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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

not another one - jst found out dh having affair

424 replies

ernest · 10/03/2007 21:55

That's it really. Am stunned. Feel like total mug. Had suspicions while back, asked him, he denied it, convincingly.

Shagging some woman at work since September. No condoms. Nice.

Saw am e-mail from her signed 'I LOVE YOU'.

He admitted straight away. Can't answer the Q. what happens now, you stop seeing her

I'm in Switzerland, no real friends, bloody hell, just posting a week or 2 ago about him looking for job in London and maybe us having to leave here.

My head just feels hot and pounding. I feel sick, and trapped and all alone and totally stupid. really fucking stupid. OMG, I've even been packing his case and taking him to airports to go off with his slaggy tarty bitch.

I'd love to phone her dh. He doesn't know. I don't know his number & can't find it.

I am so stupid and alone.

Up till then I'd had a really brilliant day too.

OP posts:
mylittlestar · 12/03/2007 12:57

great idea re cashback

still unsure about telling her husband though, the posts by beetroot/meowmix/wannaBe are good and I think waiting to see what she does next, whether she tells her dh etc - may be a bit of an eye opener to ernest's h when he sees that she probably won't leave her kids, or her husband, for him.

all the while ernest will have risen above the two of them and their pathetic affair and focussed on what really matters, her and her children.

doesn't mean she can't confront this woman or tell her dh at a later date though....
(when the time is right)

hunkerkerplunker · 12/03/2007 12:59

Oh, Ernest

You and the boys come first, whatever you decide.

FWIW, I would tell her DH too.

mateychops · 12/03/2007 13:12

I wouldn't tell her husband until you've got your position very strong, then go in

bluejelly · 12/03/2007 13:20

I am truly shocked by his attitude, sounds like he is feeling guilty but still trying to absolve responsibility by blaming everyone but himself.

Outrageous! He should be eating humble pie BIG TIME.

So sorry you are going through this. It's gonna be a rollercoaster ride, but you will emerge stronger at the end of it, I'm sure. It's a bloody hard lesson to learn but all the adversity I have faced in my life ( which includes philandering partners) has given me an enormous insight into human nature, and allowed me to grow as a person. Small consolation maybe but I promise you in 5 years time you will look back at this and feel proud of the way you handled all this.

Good luck

GRUMPYGIRL · 12/03/2007 13:20

Hi Ernest I have been following this over the weekend but am completed about his declaration that he only slept with her because he had deep feelings for her. I have to say that surely after 20 years with you he should have had deep enough feelings for YOU (and your children) to NOT sleep with her.

I dont know if you have said how old your children are but I must say the ONLY reason for you to stay together is because you love EACH OTHER - whatever happens he will always be their father. If you stay together for the children you will eventually grow to resent each other and, no matter how well you think you keep it from them, the children will know.

If he cannot love you and be faithful to you then, however painful it may be, you deserve to be free to find someone who will.

I would want to tell her husband but I think you need to think long and hard before you do that, he may chuck her out and free her up to persue your husband full time. I wonder how deep her "love" will be though if it came to separating her children from THEIR father.

GRUMPYGIRL · 12/03/2007 13:24

I think the cashback idea is great too - if you do it in dribs and drabs (and maybe cut back on your spending too) you should be able to build up a reasonable nest egg.

School trips, uniform, shoes you could mount up a reasonable amount of money if you fabricate a few of these!

berolina · 12/03/2007 13:25

Have been reading this open-mouthed. ernest, I'm so sorry you're having this horrible experience, your h is really behaving like a prize sh*t.
There is so much excellent advice on here I can't really add to it, but I agree with those who say don't tell her h - focus on yourself and your children.
Which part of Switzerland are you in? If it's the German-speaking one and you struggle with language, I can help you interpret any documents etc. Can you CAT? If you can't, I have a very identifying email address, but if you'd like any help post on here and I'll set another up so you can contact me.

Issymum · 12/03/2007 14:05

Ernest, I'm so sorry to hear about this. My father had an affair and eventually left my mother when we were in our late teens/early twenties and it was soooo painful for her and for us. Frankly I'm not sure that ultimately it was that great for him either!

I don't think that you should do anything precipitous but one thing you should do now is work out, based on your circumstances whether, if it came to a divorce, you would be better off under the English or the Swiss judicial system - it could make a big difference to the eventual outcome. Whoever files for divorce first may effectively be able to choose the jurisdiction and although that jurisdictional choice can be challenged by the other party, the first filer defintitely has the upper hand. A lot of law firms give you the first consultation for free and a Swiss/UK based law firm would probably be able to advise you very easily on which jurisdiction would be better for you.

And don't for one moment kid yourself that DH (well H actually) is not going to think to do the same thing.

Bon Courage

Issymum

PS Gulp, my DH has never organised to take me out anywhere either in the ....25 years we've been together!

morningpaper · 12/03/2007 14:15

Poor ernest, your husband is bonkers

When is he going to get time to have a fabulous new life shagging his fabulous lover if he moves in with her AND HER CHILDREN ????

