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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

Another cheating arsehole..........except this one is my dad :(

56 replies

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:02

I have suspected that his friendship with a particular woman was more than just chatting about their shared disability (she has had it for life, his came on in the last 10 years, they met at the clinic they both attend and mum knew they were in touch). She lives a good distance away, he doesnt drive and cant use public transport alone so I am sure there has been no physical contact that mum doesnt know about, but this is definitely an emotional affair.

The landline was always engaged when I rang if mum wasnt there and he would say "oh I must have not put the receiver back properly" every single time. Once or twice ok, but every time? I would pop round and if mum wasnt there he would practically throw me out and again, the landline would be engaged. I know it doesnt sound like much but my dad never uses the phone to chat to anyone, he is the cliche of a man on the phone in that he just uses it for the bare minimum and thats it, hour long calls are not his thing.

A few weeks back he had a real rant at me about mum, stuff that yes is true but the way he was saying it ..... its hard to describe....at the time I thought it was odd but he does get down sometimes and she can be naggy about certain things to do with his health. Sometimes he needs nagging, sometimes she does go on, but he was ranting like she was some complete harridan on his back every second of the day, which simply isnt true. I am there a lot and I know that she isnt like that. Looking back I think this was part of the self justification "Its ok because my wife is a cow who is always nagging me".

Anyway skip to this morning and I get a text message that was clearly meant for the OW. It couldnt have been for mum because a) she was with him as they are on holiday and b) it said (amongst other things) that he missed her. As I say, he is with mum so he wouldnt be saying that, and there is no way it was meant for me as that was not the kind of text you send a daughter. It was explicit or anything, thank god. I was sitting there in shock as it confirmed what I suspected and more, it said that he loved her. :(

Then my phone rings and its him all bright and breezy and asking did I just text him (all confused) and said No, but the message you just sent clearly wasnt for me. Again all confused oh I dont know what that was and I got angry and said "Dont bullshit me, I know whats going on, we will talk when you get back" (later today) and he got serious and said ok and asked me to delete the message. I have screenshot it, saved in 4 places and then deleted the message so mum or my kids dont see it.

I am going to fucking KILL HIM!!!! The bastard.

This would destroy mum, it really would. My sister would go fucking bananas and if my mum found out that I knew she would never trust me again. She was abusive when we were kids, she had severe hormonal problems 3 weeks out of 4 (untreated, the doctors were not sympathetic) and its only really been in the last 7 or 8 years that we have formed any kind of relationship. For the first time I can say that I love her and she loves me, we spend time together and have fun. That will all end if this comes out and she knows I knew. How fucking dare he?! I wont let, I just wont.

I am not going to tell her, I cant tell her, but thats for her sake (and mine) not his. I am going to tell him that I have saved the message, that he ends it with OW and that I am only covering for him ONCE, and thats it. If he doesnt end it or if he starts it up again then I will tell her and I will not be held responsible for the absolute shit storm that will be unleashed.

I am so angry, I am shaking. Have been in tears twice already.

How could he do this?! She is there for him every single day, takes him to all his appointments, drives across the country to get him the best care, advocated for him with the consultant was being a twat, helps him with his meds, got him counselling when he needed it to deal with his disability and actually ENCOURAGED him in his friendship with OW!!! Yes she is a bit of a nag, but sometimes he does need a kick up the arse, his health would be a lot worse if it wasnt for her and he has acknowledged that. He knows he is his own worst enemy, he was diagnosed with COPD and she was really patient about him (finally) giving up smoking even though frankly he was a complete bastard at the time, a fact he does NOT acknowledge.

I cant tell her can I? I dont know what to do, I have to be all bright and breezy when they get back when inside I want to rip his fucking head off and shit down his neck.

Oh and he said on the phone, quite emphatically, that nothing was going on so presumably he is using the defence of "its not cheating, we have never had sex". Wanker probably literally, yuck If its not cheating then a) why do I need to delete the text? b) why did he send it when mum wasnt there (he told me she was coming back when I was on the phone which is when I hung up) c) why is he telling another woman he loves her in a way that is not matey or familial? d) why is he fucking panicking about having sent it to me?

The mans a fucking maggot.

