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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

Help - hubby cheating. Quick advice needed

163 replies

Improperlyhappy · 16/05/2016 15:36

Crikey, my hands are shaking typing this. Can't quite believe it, but I've just seen dirty texts from hubby to a random woman where they're planning to meet up for sex this weekend (while he is away with pals on golf weekend...) - she has even sent underwear pics. It's quite graphic, and I'm just gobsmacked.

We have DS7 and DS4 and sex life been erratic, then non existent for about 9-10 months. And he's been working out at gym & buying new clothes recently. I can't believe I haven't seen it coming tbh.

My question is - what do I do? Do I confront him when he gets home? Do I see if he actually goes through with it, check messages later? Or something else? I feel sick, I can't think straight, I want to cry.

PS I wasn't snooping his messages, he had iPad charging in kitchen next to kettle, and when I moved it to make coffee I saw the last dirty message on the locked screen. He's obviously sending them from his phone but maybe not realising that duplicates are appearing on iPad at home Shock Confused Angry Sad

OP posts:
Purplemonkeydishwasherpimp · 17/05/2016 00:00

How the fuck have you managed to keep quiet about this and not confront him?

janaus · 17/05/2016 00:04

I hope it works out ok for you. I suggest counselling to work through it together. He is going to get the shock of his life. These men must think we are stupid. So glad you found out early on. Be strong

pearlylum · 17/05/2016 06:42

Nothing may have happened with this particular women yet, but I guarantee it has happened with others.
He just had the bad luck to be rumbled this time.

cheekyfunkymonkey · 17/05/2016 07:01

Have you confronted him yet OP?

shoeaddict83 · 17/05/2016 07:30

cheeky read the thread!! She clearly said she hadn't yet and won't until later as she had big day at work today she doesn't need to be distracted from.

op you're so strong, I'm so hot headed I'd have been in there all guns blazing the minute he came through the door and probably made the situation worse. I hope you can get through today and are able to tell him tonight what you know Flowers

YoureSoSlyButSoAmI · 17/05/2016 07:41

Ugh. How sordid.

Pack for him and when he mentions how heavy his suitcase is, casually say "Yes well it would be. I don't want you having to make any more trips back for the rest of your stuff. Enjoy the prostitute. Bye".

Littleballerina · 17/05/2016 08:04

Thinking of you op.

Daisychain5 · 17/05/2016 08:23

Haven't read the whole thread, but just be aware that if you screenshot, he may see the photos in his photo album, presuming your Apple IDs are connected, as would appear to be the case.

mrschatty · 17/05/2016 08:52

shoe I'm like you...
Even if I really wanted to I couldn't sit on this information!!
All the best op

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/05/2016 08:59

Nothing may have happened with this particular women yet, but I guarantee it has happened with others. He just had the bad luck to be rumbled this time

I'm afraid I have to agree Sad

TheHobbitMum · 17/05/2016 09:34

Good luck OP, I would think he's on Tinder or another hook up website /app. I wouldn't think it was the first time :( I sincerely hope I am wrong though x

offside · 17/05/2016 09:58

I'm so sorry OP. You definitely need to broach the subject before he goes, as you've already decided.

I'm sorry if this has already been said, not read every pp. Are you even sure he's going on a golf holiday? This whole weekend might be about a dirty weekend away with some other woman. Just a thought.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 17/05/2016 10:55

I agree with others- kick him out for a while so you have space to breathe and think. Flowers

shoeaddict83 · 17/05/2016 21:20

Thinking of you today op Flowers

Improperlyhappy · 18/05/2016 00:17

I'm so grateful for everyone's support & advice. I won't continue to bore everyone on this but I know a few of you have asked how it went. So I got home from work at 11pm (working on huge project) and just asked him, didn't tell him what I knew. He said he hasn't done anything yet, but he has let some message board 'chat' get out of hand. It didn't take long for him to admit how far this has gone. Although he denies having actually done anything physical with anyone yet, he has said he's been finding gratification from websites and such, in the complete absence of our sex life. He admitted that he was talking to a woman about meeting up and admits it went way too far. I don't know what to think so I've booted him out until I can figure out whether I want to save this marriage. My boys are very young, and I never imagined them living a 'divorced' life. I'm so so sad for them :'(
His weekend was a genuine golf weekend because my girlfriends' partners are also going and my best friend actually got them the hotel deal! But now he's making arrangements to get a stand-in for his place....I don't know how to make the agonising decision to stay & work on it. Or let it go. I think now we've spoken, I'm more hurt about the prospect that he could well be emotionally moving away, more than the idea he might sleep with someone. But I truly do appreciate the kind and helpful messages, and advice about sources of support going forward xxxxx

OP posts:
MusicIsMedicine · 18/05/2016 01:50

You are not boring anyone.

