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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

I don't trust him online

84 replies

mexica · 22/07/2015 11:42

Been with dp for 5 years. We have a 1 year old together and I have 2 dc from previous marriage.

We've lived together for 3 years. But it took me a whole year to allow him to meet my children and another year of family dates, so he could build a relationship with them before I agreed we could all live together.
On the day we moved in together whilst setting up his Netflix account I discovered he had a fake Facebook profile (different name, pic etc) I asked him and he denied all knowledge. I trusted him completely and I tried to put it out of my mind but something didn't feel right. So I snoopedSad
I found hundreds of pictures from Facebook in his internet history. I didn't recognise most of them but there were a few I knew as my friends daughter (18) and a couple of my sons friends (17)

Mostly they were random girls from other areas all posing provocative and some beach and holiday pics.
Obviously I went mad and asked him. He said it was a habit he'd got in to when single and was basically using it as stimulation for private time urgh! He claimed it was just voyeurism no contact and there was nothing else to know.
I didn't believe him. So basically I jacked his emails. I found 5 fake Facebook profiles all used to friend request females and on one he'd requested his ex (a marries woman he'd been sleeping with, he'd claimed it was just sex, no feelings)

I threw him out and he was gone for a month. I spent that time getting myself together and enjoying life with my kids and friends. I realised I didn't need him and his issues in my life.
But! I took him back. We talked for weeks before I allowed him to come home. He explained he'd been selfish and hadn't considered my ffeelings. He said he'd realised that he had loved his ex and he'd gone through a phase of getting depressed and indulging thinking about her. He admitted he'd also been smoking weed with friends and he tgought this added to the depressive moods.
I asked for total honesty and got it. He told me he'd messaged hundreds of women telling them they were sexy but most hadn't replied and if any did reply he promptly blocked them. So strange!
He swore nothing like that would ever happen again. And I believed him.
Everything was good for a year. I worked hard to get my confidence back in response to seeing how hard he was working to rebuild trust.
When I found out we were expecting ds he was over the moon. I was terrified. My children were 17 and 11 and I hadn't planned anymore. Plus I was worried about him being ready to be a father.
We went ahead and I can honestly say he's been amazing. He was supportive all through the pregnancy birth and has been a brilliant father. He cooks cleans takes care of baby and plans stuff to so with my other children too. He'd stopped smoking and getting drunk. He'd really stepped up and I was feeling secure in my little family.

Until this last month. I knew something was off. Something didn't feel right. Sex had stopped being love making and was more disconnected. Like he wasn't really there in mind. There was no foreplay no soft touches, just flipping me over and pounding away. I spoke to him and explained how I felt and he apologised and said he'd make an effort. But no change. He stopped coming on family trips or trips out shopping or visiting friends and family. Saying he was tired or feeling unwell.
First chance I got I checked his phone.
He'd been searching for pics again. Mostly it was actresses or women off other tv shows like big brother or x factor. But there was another girl from Facebook. He'd checked her profile hundreds of times over the last 3 months. Sometimes he'd look at her pics 10+ Times a day. He admitted this was because she llooked a bit like his ex.

I don't know what to do. He's booked himself in to counselling and goes in 2 weeks. He claims he's sorry and wants to change. Claims he loves me and the boys and will do anything. He thinks he has an addiction and says he needs help.

I'm seeing a counsellor too. My confidence is at an all tine low, I've zero self esteem and I'm worried what all this has done to me mentally. I'm 35 but regularly get asked for proof when buying alcohol so I'm young looking. I'm in good shape and I often get complimented. But when I look in the mirror all I see is those pics and I compare myself and fall short. I see old, ugly, small boobs, wrong sized butt, wrong colour hair (I'm half Mexican so I'm pretty dark)
I can't walk down the street without feeling self conscious and I'm struggling to hold my head high. But I've done nothing wrong.
I'm sorry this was so long and probably poor grammar and spelling but my mind is all over the place

OP posts:
learntoloveagain · 22/07/2015 17:35

Fake facebook profiles to contact women? I feel really sorry for those women.

And storing pictures of teenage girls that are known to you and your family?

I could never share a home or bed with a man like that. I feel sick for you.

butterflygirl15 · 22/07/2015 17:37

in all fairness you don't know if all of the girls he was looking at are over 16. It is difficult to tell sometimes.

But that isn't the issue here is it?

mexica · 22/07/2015 17:38

No it isn't but I took offence to the suggestion my children may not be safe around him

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mexica · 22/07/2015 17:40

And yes I do know. I went through each profile. They listed work places or children. Something to show they were adults

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oabiti · 22/07/2015 17:40

Stop making excuses for him. I did this with my ex. Asking people advice and not liking the answers.

He is attracted to young women and has gone to extra-ordinary lengths to leave you in no doubt at all.

Your children will be fine without him. He will still say in their lives, won't he?

I don't mean to sound harsh, op. But I say it as someone who has been there, albeit diff circumstances, and it isn't easy or nice. But it needs to be dealt with. And what about your happiness?

mexica · 22/07/2015 17:42

He called the counselling service the same day I did. We were given the number by our gp. The nhs counselling in this area has a waiting list as long as your arm. This is a private and nhs subsidised service. Nhs pay half and you pay what's left.

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sebsmummy1 · 22/07/2015 17:43

mexica it's more the voyeuristic nature of his cheap thrills that I was thinking of. He is hiding behind fake profiles to 'friend' these young women with the sole intention of wanking over their photos. That's pervy! And yes in your positio. If your eldest boys were I fact girls I would be extremely concerned he might be trying to catch glimpses of them undressed or similar.

