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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

DH not having an affair - for now

117 replies

LaChatte · 06/07/2015 17:45

So as not to drip feed or leave vital info until the end:

DH and I have been together 11 years, married 7, 2DCs.
I cheated on him 2 years ago with a colleague, we kissed a few times, I realised how stupid I was being, and put an end to it. DH found out a couple of months later, we worked through it, I have barely spoken to collegue since (we teach the same classes so there has been some communication, but alway in public and restricted to purely professional topics), and have avoided him like the plague.
DH and I talk a lot, including sharing our fantasies with each other.

Here is the current predicament:

DH and I are both teachers in the same school. We get on really well together, he's my best friend as well as being my husband.

This year, he's been working on a project with another teacher, so they've been spending a fair amount of time together. Frequently texting and emailing each other as well as working together at school. I have tried not be jealous, but walking into the staff room to find them huddled together giggling has been difficult for me.

I've told him I don't really want him to develop their friendship but he has told me not to worry and that she's not into him at all as she's offered to babysit for us and often says to say hi to me.

I know he finds her physically very attractive, most men who've met her do, she is always quite provocative in her way of doing things - think stripper heels, side-boobs under dungarees etc. and she's always leaning over something with her back arched and bum out (other colleagues joke about it in the staff room).

Recently a couple of colleagues have lightheartedly made comments about how much time they spend together and how close they are. I told DH and said I really really don't want him to spend time alone with her or to persue the friendship.

On Thursday evening there was an end of year do at work, I was feeling pretty awful after a long day, so didn't feel like socialising, and I ended up hiding out inside while everyone else was outside eating and drinking. DH came to find me at one point to see what I was up to, he saw that I wasn't feeling well and said we should have brought two cars, and then returned to the party. I was pretty pissed off, and decided to walk home after leaving him a note. He got home at about 21h30 as 5yoDD (who was at the party) was tired. He said he would have liked to have stayed longer and that I should have said I was leaving so he could bring DD and me home then. I was still pissed off, and said he should go back to the party as I wasn't going to be great company, so he did. He crept in at 1am (school parties generally end at 22h30/23h.

The next morning I asked how come he came home so late, so he told me some colleagues went back to one of their's "for coffee" which ended up becoming coffee and lots of booze. DH had gone to the after party in someone else's car, so couldn't leave earlier than when that driver was ready. Fair enough. He didn't drink, but said that everyone else got pretty wasted (not the person driving him though).

I then asked who was at the after party, he reeled off a couple of names, and then of course I'm sure you've guessed it, the colleague. I was annoyed, as she was there, on her own, with him on his own. She has a reputation for being outrageously flirty when she's drunk, but DH said he had never noticed. Anyway, I tried to move on and be mature about it.

Later on that day, back in the staff room, she walks in, sees DH but not me, and says "so, you see. I talk too much, even at night don't I?" Flirty giggling followed by "I hope I didn't get you into too much trouble". DH replied very quietly "you did" while furiously making gestures for her to be quiet as I was just the other side of the cupboard.

He came over to me saying it wasn't what I thought it was, so I asked what was I supposed to think, he just said that she had car pooled with him and the colleague driving to the after party, and that when they got back to the school car park, the driver dropped them off and left. He said they stayed and chatted just the two of them for a while in a dark secluded car park (he was incapable of telling me for how long).

He swears nothing has or ever will happen. I have said he either cuts contact with her or ... He is now sad because he thinks she's really nice and just wants to make friends, but he admits that the only way she seems to know how to do that is by seducing people. He doesn't want to hurt her, and thinks she won't know why he won't be his usual self around her, which he feels bad about.

It's the summer holidays here now, so I don't have to worry much until September, I have asked him to tell me if she gets in touch with him, which he's agreed to, but he's suddenly got quite cagey with his mobile which is very unusual. I don't know what to do, maybe I'm totally overreacting, he thinks I am.

Part of me thinks it's karma, and I totally deserve it (well, I probably do), but I don't want DH to have an affair to balance things out! What really annoys me is that he gets on so well with her as well as wanting to fuck her.

I need to get a grip and move on don't I? I am bloody lucky he was willing to give our relationship a chance after I fucked up.

OP posts:
CitySnicker · 07/07/2015 18:26

Ideal....but hugely unrealistic.

BathtimeFunkster · 07/07/2015 18:38

Hugely unrealistic that adults could conduct themselves as such at work?

I guess you must also work in a French school.

AnyFucker · 07/07/2015 18:39

christina...I think if you look at my post again you will see it is ironic

CitySnicker · 07/07/2015 18:54

I agree they are acting immaturely and unprofessionally...what bothers me is when people say that because people work with their precious kids they have to be MORE mature or professional than any other profession. Do prospective parents have to undergo some sort of morality and maturity assessment too before firing out a small person? Parents are much more likely to have an impact on their child's life than any teacher. Morality and maturity is subjective....catholic priests?

TheDowagerCuntess · 07/07/2015 19:20

No,City - they don't need to be more professional and moral, they just need to be as professional.

This behaviour, and dress, wouldn't be tolerated in any regular workplace.

Nobody's demanding anything extra from teachers...

CitySnicker · 07/07/2015 19:32

Read back please. 'Teachers shouldn't behave like this at all.' If they both worked in accounts everyone would just be saying 'grow up' and 'sounds like far too much hassle.' From my experience in a previous profession this situation is nothing.....but nobody would care then because people think teachers live in boxes and their personal life should have absolutely no bearing in their work.

