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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

Feeling upset, need a shoulder

22 replies

montecarlo · 21/07/2014 11:54

My dh works away a lot. In the past 3 weeks I have seen him 3 days.

He got a promotion and although he still travels, he goes for different reasons than before (executive meetings etc). The problem now is that there is a female colleague that also goes on these trips, 90 percent of the time.

He has told me the odd thing about her, she is having some marriage issues as her dh works abroad and she sees him once a month. My dh helped her to move house (not physical, but arranged the vehicles etc). He doesn't talk a lot about her though. He messages her a lot, when I ask who he is messaging at night or over weekends, he tells me its her, and if I ask him he says it work related etc. Although I am ashamed to say it I have even checked his phone and those messages are always deleted straight after he has sent them.

So recently I have been feeling really down, and I have tried to chat with him as he is not himself lately. When I ask he says it pressure from work (yes I do understand that he is under pressure and I always try to support him, help him etc). I have outright asked him on a few occasions about this women if there is something going on, as recently our sex life isn't that great, he stays out late for any excuse etc. His phone is like a flipping attachment of his arm.

He always says nothing is going on, they are just good friends, having to go got to know her whilst travelling they have turned out to be good friends.

This weekend I needed to check something on his email. While in there I put her name into search and found some messages that I wasn't happy about. Things like, she is asking him to call her and he replied he will when he is alone.(this was while he was away) A photo that he sent me from work, was sent to her seconds after he emailed it to me. Another email saying her family had just left her house, they had a fight and she just looking forward to seeing someone who would be happy to see her. He then replied that when he does see her again, it will make him happy. Then there is a message saying "have a great weekend with mrsmontecarlo and dc's."

So with all this email evidence I approach him again, this time saying that he better tell me the truth about what is going on. Again he says there is nothing, its just work and they are good friends, she can speak to him about her problems etc. I asked him to explain all the emails, he had a work related answer to each one. I asked about him being happy to see her and he said that she is just a friend. When I continued he shouted along the lines of "am I not allowed to have a friend.. ") He also said that she tells him this stuff as they are "very close"!!!! He then said things along the lines of, I suppose if things were the other way round I would also not be happy, and he also told me that a few nights ago he spoke with a (male) friend saying that he knows that we are becoming distant and he is going to have to make more of an effort.

I am just so upset, I cant stop crying, I feel betrayed. Whether or not he had been with her I don't know. Even if he hasn't, just imagine your dh telling you that he has a female friend with whom he is "very close", and you haven't even met that woman....

And while is he away, our lives just have to carry on regardless. I deal with everything in the home, the kids, and I run my own business. Both our dc have been in hospital recently and both times he wasn't here. I feel used and a doormat. I explained this to him and he says he realizes he taking me for granted and that this will change. He has been lovely over the weekend, but there is just this niggle going on...... and I really just don't believe him.....Sad

You don't need to reply, I just need to get this off my chest. I have booked to go away next weekend all on my own and do what, I don't know, but I feel like dark clouds are surrounding me all the time here.

OP posts:
seagull70 · 21/07/2014 12:01

I'm sorry but I understand why you are upset - it doesn't look good OP.

What are you going to do? Hmm

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/07/2014 12:09

I will reply to you and hope you will get other responses as well.

I am very sorry to read this. From what you write it certainly sounds like he is having an emotional affair with this female work colleague of his. They've both crossed a line here and repeatedly; boundaries have become completely blurred due to close proximity.

I would also suggest you read "Not Just Friends" written by Shirley Glass.

How old are your children; teenagers or younger?.

Would you be prepared to ask him to leave the marital home and so give yourself further time to think?. I would also consider seeking legal advice now, not to necessarily pull the plug immediately, but to fully know where you stand legally in terms of finances etc. He has to be shown that there are consequences for the choices he has made.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 21/07/2014 12:28

I haven't read the book Attila refers to but it has often been recommended on these pages OP.

Your H is having his cake and eating it. Loving wife at home, bright eyed confidante at work.

A wife is often seen as part of the Family package, not a person in her own right. He can persuade himself this colleague is just a friend, one he sees 5 days out of 7 and is in daily contact with.

We can't always help feeling attracted to someone who is not our wife/partner. But he could choose to walk away from a 'friendship' that threatens your marriage. She might be a tad hurt but at present he is hurting you more. You have made it plain how you feel, what is he doing about that?

He could open up all his communications to you to let you monitor them. Work emails, trip schedules, any mentions of her.

He could email her with you beside him and say he doesn't want to hear from her out of work hours again.

When he has to travel for work he can call you regularly, check that you are all right and try remembering the DCs are also his responsibility.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 21/07/2014 12:34

Forgot to say, this isn't your fault. You can't police him. The lead up to what might become an affair is intoxicating, a full blown affair is addictive.

I know you are planning a weekend away, but can you also reach out to a good friend, time to shore up positive influences.

SaffyStraw · 21/07/2014 12:37

Dear montecarlo
My DH does not work away but much of what you have written here is what was happening eg. phone extension to his arm. I kept searching on his iphone and ipad ... please be careful because what you find may implode your world. My world imploded on 13 May when I found what I knew was there .. I have been up, down and occasionally somewhere in between.

