My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Relationships

I have done something terrible.

140 replies

Zubrowka · 10/04/2017 15:45

Hi everyone, I think I might get flamed for this but my head is in such a bad space I really need to vent somewhere.

I have been with a wonderful man for just over nine years. We have been married for 3. From the beginning there have been sexual problems in our relationship – I have a much higher drive than he does, his is practically non existent, but I thought I could live with this because I love him so much. I was young, and idealistic. I was 19.

We have never argued about anything other than sex. Everything else is…a perfect match. Genuinely. The bad times have been very bad, I find it very hard to only have sex twice or three times a year, but I love him and wanted to be able to give up that part of me for him. After years of begging, arguing and cajoling he went to the doctors and had been on testosterone replacement. This hasn’t made any difference.

Over the years I have felt undesirable, unattractive and have missed being wanted. I have never, however, felt unloved. This is important.

Anyway, about 18 month ago a guy moved into my team at work. We immediately clicked. There has never been anything sexual between us until this weekend. We have just been the very best of friends. My husband had no problem with this.

So on Saturday, myself and my husband had, not argued exactly, but been a bit off with each other regarding the sex issue. I said I would go nip to my friend’s place to give us some space. (this is not unusual, we are youngish, childfree and me and this guy often have a drink/go out to eat/ spend an evening together.)

He lives in a shared house with a large bedroom that can fit in a sofa and a bed. We had a nice evening, couple of drinks, watched a bit of telly, then he went to bed, and I bedded down on the sofa in his room. I was so upset I could not stop crying. My friendship with this guy has always been tactile, it’s the sort of person I am with everyone. So in my infinite wisdom, I hopped onto the bed with him for a hug. We both lay there for a while, he was stroking my hair to comfort me, when…wow, attraction. I stopped the whole thing before we had full sex (we didn’t have a condom, but I’m 99% sure that I would have stopped things anyway). I did not stop things immediately. There was a fair amount of…groping etc etc. We then went to sleep in the same bed for the rest of the night. I came home yesterday and confessed everything.

My husband wants to forgive me, but I think he’s kidding himself things can be “fixed”. He would forgive me because he loves me so much. Sex has been withheld for so long, it was just incredible to be wanted. I am not justifying my actions, just trying to explain and make sense of them. There is no excuse for what I have done, none at all.
I don’t know what to do for the best. I know this is my own doing. And with the very worst person I could have done it with. I need some perspective. And if you've managed to read all this - thank you so much.

OP posts:
Report
TempusEedjit · 23/06/2017 14:39

Shock

At least you can force a house sale now and come off the mortgage. Get the ball rolling sooner rather than later in case she moves in with her kids - the courts wouldn't want the kids to lose "their" house if they've been living there a while.

Report
Lotsofponies · 23/06/2017 13:27

Bastard. Sneaky cowardly bastard. You need to get thee to a solicitor and get the ball rolling and the house on the market. You don't need to be grown up and respectful now you know your are dealing with a snivelling toad. Or suggest to him you move back in, after all its you house too (actualy no that would be awful for you). Why couldn't he be honest. I feel for you, having to completely reprocess what has happened. At least you can now move forward without any guilt or regret.

Report
P1nkP0ppy · 23/06/2017 13:18

What a completely fucking bastard he is op, a first class lying bastard.
As for your 'friend', she's a first class bitch, isn't she?
I'm so sorry, what a hideous shock.
Flowers and a big hug op x

Report
Zubrowka · 23/06/2017 12:51

Oh I love you guys. I may have lost my dignity slightly when I shouted at him that she told me she wanted great sex when she split from her husband and now my revenge is that as long as they are together she will never ever get it Grin

Of course in my head this isn't true - in my head he's never wanted me as he always wanted her and I was just someone who was convenient to have around for money/company whatever but man it felt good to drop my adult behaviour for a moment and let rip!

I can't stop crying. Last night I know it sounds dramatic but I genuinely think I was in shock. I couldn't stop shaking to the point I couldn't bloody stand up.

I suffer quite badly from depression and eating disorders. They are mostly under control but I had a wobble last night. A bad bad bad one. Somewhere underneath I do know I will be better off in the long run I just wish he hadn't felt the need to taint my happy memories I have of the last decade. I was head over heels for him despite our issues.

Also Grin at "sneaky wank man"

And over my actual decaying rotting dead body will her and her kids (who I love dearly in fairness - this is obviously not their fault and I will miss them hugely) be moving into my dream house with him.