How are you feeling now you've confronted him?Flowers

MagicMoonstone · 18/05/2016 06:54

How awful for you Sad

shoeaddict83 · 18/05/2016 07:18

I'm glad you confronted him, at least he didn't deny it and has cancelled this weekend trip.
Of course it will take time but only you know I you can - and want - to work through this. People have come through worse but everyone is different.
Trust will take a long long time to rebuild and there are obviously issues you both need to address together, whatever u decide I wish you the best. I've been there and it's an horrendous thing to discover you partner cheating, or about to, I hope you can have some RL support through this too Op

SandyY2K · 18/05/2016 07:42

You're not boring anyone and people are keen to support you.. so please do keep posting.

I'm so sorry about that. Was he apologetic? Will he still meet up with her?

By getting a stand in ... does that mean he won't go away for the weekend or that he was getting a stand in so he can spend the weekend with this woman?

LucyLocketLostHerPocket · 18/05/2016 07:53

Why has your sex life been non existent for 9-10 months though OP? Are there medical issues or is it more relationship based?

hellsbellsmelons · 18/05/2016 09:11

You've confronted him and you've given yourself some space.
You do NOT have to make any decisions about anything just yet.
Take your time.
No-one should be expecting an outcome on something as massive as this any time soon.

He did admit it which is a good thing.
Serial cheaters will deny, then minimise and lie lie lie.
He hasn't, so that's a good sign.

Give yourself a few days to decide next steps.
Maybe some counselling for you and for him separately.
And then when you have tackled some of your own problems you can come together for joint counselling.
Mediation is another options to talk through what is going on in your marriage. Why it's happening etc...
This could be a deal breaker for you and you might not want to try.

Just don't rush anything. Let him stew in own juices for a little while and then take it from there.

VioletSunshine · 18/05/2016 09:14

Well done on confronting him OP! Now definitely take your time to process all this and work out what you want to do next. Don't let him dictate any time scales or pressure you in to sticking with him. And don't delete the evidence, especially if he makes it a condition on working things out.

If he's been working out and improving his appearance etc. that could have started out innocently, as a constructive way for him to handle the decline in your sex life. That is, when one partner still desires sex with the other, but the other partner's desire has waned for whatever reason, it's only natural that they feel the issue is with them no longer being sexually attractive to the other person. Even if there are a whole host of other legit reasons!

However, him working on his own fitness and appearance could have also involved you. If he wanted to change his look up a bit, he could have at least asked your opinion on what you thought looked good on him (ultimately, the clothes would be his choice though). He didn't need to invite you to the gym with him, but he could have suggested there be something active that you do take part in together (like a yoga class or something).

In fact, working on things like that together should definitely be something he should have suggested if you also didn't feel that great about yourself and that's having some part to play in whether you're up for sex or not. I'm speculating a bit now, and please do not take this as me suggesting that you are partly blame for your P's shitty behaviour - his actions are his own fault only. You have done nothing wrong! - just sometimes people can go through a phase of not feeling attractive or desirable, even if it's blatantly not true from our partner's perspective. And no amount of "but darling, you are still the most beautiful/handsome person on this planet and beyond" can help with that sometimes. Idk if that is the case currently for you, since it sounds like it's more that life in general is giving you a kicking atm, but I've definitely been there before, and know of others too so it's not an uncommon thing...

But when one partner is feeling like that, or even both, it is not right for the other to go seeking validation and gratification elsewhere before working on those issues together. If one partner is feeling down on themselves and not feeling at their best any more, both can work on building them back up and regaining self-confidence together.

Long story short: your partner decided to feel better about himself and chose to work on his fitness and image (fair enough). But instead of talking to you properly about how he felt, or including you in the whole self-improvement kick he was on, he kept it to himself and gave other women (emotionally or physically) the benefit of his newly regained self-confidence.

He's been an arse.

Take a break from him while you work out what to do, treat yourself and your DC, pamper yourself, do whatever you want or need to in order to genuinely feel good about yourself. Good luck OP!

DartmoorDoughnut · 18/05/2016 09:17

Glad your meeting went ok, you're being awesomely strong Flowers

Greta28 · 18/05/2016 10:35

You seem really level headed OP.

Did he sound remorseful? Horrified? Drained? Is he desperate to fix this?

Do you feel better now it's in the open? Or has it not given you any answers....?

Is the girl a prositute? Because I can't imagine a woman organise a first date and discuss the sex

Greta28 · 18/05/2016 10:37

I mean I can't imagine a woman commuting to sex before she even met a man.

Us women know we might not like him. It's best to see how things go first, not commit to sex before the meeting ... Doesn't add up. I'm sorry but I think she's an escort