It was a woman at work but it seems DH is having a mid-life crisis. I was rather fixated on this woman but he did tell me "any hole would do" - bizarrely that helped me, realised how cold he had become.
Anyway back to you, if you want to know - the information is out there. Try a spotlight search on any apple device - look up how to do it on google.
My DH and I are working it out, we have just had a lovely weekend away without the children. It is all about opportunity and the trouble with being the working mum is that your head is full of 'other stuff'. Make time ... since my discovery I can honestly say have never talked to my DH as much, never had so much fantastic sex (weird I know), never taken so much time over my appearance ... before others start shouting I had to keep my dignity and so DO YOU. Remember you have the morale high ground, don't loose it and keep calm when you need to, get angry when you need to and cry in the bath but not in front of the children.
I wish you well, think about what you want if he is having an affair and work toward that goal. The heat of the moment can send you off on a crazy path, that is why you need to know how you feel about him, can you cope without him, understand where you are going ... it is hard, a totally shit time but of course I am assuming he is having an affair but actually he may not be.
Can you not pay his hotel a visit one night without his knowledge?
You need to become Miss Marple (and no I am not taking this mickey or anything). Wishing you well.

MargotThreadbetter · 21/07/2014 12:52

Crikey Saffy 'any hole will do'? What a lovely guy your husband sounds. Try googling the Pick me Dance.

OP, sorry but this doesn't sound good. Emotional affair at the very least. What are you going to do?

AnyFucker · 21/07/2014 12:55

Alarm bells ringing all over the place here

Op, if this affair isn't physical yet, it soon will be. I am sorry.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 21/07/2014 12:55

I would be very distressed and angry. Thanks

I wouldn't be prepared to put up with it.

AnyFucker · 21/07/2014 12:56

Saffy, you are "working it out" with a man that said "any hole would do" ? Hmm

You are making an awful mistake.

AnyFucker · 21/07/2014 12:57

the humiliatign dance of pick me

Nothing in that kind of behaviour could be described as "keeping your dignity"

MargotThreadbetter · 21/07/2014 13:01

Thanks AF. Couldn't find the link!

AnyFucker · 21/07/2014 13:02

I have the link in my favourites. I did the dance once. Boy, do I regret doing that. It was the most dignity-robbing thing I could ever have done.

MargotThreadbetter · 21/07/2014 13:04

Me too. Never, ever again Grin

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 21/07/2014 15:28

One idea I've seen suggested before is to jot down your feelings and thoughts as they come. You should have the opportunity to voice them to him preferably when it's not at the end of a long day or the DCs are present.

PS You must have felt a million dollars after that remark 'any hole will do' Saffy but many people do go on after an affair and make it work so if you are working things through and he seems genuinely remorseful, sincere good wishes.

captainmummy · 21/07/2014 15:41

Saffy -not only the 'pick-me dance' but the 'hysterical bonding' sex. Google it. It's not 'weird', it's a real thing.

Sorry OP, it sounds like an emotional affair. I don't think I could suppress the need to go snooping, and his reaction ('not allowed to have a friend') is telling.

Jan45 · 21/07/2014 16:15

This is an emotional affair which will probably move onto a sexual one, all the signs are there. This is a woman he is in constant contact with, including the weekends, you have never met her yet he tells you they are very close - so in other words, shut the fuck up, he's going to carry on hoping it leads to more.

Wise up OP, kick him out and tell him not to come back unless he can treat you with respect as an equal partner.

MargotThreadbetter · 21/07/2014 16:28

OP, my ex did the same thing. Got all verbally aggressive when I asked about his 'friend' - told me I was being ridiculous, jealous etc. I asked to meet her and he said no...
She was also sharing all her marital woes with him Hmm

Anyway. That was over 2 years ago, they were shagging and they now live together. Lucky her Grin

olderguy · 21/07/2014 16:34

Google inappropriate friendship and explain to him where you think this will end. It starts all innocent........

hamptoncourt · 21/07/2014 16:54

The fact he deletes all his messages to her and from her as soon as they are sent/received tells you all you need to know.

So sorry you are going through this.

Saffy I second googling hysterical bonding and the pick me dance. Your post made me feel so uneasy. It sounds like have rewarded your partners infidelity with an overseas shagfest.

AnyFucker · 21/07/2014 17:39

Op, you need to read "Not Just friends" by Shirley Glass but even more importantly, so does your husband

Where have you gone, btw ?

ROUNDandROUNDINCIRCILESMORETHA · 21/07/2014 19:24

Sometimes there can be a male/female friendship and feel close but know and understand boundaries. This sounds as though its gone further and they are crossing the line esp texting and emailing
Outside office hours. I would suggest you
Ask what office policy is to stay in such close contact out of hours and ask if you are really that important to him to stop the out of hours contact.

Joysmum · 21/07/2014 19:33

I think there would be something very wrong if you weren't upset that he's investing far more emotion and time with her than your marriage.

Affair or not (and I'm inclined to think not, but then there's not a lot to go on), this indicates your marriage isn't getting the care and attention it needs from you both do you either do something about it or it'll die.

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