Havent proofread, I need to rant so sorry for typos etc

OP posts:
JontyDoggle37 · 22/04/2015 12:07

Really sorry to hear this. It sounds like you have a good plan in terms of speaking to your dad, and having the messages saved. I would make it clear it isn't just the phone message, but the sum total of all his other actions (phone being off hook, his attitude towards your mum) that all adds up to a serious deal. Try to stay as calm as you can (I know that's difficukt) but it will help with putting your point across and making an impact on him. And if he denies anything is going on, ask your dad if he's happy for you to share the text message with your mum then? Because I better the answer is 'no way', which proves its a real issue....

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:10

Also, he had an emotional affair that almost became physical except mum found out, back when I was a kid. It was hell on earth, they almost divorced but stayed together, something my sister and I have long thought was a mistake. We suffered for years for that.

About ten years ago I suspected something was going on, he was at work then and travelling a lot. I over heard a conversation when I was there one day, I was outside and about to knock, he was in the kitchen with the window open. I asked him about it but he was adamant it was just a work call, you dont talk to a colleague the way he was talking unless you are more than just colleagues. I decided to let it go as I couldnt prove anything.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:11

Exactly. The whole thing about mum not seeing the message is the crux of it for me.

If nothing is going on then he wont mind her seeing it will he? Except that he doesnt want her to see him telling another woman he loves her which means that yes, it is cheating. You dont have to fuck someone to be cheating.

OP posts:
runningoutofpatience · 22/04/2015 12:11

I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. Not only does it put you in an awkward position, but it also destroys the image that you have of your father. All that stuff you read about how the only man a girl can trust is her daddy...... yeah, that isn't going to fly any more.

My dad has been unfaithful many times to my mum and she has caught him out and they have worked through it, even though if he had done to me what he has done to her I would have divorced him years ago. It is hard to have the same respect for them and my siblings and I have suffered through some gnarly family trauma.

I hope that your dad will listen to you and nip this in the bud. He is indeed a maggot, and you have to love with that knowledge now. It isn't fair on you or your mother.

BathtimeFunkster · 22/04/2015 12:17

What would your mother's life be like if she wasn't having to spend so much of it caring for a man who doesn't love her and is on his 3rd affair that you know about?

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:18

It isnt fair, and thats what is so upsetting. He has put me in a impossible situation, I shouldnt be having to deal with this shit.

The bastard has been really sympathetic when my mum has been tying herself in knots about my aunt. She is married to a cheating lying maggot too and he was slagging my uncle off for what he has done to my aunt over the years and all the while cheating on my mum!

He made a joke not long ago saying my life was like a soap opera, something had happened that was yet another fucking disaster in a long line over the last couple of years. Well he is right, it IS like a soap opera! Now I can add cheating father to the list. Honestly I feel like I am living in Albert Square. All I need is for a long lost brother to turn up (wouldnt fucking surprise me now) and I will have the full set.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:21

Bathtime

she wouldnt leave, I know she wouldnt. She didnt want to leave when she found out about his first one, looking back I think she alternated between "pick me" and punishing him.

She would stay but would be desperately unhappy. Her retirement, which she was long looking forward to, would be ruined but she would stay with him.

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worldgonecrazy · 22/04/2015 12:25

There may be another slant to this. How can you be sure that your mum doesn't know and, for whatever reason, has turned a blind eye to your dad's philandering? It's not unheard of for couples to choose to stay together and either work through these things, or turn a blind eye, and also have an unwritten pact not to discuss it outside of their relationship?

Either way, this is a terrible burden on you. Even if this one is nipped in the bud by you speaking to your dad, there will always be other women around. I don't think your dad is the type to stay faithful, regardless of who he is married to. Not an easy thing to deal with. Sorry.

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:30

I am almost certain she doesnt know. I know her and if she knew then she would go fucking potty.

No, I really dont think she knows. She is not a "blind eye" person, trust me!

OP posts:
passthewineplz · 22/04/2015 12:43

I think you need to tell your mum, about the text message - then she can make her own decision whether she stays with him. She might actually have a better retirement if she leaves him!

Also like you say, if she did find out you knew it will also affect your relationship with your mum.

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:48

She wont leave him.

Partly because she wont want to but mainly I think because his health is so bad and she would feel guilty and stay to look after him.

If I thought that she would leave then I would tell her the second she was home, believe me. But she wont so I cant see it would serve any purpose telling her, it would make her so unhappy but it wouldnt change anything in practical terms, it would be hurting her for nothing.

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FelicityGubbins · 22/04/2015 12:48

Well you know what, I'm a hot head and can be bull in a China shop but I would actually phone the OW and give her hell down the phone, and let her know exactly what type of fire she is playing with, and fuck whether he likes it or not or if it embarrasses him....