I'm so sorry for you

NotanOtter · 12/03/2007 14:22

Ernest i think you should sit back and THINK
I am not sure he sounds like Mr Dreamy...not sure he is that fab that he is worth fighting for...

Soapbox · 12/03/2007 14:26

Ernest - I've followed this thread over the weekend with increasing concern over the awful way in which you are being treated by your H.

I was divorced from a cheating exh many years ago, but reading your raw reactions has brought many of the memories of that time flooding back, and they are still uncomfortable memories.

I suppose what I would say is not to expect how you feel today to reflect on how you will feel in 6 months time. There is a whole rollercoaster of emotions to ride out over the coming days, weeks and months. This will involve some terribly painful times, whatever you finally decide to do, but if you use the experience well then there is a voyage of self-discovery to be had, to reconnect with the person you once were and the person you wish to be going forward with your life.

For now then, just go with the flow, let each flood of emotions have their turn in the lime light, focus on one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. The point where decisions need to be made about the longer term can wait for now

I found that over the first few months the decision as to whether to continue with my marriage swung like a pendulum, over time though the swings settled down and were more consistently moving only in one direction.

I can only tell you why I made the decision not to continue with my marriage, for you the factors and choices may well be different and you may choose a different path as a result.

So for me the determining factor for ending the relationship permanently was that I just could never see a point in the future where I could forgive everything that had happened. I couldn't see how trust could be rebuilt and if I couldn;t even envisage that what was the point of going on with the relationship. I preferred to see myself in a new relationship which wasn't tarnished not just by the affair itself, but all the mudslinging and careless words exchanged in the aftermath.

The defining moment came in a conversation with exh, when he said mournfully, 'I never meant to hurt you!' and I responded by saying 'No, but you didn't care enough to intend that you didn;t hurt me!' It wasn;t good enough to have been hurt by accident, I wanted someone who purposefully and consciously was not going to hurt me. The proactive nurturing of a relationship, rather than the reactive and passive deterioration of it.

As for whether you should tell the other woman's husband. Well, I think your in a pretty bleak place right now and I think you should do whatever you think will make you feel better, no matter how long that feeling lasts. Be guided by yourself. Your needs were little considered in all of this, so if it gives you a little bit of control back for now, just make it your little decision to be going on with.

I did some terrible things in the immediate aftermath, and nothing gives me greater pleasure now and again from reliving all of them and collapsing in a fit of laughter at how fantastic some of them were

I feel so wretched for you Ernest - in common with those on this thread who have also been through this - I know just what a wall of pain you have to go through and I wouldn;t wish that experience on my worst enemy quite frankly!

Keep talking here though - it is a good outlet and there are a lot of very sensible people around who will perhaps temper some of your most outlandish plans for revenge, as well as providing a shoulder for when things just get too much

Enid · 12/03/2007 14:27

Cuold you manage without him?

I think I would leave him if I were you although I completely undesrtand I am not in your shoes. I am stunned at the horrible way he is trying to get you to absolve him.

jenwa · 12/03/2007 14:45

God, how awful for you. He is totally selfish. He goes off and falls in love with another woman and wants to stay with you and see his children but wants to also be with her! Best of both worlds dont you think. For him but not for you. He cant make you choose so quickly and then devide if you dont want him that he will go to her. What about her husband? Will she leave him if your husband goes to her?? You can bet she wont want him if he is single and needing someone and a place!
Have you found out where they live? Can you look it up online? (through BT equvilant?)
I would make a phone call, but thats me and would be because I would be hurt and she has made you feel like that (and your DH).
I would not stay together for the sake of the children as you will not be happy and will liveto regret it. He will prob continue seeing her and jst come back to you in the eve for dinner etc. It is not at all fair on you and he is being a complete bastard and you deserve so much better. You need time out and ignore his calls this week whilst away and spend quality time with your children. At the end of the day their will be someone better for you who will look after you rather than you staying with your husband until your children grow up and leave home and you being unhappy for all that time.
I hope things work out and he sees sense and maybe comes along to an appointment and sees what an arse he has been or you realise that you dont deserve him and move on.
Thinking of you and will keep looking at your posts.
Maybe a phonecall to her husband may help!!!!

meowmix · 12/03/2007 14:52

I wouldn't worry about you looking out for you and your children's financial status causing rows. He didn't worry about that when he was with his "ladylove".

its always tempting to keep the peace but there are some battles worth fighting. iMO you need to pick the ones that will make a longterm difference in a good way (financial, control) rather than the ones that will generate more hassle (telling her dh/causing her pain/cutting the crotch out of all his trousers (c'mon you can't tell me you didn't think about it...))