OP posts:
Report
Itsseweasy · 23/06/2017 11:47

It's weird an earlier poster said she thought there might be more to it that comes out once you are separated! Boy was she right!
I'm so sorry OP, what an utter shit he is. Thank goodness you finished it sooner rather than later.
Wonder who his new lodger's going to be then Angry

Report
Brahms3rdracket · 23/06/2017 11:34

Well now she can be frustrated with sneaky wank man. You're well rid op, he's an arsehole Flowers

Report
Orlandointhewilderness · 23/06/2017 11:18

Oh God OP I am so, so sorry to read that. What a complete shit he is. At least you are in a better position- you have your whole life to find someone who will love you as you should be love and she has attached herself to a man who is a serious liar and cheat.

Report
Zubrowka · 23/06/2017 11:16

That post is a garbled mess. I hope it makes sense!

OP posts:
Report
Zubrowka · 23/06/2017 11:16

I spoke to her yes and she said she was putting herself first, but if Iw anted him back she wouldn't stop me. Howlittle self respect does she think I have?

I then asked her how she would feel if he husband told her he was leaving her for me and had loved her for years, including on her wedding day. That's when she blocked me. Truth hurts right?

OP posts:
Report
Zubrowka · 23/06/2017 11:15

I have no idea I have been blocked completely by the pair of them. He's sent messages saying I don't come anywhere close to her and that he's committed to her and her kids (HIS BEST FRIEND'S KIDS) and as I say, he wish he could go back 10 years and choose her.

No-one goes from breaking up with their wife to madly in love with someone in that short space of time so I'm going out on a limb and saying that it's been going on a while but I don't have any actual proof of that.

She let me be a friend to her, we went on a night out together the other week as I knew her and her husband were having problems. How can she have looked me in the eye and accepted my friendship and worry knowing days before she'd told my husband she was in love with him and always had been?

She was my fucking bridesmaid. The last 9 years of my life, my WHOLE TWENTIES has just been a complete and utter lie.

OP posts:
Report
Brahms3rdracket · 23/06/2017 11:12

I'm so sorry op, have you spoken to your 'friend' yet? Flowers

Report
EssieTregowan · 23/06/2017 11:07

Shock

Have they been having an affair all this time? Is that why he wouldn't sleep with you? Disgusting pair.

Report
Zubrowka · 23/06/2017 11:01

Ahahahahaha what a fool I am

No wonder he wanted an amicable split. He wanted me gone quickly and quietly. My best friend has just left her husband for mine. She says she's always loved him, and he says he wish he'd had the guts to tell her he loved her before he met me.

She was my bridesmaid. HE LET HER STAND THERE AS ONE OF ONLY TWO GUESTS AT OUR WEDDING.

I fucking hate the pair of them, they have broken me. How stupid stupid stupid can you get? I'm a fucking idiot. For 9.5 years I've basically been someone to share the bills with and cook tea.

I don't know how to get through this. My husband and my best friend.

OP posts:
Report
usersos · 13/06/2017 08:48

Hi op
I've just skim read your thread and just wanted to say good luck in your next chapter and how refreshing if is to hear/read that this is being handled in a non bitchy , dignified manner
It will feel hard to re train your brain in being without each other but over time it does get better.
I wish more couples who are now "just friends" would do the same as you guys have done and take that leap of faith!
Take care and enjoy doing some different things in your adventure as sadly life is too bloody short! X

Report
Zubrowka · 13/06/2017 08:23

HI everyone! Just thought I'd give you all an update. I move out this weekend into my own place!

We can't afford to sell the house so he's staying there and getting a lodger and I get to have a whole place to myself Smile It was my choice to move out, I'm a complete introvert and whoever stayed in the house needed to get a lodger as the mortgage is more than rent. I'm staying on the mortgage, and although things are super amicable at the moment, we are going to get it done properly just in case...I'm hoping we will be friends forever but y'know....

It's amazing. The change in us both is incredible. We have spent a lot of time together (obviously, we still live together) and we are like different people. We are getting on so well without any of the pressure we felt when we were together. I'm really enjoying his company as my friend, which is essentially what we've been for a long time!

Thanks for all the lovely words throughout this thread. I'm so glad we were brave enough to do this!

OP posts:
Report
Zubrowka · 27/04/2017 12:56

Thanks Nancy

I'm surprisingly ok actually. I'm waiting for the hysteria to hit!

Weirdly, we are talking better to each other this week than we have for years. Go figure!

Space is going to be difficult for a while as we own a house and neither of us can afford to move out, or keep the house on alone, but that will all come in time - as I say, it's civil and friendly, but sleeping in different rooms in the same house will probably get old fairly quickly. I'm sure it will all come together in the end, and for now at least, we are on the same side so hopefully it will be as smooth as these things can be!

OP posts:
Report
NancyCarolinesHeadtorch · 26/04/2017 23:35

Well done to both of you.

Perhaps one day you can be friends. I'd advise you give each other some space for a while though.

Hope You're as ok as you can be! Flowers

Report
Zubrowka · 26/04/2017 22:33

So it's pretty much official - we are separating.