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:48

And if she did find out about it then I would deny all knowledge, I know thats wrong but I would. I would cheerfully throw him to the wolves to save my relationship with her.

Whether she would believe me or not is another matter.....

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:49

felicity

Dont encourage me! I have been fighting the urge to do that all morning!

OP posts:
FelicityGubbins · 22/04/2015 12:52

Do it, I honestly would!

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 12:55

I darent! The last time I contacted an OW (thank you "Darling" husband) I ended up getting a "quiet word" from the police Blush

Long story short, I have posted this before, but I put her phone number and the tit pic she sent to H on a no strings website. I have a tendency to get carried away :o

OP posts:
passthewineplz · 22/04/2015 12:56

You're only assuming what you think she will do.

I still think you should tell her, it might be the final straw for her. Even if she doesn't leave him, I think she will appreciate that you've been honest with her. It's her desion at the end of the day...

Re your dad - cant see it being a fun situation for him and the ow if they did get together and both have disabilities and care issues. They've prob made a bond as they have a similar health condition, but possible if they did get serious it would put a great strain on their relationship.

NameChange30 · 22/04/2015 12:57

Sorry to hear about this, what a difficult situation you're in. You might feel differently but if it was me, there is NO WAY I would cover for him and keep it secret. I would give him an ultimatum and a deadline: tell Mum yourself, or I'll tell her. I would hope that he tells her - it's his confession to make - but if he doesn't why should he be able to get away with it? Your Mum will be devastated by the news but even more devastated if she finds out later and realises you knew but didn't tell her. It could ruin the relationship.

passthewineplz · 22/04/2015 12:59

My ex has been cheating on his GF with me.... I did a similar thing and sent a photo of his dick to his GF! Silly cow is still with him though!

(Yup I know I was stupid to even go there again with him). But if I was being cheated on, I'd want to know so I can make my own decisions what to do with the info.

FelicityGubbins · 22/04/2015 13:03

Fair enough, good on you for the tit pic Grin

tribpot · 22/04/2015 13:03

So actually although you say you will cover for him this once, you have covered for him before (after the overheard phone call)? Beyond that, this is at minimum the third emotional affair that he's had. Nothing will be different when this - inevitably - happens again. All the reasons you have for not telling your mum will still be true. And if you do decide that time to push the nuclear button, there's every chance he will tell her you knew about EA number 3 (and suspected EA number 2) and didn't tell her.

Forget him entirely and consider your recently-mended relationship with your mum. That will be destroyed forever if she finds out you knew and didn't tell her.

Whether she decides to stay with him because of his ill-health is not your choice to make. By not telling her you are preventing her from having the full set of choices.

He has made you a party to this deception. The only way out of it is the truth. Better to tell your mum now, at the start of her retirement when she has the health and energy to make some real changes to her life if she wants to, then in 5 years or 10 when it happens again, and she may not be as able to get away if she chooses.

Pasithea · 22/04/2015 13:06

Not excusing your dad but when one partner has a severe illness or disability. Sometimes the couple caring love part disappears. Over time they become more of a carer than a partner and the love , romance bit disappears. It is nobody's fault it just happens. Maybe your dad is missing that part of his relationship and therefore has found it somewhere else.

Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 13:10

The thing is, I suspect she would minimise it on the basis that they never got physical, stay with him and hate me for creating a situation that she doesnt want to deal with. She loathes cheats, she has no time at all for the husband of a friend of hers who has tom catted around for years, yet has no issue with the friend staying with him. I asked once why her friend didnt leave and she seemed shocked at the suggestion that the friend may leave over it.

She wouldnt leave.

I do think I would get shot as the messenger and that dad wouldnt tell her himself no matter what I threatened him with.

He doesnt have care issues as such, more that his disabilities mean that he cant be very independent in terms of getting out and about etc. I am trying to think of a way of describing it without outing..... its a combination of 2 issues that singly wouldnt be a problem but together make it difficult for him to be in crowds, use public transport etc, but otherwise he is physically fine, as is OW as she has just one of the two issues.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 22/04/2015 13:12

I didnt cover for him, I didnt know anything.

All I had was one overheard conversation and a hunch, that wouldnt fly with mum, it would just be seen as me shit stirring.

She wont leave! Believe me, she wont.

OP posts:
passthewineplz · 22/04/2015 13:16

You are making a lot of excuses for not telling your mum.

Just hope later down the line she doesn't find out, that you knew....