AnyFucker · 07/07/2015 19:56

people should behave better than this...not because they are teachers but because they are grown ups

Branleuse · 07/07/2015 20:17

you might not be as jealous in an open relationship if you had boundaries in place and it wasnt a threat to your primary relationship. Im serious, it looks like hes going to fuck SB given half a chance anyway, youve practically cheated, yet you still apparently love each other and value your relationship, but maybe neither of you are particularly suited to monogamy. Stop torturing yourselves

CitySnicker · 07/07/2015 20:18

True. Next time I see a thread like this about people working in an office I shall expect cries of 'fire the lot of them' too.

LaChatte · 07/07/2015 21:36

I wasn't going to mention about us working in a school but figured that the summer holidays were relevant (and my posting history shows I'm a teacher).

Really can't get my head round an open relationship (don't think DH would be up for it either, and he keeps insisting that she's not interested him in that way, despite what I and two other colleagues say. He's insistied that it's just a fantasy and that he wouldn't accept her advances if it did come to that.

OP posts:
JohnFarleysRuskin · 07/07/2015 21:40

I would find him insisting that she's not into him very hurtful.

It seems clear that he's saying he's into her, no?

LaChatte · 07/07/2015 21:45

He fantasises about her, he has told me this, has never hidden the fact. I just am not so sure the fantasy will remain a fantasy unless I put my foot down.

OP posts:
BathtimeFunkster · 07/07/2015 22:35

If he openly fantasises about her and is only refraining from shagging her because of her supposed lack of interest, then you are already in an open relationship.

I presume you have his approval to resume your own flirtation with a colleague?

winkywinkola · 07/07/2015 23:48

This is a horrible situation to be in.

This ow shouldn't even be being discussed in this way by you both.

You are married. Certain behaviours are therefore expected. I would feel anxious, upset and so edgy.

I would feel your h is just waiting for the ow to give him the nod.

DorisDazzler · 08/07/2015 01:53

I once read an article written by a relationship expert that claims the return rate for infidelity is 8/10. I obviously don't know if this is true , but I do know several people who have thoroughly enjoyed engaging in revenge affairs. The giveaway , from what I can tell , is that it's very similar to the spouses affair e.g. , both have an on line emotional affair ,both have a one night stand, both have a physical affair with a close friend. Or colleague.

It sounds like you didn't put appropriate boundrys in place after your own affair.

BoxOfKittens · 08/07/2015 02:59

Is it possible that he is saying half of this stuff (fantasising about her and being unsure whether he could resist any advances, etc) just to hurt you as 'revenge', rather than it being truthful?

I only ask because I don't know anyone in a monogamous relationship who would dare say such things about another person, regardless of circumstances. Or is it just that he feels entitled to openly do so, whether it's all talk or something has physically happened, to get even\make himself feel better?

Whatever the case, it sounds like he has unresolved feelings about your infidelity which he is trying to pacify by acting out in this way, rather than talk it through with you. Right under you nose, in the same circumstances as you and your male colleague.

OR could he have done this before and its not anything to do with your infidelity, rather he just sees no reason to conceal such behaviour since learning of your indiscretion.

It does sound messy and punishing you with a taste of your own medicine is not going to help anything. Its unfair, if he didn't feel able to see past it then he should have said so.

Hopefully you can have some honest conversations over the holidays to find out exactly what is going on and why.

Thymeout · 08/07/2015 08:48

I don't agree with pps who think the flirty teacher is blameless in this. I don't think she should be saying things like hoping she didn't get him into trouble. 'Oops, naughty me!' I can just imagine the expression on her face that went with it. Is there some way of warning her off.

winkywinkola · 08/07/2015 08:54

No way is she blameless. She sounds like a real silly moo.

But the op's h is encouraging her every step of the way. He sounds like a wanker.

Buster08 · 08/07/2015 09:12

You have both had inappropriate contact with colleagues right in front of each other and subsequently neither of you trust each other. This is a very unhealthy marriage and you need to sit down and discuss what you both want from your own relationship.

You dh is undoubtably still affected by your own affair and is probably very bitter. He definitely thinks that he's 'owed' this because you've done it yourself and you boys 'worked through it' ie. he agreed to forgive you therefore you should do the same.

If he's going to have an affair no amount of checking up on him and arguments will make any difference. He works closely with this woman and that's not going to change. Only he can make the decision to have/not have an affair.

I think your marriage is on shaky grounds and unless you both agree to be 100% committed to each other from now on, it's likely that you will end up hating each other. Marriage counselling would probably help but ultimately you both need to decide what you really want.

WaltJunior · 08/07/2015 09:19

She has her side boobs out at school? Blimey.. Just walk up to her & whisper 'stay the fuck away from my husband'

LaChatte · 08/07/2015 09:43

I do really want to say something to her, but DH thinks that a) I'll be making a fool out of myself, b) she doesn't deserve it and c) than she'll know that he likes her.

I'm going round in bloody circles in my head.

OP posts:
derxa · 08/07/2015 09:44

She has her side boobs out at school? Blimey.. Just walk up to her & whisper 'stay the fuck away from my husband'
Job done.

LaChatte · 08/07/2015 09:51

Knowing her, if I did that, she'd make a scene and want to know what the hell I was going on about.

*then, not than.

OP posts:
BathtimeFunkster · 08/07/2015 09:55

Your husband really us a proper git, isn't he?

"She'll know that he likes her"?!

He's a fucking married man talking about someone you both work with.

There is no need for either of you to be saying anything to her.

He just needs to treat her as you treat OM.

Presumably he has no objections to this?

Is he planning to stop rubbing your face in his affair any time soon?

Buster08 · 08/07/2015 09:56

Saying anything to her wont make any difference, she'll just deny any wrong doing and enjoy watching the growing troubles between you and your h. Only he and you can sort this. She's focusing her flirtations on him but it could just as easily be someone else's husband. She doesn't actually want to be with him, she just likes the attention.