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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

That book Not Just Friends

117 replies

winkywinkola · 12/01/2015 13:21

I've read about it on here. I've just ordered it.

I'm almost dreading it arriving.

How does it help people?

OP posts:
Shedwood · 16/01/2015 13:47

Your H was definitely in the wrong by seeking emotional/physical support in another woman, but it does seem like your marriage had some serious issues which would need working on regardless of whether he did or didn't.

You point out that you had 4DC because you wanted them, even though your H didn't. And presumably the extra mouth(s) to feed mean that he feels committed to his long commute and job when perhaps he would have preferred to not be the main breadwinner and not have more DC so you could work as well and share that burden.

You were unhappy about the home "drudgery" but perhaps your H felt that was what you wanted as you were so determined to have 4DC. Presumably after no. 3 you weren't saying "I hate being at home, I'm knackered all the time, I'm bored of no adult company and I want to be working rather than a SAHM"?

You also say that you rejected his cuddles and sexual advances, which is fair enough as no one should have intimacy they don't want.

However, I think if a female OP had said "I feel trapped in my job, my H wanted 4DC when I really didn't and now he's at home with them everyday and I'm tied to a 3Hr commute and a job I don't like, then when I get home he won't even cuddle me, I'm so unhappy and I tried to speak to my H about it but he doesn't listen, just says how tired and fed up he is, when this is what he wanted..." there would have been a lot of sympathy for that woman.

As I said at the start the EA/affair was definitely wrong and inexcusable, but I think your whole relationship has some grass root problems that need to be resolved.

winkywinkola · 16/01/2015 14:31

Shedwood, you are absolutely right. Apart from the fact that dh really likes his job. The commute is not good at all.

OP posts:
holdyourown · 16/01/2015 18:35

Not saying your dh isn't telling the truth OP but I've yet to hear of a MM that says they chased after OW in the first instance, and yet I've been approached by a number of MM over the years.. funny that Hmm

holdyourown · 16/01/2015 18:49

Also winky get the woman's name, then you can just check out his story ie that she works at a firm who was at the networking thing or whatever, rather than it being a work colleague (hopefully he's already told you the name now anyway.)

badbaldingballerina123 · 16/01/2015 19:45

I would be incredibly surprised if this is the full story. Nearly all cheaters do what's called trickle truth , a bit more of the truth comes out at various stages or when questioned.

Has your husband generally got poor boundaries ? I'm struggling a bit with the idea of someone spilling their guts about marriage problems at a professional event. To a stranger. How inappropriate , and how inappropriate for him to have listened to this rubbish. His rescuing tendency needs to be looked at.

Also there seems to be an awful lot of focus on how unhappy he was. This does not justify or excuse his affair. People in happy marriages also have affairs.

winkywinkola · 20/01/2015 18:56

Well I am really struggling with having no peace of mind. I think perhaps I should cut my losses now. Big decisions but I want to know where he is all the time but my pride and dignity are screaming at me.

He's started CBT for his stress and coping with the family pressure.

I've a feeling he's going to come out of this all sorted whilst I will be a jabbering wreck.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 20/01/2015 19:07

it could certainly go that way if he is the one that gets all the help, support and concessions

gildedcage · 20/01/2015 20:58

If you feel that you are struggling then there can be help for you. Have you spoken to anyone in RL about what's happened.

You may need a bit of space to think. Personally once I got to the point of crying in secret and not being able to concentrate on a newspaper let alone my work, I knew I needed some help.

I told my GP who was fabulous. I wasn't given AD but I did get counselling and CBT for me. Ultimately you have four dc and sometimes its hard to get space to think, having someone to be entirely open with can help focus your thoughts.

winkywinkola · 20/01/2015 22:32

Yes. I'm struggling to focus on work too. I will call my GP.

OP posts:
NeitherHereOrThere · 21/01/2015 09:45

Please seek RL help for yourself - have you told a friend or family member?

Ask for space and time away from him to process your thoughts - even if its just for a couple of weeks, it will make a huge difference.

gildedcage · 24/01/2015 09:56

Hi Winki saw you on another thread and wondered how you were getting on x

babbityann · 24/01/2015 10:33

Hi Winki, sorry you are going through this. You will get a lot of good advice on this thread. I was not a big fan of WWIFN as she was inclined to be very dictatorial and at times insensitive but did take the time to write very long posts that helped some posters. However, she overaly recommended that one book (Shirley Glass) when there are many on the market that are more modern and thus helpful. Read as much as you can on the issues marriages face.
I found Andrew Marshall's (9 Steps to Marriage recovery ,something like that) to be the most helpful for my situation.
Good look. Keep well.

babbityann · 24/01/2015 10:37

Luck not look.

winkywinkola · 27/01/2015 09:33

I am just so angry with him. However unhappy he was, he was falling for some bint who was claiming to be helping him feel better and cope with his marriage.

And she was very angry that it had to end because they "weren't doing anything wrong."

When does the anger go?

I just want to throttle him. He's had real pieces of my mind. He's contrite and humble and all that but I still want to hurt him like he's hurt me.

And her. I want to tell her husband and put a bomb in her world.

OP posts:
winkywinkola · 27/01/2015 09:33

I don't know how to start feeling better. It's been five weeks now

OP posts:
gildedcage · 28/01/2015 09:26

I don't think that there is a time scale for these things. In a way its a bit like grief, even if you decide to go forward with him the dynamic between you and your relationship has changed, your old reality has gone and something new will take its place.

A different set of circumstances for me but my dh became someone I didn't know...how could the person I thought he was have acted the way he had. The total loss of respect that I had for him.

I'm glad that you are angry and showing it, I was massively repressed and it took me a while before I lost my temper.

I had terrible anxiety, was crying in secret...the works. I had a fantastic counsellor who was arranged by my dr. It took about 12 weeks but she made a massive difference to me because I could really talk about how I felt instead of my usual people pleasing. I don't have any anxiety now, and franky I feel amazing it made me stronger in myself. Its not for everyone but it helped me. My dh are still together but our relationship is different, he certainly doesn't take me for granted anymore, he had a wake up call.

Also I told our families and spoke with my friends. Its not your dirty little secret, I bet he doesn't want anyone to know, but he should own his actions. It also means that you may be able to get some help with the children etc it you need a bit of space for you.

gildedcage · 28/01/2015 09:32

As for telling her dh. I don't know, I can understand why you would want to but also at the same time it seems like a waste of your energy.

My only advice...not advice but suggestion...is to stop thinking about what he thinks or feels, what she and he said etc, but focus on you. He doesn't want to go back to being unhappy, only he can change that, it isn't in your control. Focus on you if you can.

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