It is nowhere near the equivalent of porn as porn actresses are paid to have sex for other people's enjoyment. These are ordinary women who are not expecting their holiday snaps to be used as an online wank library.

butterflygirl15 · 22/07/2015 17:44

Huge shot in the dark here, but well they could have lied on their profiles - I mean he did! So that is another unsubstantiated argument. I agree, you are looking for excuses to stay with him instead of all the massive red flag glaringly obvious reasons to split.

And you never really know anyone, so you saying you are sure your children are safe, well you really don't know that either.

learntoloveagain · 22/07/2015 17:45

You say the girls you know are 17 and 18. What is his cut-off point?

mexica · 22/07/2015 17:49

I'm not making excuses I promise I'm not. I'm just saying it how it is. I honestly don't believe he has a preference to young women. The pictures were women of all ages. The only thing they had in common was posting Posey pictures in revealing clothing.
It's disgusting and disrespectful I agree. But I needed advice based on what he's done. Not assumptions that he could be a danger to underage girls.
I'm trying my best to keep it together for the kids sake but I'm fighting the urge fir an unhealthy meltdown. I've had some excellent advice so thankyou. I'll be speaking to him this evening and depending on how tgat goes I'll make my decision.
But it'll be based on his behaviour. Not on any unfounded assumptions that he's dangerous round children

OP posts:
Christinayanglah · 22/07/2015 17:50

He has a problem, a big problem, one that will escalate, as what he is doing now will fail to provide a high at one point

He needs to leave and be on his own to deal with his issues, he is a Jekyll and Hyde and you can't build your life based on this

butterflygirl15 · 22/07/2015 17:56

I am surprised you are considering staying with him tbh. He will do it again, but will learn to hide it better. And you will become paranoid, unattractive and undesired by him probably. This is a secret part of him that won't go away.

sebsmummy1 · 22/07/2015 17:59

mexica you have no idea of his preferences and neither do I. I am just telling you that in your position I would be extremely concerned about his behaviour outside of how disrespectful it is to you. Ignore the million red flags if you wish but don't be surprised if this escalates over time as that's what perversions and obsessions tend to do.

Christinayanglah · 22/07/2015 18:01

He has been and will continue to be unfaithfull

oabiti · 22/07/2015 18:08

You will not change him, and, neither will counselling. The counselling is designed to make you think he wants to change. He does not want to change, but if it means leaving you & his children, he is going to say anything, isn't he?

One day, he will do something so terrible & you will wish, then, that you had finished with him when he was scouting for girls. He may be the world's best father, but put that piece of info aside, for a minute, and what are you left with?

Like I said, op, I don't mean to sound snotty, but I have been there.

Flowers
oabiti · 22/07/2015 18:10

Think I was a bit 'comma' happy in my last message Hmm

cozietoesie · 22/07/2015 18:17

mexica

... I spoke to him and explained how I felt and he apologised and said he'd make an effort. But no change. He stopped coming on family trips or trips out shopping or visiting friends and family. Saying he was tired or feeling unwell...

He's not only been lying to you he's actually been disregarding family activities in favour - I would guess - of his other pursuits.

The reason I asked when he was doing all of this is that if he was doing some of it it in work time - and from the sound of it, he might well have been - then he could be in some difficulty if found out. I don't know, clearly, what service he works for but large organisations tend to take a fairly puritanical view of 'questionable' internet or phone use, of whatever description.

mexica · 22/07/2015 21:13

It was never in work. I looked at the history Times and dates etc. It was always at home when I was out.

And I can categorically say my children are safe.

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mexica · 22/07/2015 21:15

And you never really know anyone, so you saying you are sure your children are safe, well you really don't know that either.

Ridiculous comment tbh.

OP posts:
Doodlebug300 · 22/07/2015 21:18

I think he sounds horrible and you deserve way way better.

cozietoesie · 22/07/2015 21:52

You sounds as if you're at the ned of your tether. I can't blame you, either.

cozietoesie · 22/07/2015 21:52

*end

Enoughalreadyyou · 22/07/2015 23:33

TBH you are making excuses for him because the truth is too much to bear. The man has serious problems and can't think straight. Ask yourself why would anyone put up with this and that includes you.

Enoughalreadyyou · 22/07/2015 23:36

Whatever he does next is with you condoning it. You know. The ball is in your court . Man up. You . Get rid of the mentally deranged tosser.

mexica · 22/07/2015 23:51

I'm not making excuses for him. I know exactly how messed up this all is. And I know it's disrespectful believe me I'm feeling it every second of every day.
I posted the same op on a predominantly male forum which I am a member of. And nearly every single response (there was 6 pages) said "totally normal but a bit excessive" "wow if my partner/wife saw what I was looking at on Facebook/online she would throw a fit" and "all men look that's what Facebook is for, to see pics of millions of random women"

I give up. I questioned them asking if they thought their wives or gf's would be understanding or hurt and the general response was "she'd be mad but men are wired to look!"

So now I'm confused. Is every male nothing but a raging pervert behind closed doors? Every man who sseems a good husband and decent father? Is this what they're all llike?

One poster told me "good luck with finding a man who doesn't like to look at pics of scantily dressed women, it's everywhere and Facebook just makes it too easy"

Urgh I feel sick

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