It's all very friendly and I think we are both going to be ok when we come out the other side of this. I also genuinely, maybe naively, think we can, and will, remain friends. We've been living as best friends for a long time anyway, essentially.

Thanks very much to everyone for their kind and helpful words on this thread. I don't suppose you've seen the last of me. I will soon be needing all the advice I can get!!!

OP posts:
Report
Zubrowka · 21/04/2017 09:42

Bloody hell, one thing that never changes is my ability to use 400 words when 10 would've done the same job. Sorry Grin

OP posts:
Report
Zubrowka · 21/04/2017 09:41

Nancy the shower thing must really have hurt. I've cried myself to sleep so many times because of this - and even though, to my knowledge, it hasn't happened for a while, I just cannot forget! It's there all the time! (I'm not known for being especially rational in fairness...)

User I get what you're saying totally now. My problem lies with the fact that he won't admit anything - I've asked all the questions, it is me? asexual? gay? But I just get the same answer over and over that he just doesn't know how to change. Without some admission of what's wrong/what the problem is, I literally can not know how to deal with it.

I feel like I can't win - I give him space, I'm not being nice enough, I try it on, I'm putting pressure on etc etc.

Lucie - you're right. Something turns him on. I wish I knew what it was, I'm up for pretty much anything Grin Gotta laugh right? I hope I do find out the whole truth, and I hope we both go on to be content, whatever that means to the pair of us.

whats I don't think he does mind. not the sex bit anyway. He's been extraordinarily calm about the whole thing. I think the thing that bother him the most is that it was with someone I'm emotionally close to. Sex wise, I honestly, hand on heart think he doesn't really mind. I might be way off the mark!

Albadross - I don't think that is the case at all. I think if both parties are on board with no sex/whatever then anything goes, as long as you're both happy! If it was a physical thing where he was unable to have sex I would be able to cope, because I love him, and it's not the lack of sex that's the hurtful bit (although my GOD I'm like a dog on heat most of the time) but the choice to not try and make things better. Obviously if he was disable or anything like that he wouldn't have the option to make that choice, so it wouldn't be an issue in the same way. I think that makes sense. Possibly not.

To the people I haven't responded directly to as of yet - sorry, I'm in the office and just about to go into a meeting. Thanks, and I am reading and taking in every word.

Is it really foolish to think we can actually be friends after all this? We talked this morning after last night descended into an argument and we are both very very sad, but we think we know we have to split up. The practicalities are overwhelming me right now, we own my bloody dream house, we have two cats and two dogs to consider, and I'm just so tired I could sleep for a month. But...I'm ok.

OP posts:
Report
yetmorecrap · 20/04/2017 13:12

Whilst I do realise this is no laughing matter-- Im amazed at the number of women on here who have "none interested" husbands, Ive never ever found one. My 2 husbands and 1 live in partner always had way higher sex drives than I have. Ive got to be honest and say I really have not been that bothered on a regular basis (more than a couple of times a month) since early 40's and I honestly think I would be the same if I was with george Clooney.

Report
histinyhandsarefrozen · 20/04/2017 13:03

Why this sudden appearance of people encouraging a young woman to spend another 10 years in a sexless relationship?

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

aproblemsharedandallthat · 20/04/2017 13:00

Hi,

If your DH is who you want to be with and it is just the sex element that is having a negative effect on your life, then you both need to work at this. If he is able to forgive you for what has happened and you want to be with him then you can get through this. If sex is non-existent then focus on this and start from the beginning. Talking and experimenting can allow you to introduce different things (e.g toys) in to your relationship and allow him the opportunity to see things from a different perspective and it will allow you to still enjoy what it is that you like to do and even use this to stimulate him...just an idea.

If he isn't who you want to be with, for your sake and his, move on.

Good luck Smile x

Report
whatsthecomingoverthehill · 20/04/2017 12:45

OP, I wonder if he even minds if you have sex with someone else. Whilst that sort of arrangement can work for some people I think it's pretty rare.

I think there is perhaps a little bit of 'double standards' in that the normal response to infidelity from a man is that if you are unhappy in a relationship then you should either try and fix it or leave before becoming involved with someone else. But if there are different responses it's hardly to be unexpected - this is a site primarily for women, and on the relationships board especially there are going to be lots of people who have been cheated on which is bound to colour the response. It's also likely that different people are probably drawn to different threads, so individually there aren't double standards but collectively it can seem that way.

Report
LucieLucie · 20/04/2017 09:59

Op I think you have given this man far too much credit, I get the feeling you're going to find out the truth or at least some of it once you have separated and leading different lives.

The wanking in the bathroom and in the holiday cottage was very cruel given the circumstances. Something or someone else gives this man the horn, just not you.

I guess he's been free riding along as your house mate for financial security.

His internet history will be very revealing.

What you did with your work friend was natural given your age and circumstances and I think you should view it as a turning point rather than a negative.

Wine

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.