keeplaughing · 12/03/2007 15:15

Really feel for you ernest, my DH hasn'd had an affair but has told me he doesn't want to have sex with me (9 months now)but can't / wont make a decision about what to do. I completely agree with what someone else said re he's trying to make you make the decision for him - don't give him the satisfaction - he wants to walk away from this without looking as if he's the bad guy so he can think and say that you kicked him out Bcks to that. My DH said (in relate session) that if counselling didn't resolve our issues, that the only other logical conclusion would be for us to split up. i said I would do whatever it took to get our mariage back on track but that if he decided to leave that would be his decision, not mine. he went mad at the thought that he might have to decide this himself -and that I wasn't going to just agree to it in a 'nice' way to make him feel ok. Again bcks to that. i agree he should be doing everything he can think of to keep you. Definitely give yourself as much space as poss, tell him you need time to think - you will be so hurt and rightly angry you might lose it with him if he's around. Tell him you don't want that in front of the kids. if he's any sort of a decent person / father he will concede this is right. Only deal with him on your terms (ie when you are calm and can retain your dignity when speaking to him. Hard to do but better for you. Can you borrow some money from someone in your family to get away with the kids. get some distance from him and let him stew without you all there, and give yourselfd some more thinking time. And remember he is in the wrong not you, you have a right to be monumentally angry

Tortington · 12/03/2007 15:36

ernest, you need to sort out money.

you are totally dependant on him, you need to redress this balance. believe me when i say that when he realises you have the resources to not be there his view will change. at the moment like it or not your stuck, trapped. you dont know..too many things. you need to get the facts behind you before you make any decision.

you do not have to steal money from him. you can make it the first step in many by asking him to help you open a bank account and transfer ( a regular sum) into your account every month. also you want your own computer.

meanwhile you need to get advice as to what benefits ou are likley to be entitled to, what financial obligations your dh has to you.

play along for a bit if thats what it takes. but for god sake woman get a bank account and get some money.

i think language is very important and you said - should i stop him from going to london?

i would have said to him " dowhatever you feel is best. the choice is yours to make not mine - you made your bed you sort it out"

mateychops · 12/03/2007 15:40

Oh, keeplaughing, what a tough time you are having of it too. Dear God, if you can live up to your name, you're a strong woman.

mylittlestar · 12/03/2007 15:42

Ernest - just a thought after custy's post - if you use the same computer you may wish to delete the internet history after each time you use it, just so your dh cannot check out the sites/threads you've been looking at or find your new e-mail address etc??

Very easy. When you've got the internet window open, just go to the top of the page, click 'tools' 'internet options' and then there are 3 buttons which are relavant - 'delete cookies' 'delete files' and 'clear history'.

Click on them all in turn.

Just means he cannot check up on what you've been looking at.

Feel free to ignore this post if it doesn't matter to you though.

Beetrootccio · 12/03/2007 15:45

there are ways and means of squirreling away money.

extra 50 quid on shopping, babysitters, new coat for kids - that sort of thing - take it slowly so he does not notice.

GRUMPYGIRL · 12/03/2007 16:14

Is the money in a joint account or just his name, apart from anything else you should always have joint access to the account - if this is not the case I would suggest he sets this up.

I know what you are saying Custy Ernest shouldnt HAVE to squirrel away money but I think some men use the fact that their wives dont have "their own" money as a way of controlling them. As a last resort if he will not give access to some money then squirrel!

I dont think if he is serious about saving the marriage he should be shooting off to London with her - if he is any kind of man he should come to THAT decision without you having to FORBID him.

Tortington · 12/03/2007 16:27

do both - squirrel and ask up front. i think in this situation it could be a condition of trying to carry on - that you have acess to your own money.

money you earn BTW - so dont think you dont

it matters not how you do it - as long as you do IMO

Beetrootccio · 12/03/2007 16:43

yes agree custy

keeplaughing · 12/03/2007 16:45

thanks for vote of confidence mateychops, am trying in the face of usual male idiocy. god, why ARE they all such tits (current favourite swear word). Ernest you will get through this and we will all help you..

keeplaughing · 12/03/2007 16:49

In fact Ernest why don't you tell him you need money to go away with kids for a few days? he can hardly say no under the circumstances can he. Ask him for the same amount of money that he's obviously spent on her in one way or another...Getting angry with him on your behalf

ernest · 12/03/2007 18:27

Wow, can't believe how many replies. Thanks so much. He phoned earlier to say goodnight to the boys. I didn't speak. It's quite normal for him not to be home at this time on a 'normal' day, so why do I feel so unbelievably lonely. I feel like I'll never have another adult to talk to, that I'll never feel safe in anyone's arms ever agin. I feel like my life is over.

Bloody hell, listen to me, sorry

re the money, I'll try tomorrow to open an account, but as for squirreling money away, I just can't see how I can do it. There is no cash back system here, the only way to get money is out of a cash point and he'll notice. Any ideas?

soapbox, can I ask, if it took you months to decide if you wanted to stick at it or end it, what was going on in htese months? Were you living together? could you maybe elaborate?

I am really erring towards divorce. Like I said, if it wasn't for the boys I'd drop him without a second thought. he's just done too much. It was the saying he onls shagged her because he loved her + if I say, he'll stay, otherwise he'll go. Juat too much. But so scared

OP posts: