Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Is my marriage over? I don't know how to come back from this

93 replies

DoopDoopBiscuit · 19/06/2016 21:15

Yesterday afternoon I received a message from a man I didn't know saying my husband was having an affair with his wife and I needed to talk to my husband about it. I asked him who his wife was and does he have evidence. He told me her name and said he did have evidence, but that my husband owed it to me to tell me himself.

I confronted my husband and of course he denied it. I told him this man was about to send me proof so to own up now. He ended up admitting they'd been sending inappropriate/flirty messages to each other the night before, but said that he hadn't been having an affair it was "just" the messages (which of course have been deleted).

To cut a long story short, it turns out the ow husband doesn't have evidence of an affair after all. It seems he sent me a message stating it was an affair in the hope that I'd find out all the details as he wasn't sure if he could believe his wife that it was "only" the messages which he had found. I don't blame him at all and thanked him for telling me.

Years ago I found out DH was messaging this same woman when he acted suspiciously and I ended up looking in his messages. He'd deleted the messages but 1 or 2 "normal" messages remained and it was obvious messages had been deleted in between. For a few hours he swore blind that they must've deleted themselves Hmm and he had nothing to hide, until it became obvious I wasn't as thick as shit and he admitted it. But again, as the messages had been deleted I only had his version of what had been said. We had a huge falling out but patched things up.

There has also been one other occasion where he was messaging his ex girlfriend inappropriately when we were first together. I found out because he was showing me something on his computer and the message popped up at the bottom. I didn't even notice but he jumped a mile and acted very strangely so I knew something was going on. He admitted to also meeting with her but said nothing happened. I'm not sure I believe this.

However I am fairly certain he hasn't been having an affair with this latest woman. I don't know when he'd have the opportunity. I think it's purely inappropriate messages. But even if it is, what am I supposed to do now?! I have only ever known what he has chosen to tell me of these situations. I have no trust left. We have had huge arguments about the previous 2 situations and now I find myself here again. I feel like I'm being taken for a fool. I'm a strong person. I don't take any crap from people, and yet this is the third time this has happened. Is it worth ending my marriage over?

I hate what he has done. We have a small child who adores him. A mortgage. 2 sets of flights booked to visit family before this year is over. I'm a sahm. I feel trapped. I don't want to leave my home and uproot my DC. Why should I?! I like my life as it is and I don't want it to change. But how can I live with someone who I have no trust for? What a miserable existence.

I feel like DH has something wrong with him. He is a quiet and reserved man. Always wants to make everyone happy. (Except me I've pointed out). But he doesn't seem to fully understand other people's emotions. He can't seem to step outside of himself and out himself in someone else's shoes. Eg how would he feel if it were the other way around. I don't think he has any idea as he's incapable of feeling someone else's emotions. Does thus make sense?? Is there any disorder this may relate to?

Sorry this is so long. I don't really know what to do next. I don't want to talk to him but I guess I can't keep ignoring him. I've heard it all before and it just feels like he's reading from a script, not talking from his heart. It's as if he's always playing a character. Like he's too afraid to be real

OP posts:
DoopDoopBiscuit · 20/06/2016 20:47

Fidelia you're SO right. The lack of empathy is what's making it harder to deal with. He's not a cold person to live with I don't want it to come across that way. I feel like he tries to empathise but doesn't know how. I feel very frustrated by this.

You're also right that he'll want things to carry on as before. Be full of promises and how he knows he's messed up but he can make it up to me and never wants to hurt me like this ever again etc etc. Until the next time. He's always nice to me though not just for a bit. Obviously not "nice to me" by what he's doing, but never shouts at me or talks down to me. He's a pleasant person to be around. I can even recognise that all this aside, day to day I'm probably a much more difficult person to be with than he is.

I'm sorry for what you went through with your ExH. I'm glad you're so much happier now though. I don't know if parenting alone could ever be better than with him for me. I can't fault how he is with our DC and they have a wonderful relationship. DD absolutely adores him. That's what's making this hard. If it was just me and him to think of it'd be so easy. She can tell something's wrong and has been out of sorts.

OP posts:
MeIAm · 20/06/2016 21:00

doop I have nothing to add apart from I am currently going through a very similar thing right now. I understand when you say that you don't know what to do Flowers

DoopDoopBiscuit · 20/06/2016 21:03

I'm sorry you're going through something similar Mel. Feel free to talk about things if you feel you want to Flowers

OP posts:
MeIAm · 20/06/2016 21:10

Sorry, that post sounded like I was jumping in on your thread for my own moan Blush I just wanted to reassure you that you're not weak.

