we're all a bit adrenalised on your behalf, MrsG ...

getthefeckouttahere · 15/06/2014 14:44

I speak from extensive personal experience.......

Pretty much EVERYTHING he says about this situation will be a lie.

DO NOT FORGET THIS*

sorry for shouting but its really important.

MrsGPie01252 · 15/06/2014 20:00

Ok. He came as arranged. I wanted to hear what he had to say for himself. I'm pretty numb to all the lies now so can have very serious conversations without loosing the plot and I had plenty of things to say! Suffice it didn't go well!!! I told him, in order for me to agree to go to council long he had to do 3 things. Book the appt. himself, stay at his parents 7 nights a week and not dip in and out of hotel for meets with BP. And end it IMMEDIATELY (his reason for not being that he hadn't seen her face-to-face. He said he wants to let it 'peter out'!

I said that's not fair and if it's not done by Friday I would do it for him! Well, I certainly got the truth of his intentions then!!!! Also he hit the roof when we discussed releasing more cash for our build and I told him I had asked our FA to get both our permission. He was spitting. True colours caa me out. It's my money! You didn't seem to care when the money came in! (He sold his company), etc. etc.

The facts are that I need to keep him inside. We are 2 months away from being back in our house. I need to get some furnishings (lights, etc.) I can't afford for it to all turn nasty... Yet! My step dad is a lawyer and has advised me to keep financial records of EVERYTHING. I am doing that. Please be under no illusion that I will and do intend to divorce this man but I need to get back into my home. That is my priority!

OP posts:
MrsGPie01252 · 15/06/2014 20:11

Thank you ladies. Read all the replies and I know you are right. I wish I could get from a-z without all the shit in between. Bieber me I do want a divorce. At the moment each week is like a bloody month! My boring life now has so much fucking drama I can barely cope! I am focused on finishing our build beautifully! Moving back and bolting the fucking doors. It will EAT HIM UP! As I know his goal is to do that with us. (Fat chance!!!!) it will be an amazing home for me and the kids and a new chapter in my life. A happy one!

OP posts:
dollius · 15/06/2014 20:18

But won't the property have to be sold when you divorce so he can buy a place big enough to have the children to stay?

Is it really worth the stress of dealing with him for the next few months?

And, as you are married, you won't be able to lock the bolts as he will be entitled to live there too.

Wouldn't it be better to cut to the chase now sooner rather than later?

MrsGPie01252 · 15/06/2014 20:20

I don't know dollius. There won't b a mortgage. There is capital! It's the only thing I will fight him on!

OP posts:
Vivacia · 15/06/2014 20:22

But won't the house be an asset he has as much right to as you do?

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