DoopDoopBiscuit · 20/06/2016 21:16

Please do jump in and moan all you want if you'd like to! Thank you for saying I'm not weak although I feel it. When I see him with DD I feel like there's no way I could split up our family - even though it's not me splitting it up its him and what he's done. I can suddenly understand why people stay together for the children. I'm not saying I would or that it makes sense. I can see how stupid that is. But it's also very tempting Sad

OP posts:
Nanny90 · 20/06/2016 21:20

I think so people need to put themselves in your shoes and then the might be more sympathetic with you situation. I'm sorry I don't have any advice for you really but I just wanted to let you know that not everyone Is thinking what some others said! Sounds to me like you love our husband and really want your marriage to work, and there's nothing wrong with that :) maybe go to counciling together and you could work through some issues you both might have and might find you can work it out or your better with his as a friend rather than a partner

DoopDoopBiscuit · 20/06/2016 21:34

Thank you Nanny that's such a lovely post. What he has done is horrible. It disgusts me and is so hurtful and disrespectful. But obviously that's not the full picture of who he is. Aside from this he's still the person I married who I felt was the perfect man for me. Maybe he still can be? I really don't know anymore. Day to day he's very nice to me and would do anything I asked of him. He's a good man in many ways.

OP posts:
Fidelia · 20/06/2016 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoopDoopBiscuit · 20/06/2016 21:55

Wow Fidelia it sounds like you really went through it with your ExH! The whole experience sounds so draining. The bread example sounds very odd. I wish I could work out the way these people think. Maybe that's what makes me so different from my husband... I want to understand people as much as possible and he isn't able to understand others for whatever reason.

I don't think my DH is passive aggressive as yours was. He's feeling sorry for himself now, but isn't the kind of person to act hurt and hard done by usually I don't think. I'm still toying with the idea of counselling. My head feels all over the place I really don't know what direction I want to go in next. I think I just need to take my time and not rush into anything either way.

OP posts:
Fidelia · 20/06/2016 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoopDoopBiscuit · 21/06/2016 07:18

Thanks for your advice. He's moved out and I told him it'll be for at least a week. I can't keep him from DD in this time though so I can't literally not set eyes on him unfortunately.

If we have any chance at all he needs to sort himself out. I'd hope he would do this anyway but I'll wait and see.

OP posts:
shiteattheseaside · 21/06/2016 07:23

Just leave him.

Fidelia · 21/06/2016 08:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fidelia · 21/06/2016 08:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scarlets · 21/06/2016 08:54

In your position I would see a solicitor just so that you know what your position would be in the event of divorce. Be "theoretically" ready, even though you're unready in terms of actually getting the ball rolling iyswim. You could also call the Tax Credits helpline for a hypothetical calculation. Council tax would reduce too I think - the single adult thing - check their website.

PurpleThursday · 21/06/2016 12:10

Flowers for you. Tough time.

PurpleThursday · 21/06/2016 16:03

Fiddly (sorry OP for jumping in here) I hear so many of your words and they heal my heart. I just wanted you to know that. I have finally got away from my H after about 3 years of begging him to leave my home. He always reused to go. He took the high ground always. Very passive aggressive. Always the victim. Always appeared wonderful to everyone else but sulky, manipulative, emotionally black mailing etc etc. Your words summed up a lot of how I felt. I am only part way down the road with divorce and child arrangements all a problem. He generally refuses to do something/goes silent/head in sand/manipulates his way out of it therefore forcing me to do it... Then uses that as the stick to beat me with telling all that I am controlling etc etc. I put my faith and love in this man so many times when he would sit on the floor crying, begging me to forgive him (mainly lies about finances/family etc) and telling me I couldn't couldn't manage without him and the children would suffer without him and he couldn't live without me etc etc. I was such a mug. Wasted 10 years of my life 'helping' him as he told me he was nothing without me. It's a long road out of emotional abuse, I'm finding it a really difficult mental process. But I Smile when I hear of happy endings and I will get one.

You too OP. Your life is actually very very important. Your children need you to be in a good place. You all deserve it.

PurpleThursday · 21/06/2016 16:11

OP I also wanted to ask you if it is worth having another conversation with the OW's husband? Did he know of their communication before? Does he have any other suspicions ? I just wondered if it may help to fill in some gaps. Flowerstoo. A difficult time for you. Hopefully some space will help.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page