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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

He had an affair...breaking out the Ben & Jerry's (2)

907 replies

Syc4moreTrees · 24/05/2017 11:05

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/thirty_days_only/2914533-If-hes-having-an-affair?

Not sure if I've managed to create a link to the old thread...someone more tech savvy can maybe help me out a little bit if not?

The old thread closed before i could thank you all again for all the collective wisdom, it's been a very surreal month to say the least, but it's been crazy how much support you can get from a bunch of lovely strangers.

So thanks!! You're all awesome!

OP posts:
Bonez · 06/06/2017 16:08

The cheek of the witch emailing you like that!

whatawhoohaaa · 06/06/2017 16:23

It's your house, in your name so there is no 'we' about it!

His pain meds must be making him confused!

P1nkP0ppy · 06/06/2017 16:29

He needs a good slap and be told to grow up and accept total responsibility for the whole situation, not be worming and wheedling his way back into the family.
It seems he thinks that so long he says the right things then nothing's changed.

Syc4moreTrees · 06/06/2017 16:37

House is in my sole name, and i have had him sign an agreement which surrenders any interest he might have or acquire (he's been lawyer-ed). He finds that all a bit rude and unnecessary but it was hard not to slip into crisis mode initially and take steps to protect mine and the kids future whether he is a part of that or not.

In practical matters i'm not too bad, its when i see him and want to burst into tears that I have the main problem.

I really don't know how i feel about any of it, and it seems like there are so many time pressures now. Baby, house move, his work situation...it's a lot.

It's not that I don't believe we could work through it, its just that i don't know. I'm struggling with him having carried on these conversations behind my back, and i'm really struggling with the fact they had sex. If he knew he was going down the wrong path with her, or if he wasn't happy why not just speak to me. If he needed something I would have given him it, willingly, because my happiness is tied to his isn't it.

OP posts:
thethoughtfox · 06/06/2017 16:43

Did he tell you as soon as she contacted him recently or did he not tell you and just admit it when you told him she had contacted you?

Dannygirl · 06/06/2017 16:50

Syc4moreTrees I have been following your threads and am so sorry for what you're going through at such an incredibly busy time with a new baby, house move and work. I am in awe of how you are handling everything. You have had amazing advice on here but I just wanted to share something with you. I found out 18 months ago that my husband had an affair. I want/hope we can work it out and we had couples counselling and tried to move on. But the fact is I am still angry and haven't processed or accepted it yet. I have been holding things together for the kids and trying to just keep going and it's not really helped! So I have been emailing with a counsellor I might try and see on my own and I thought she gave me some good advice which I hope helps you a bit too. She said -

Betrayal is a nasty shock...making us question everything we once thought safe. The betrayal you experienced was not a long time ago. In fact, your feeling of loss (and it IS a bereavement of sorts) is still quite new... you can not hurry natural process. It takes years to fully recover from this. Counselling may help you express what you really feel in a safe place and help speed up the healing...but realistically, not too much. Anger like this can be close to rage and feels like it will destroy everything, if it is expressed. It's driven by such deep hurt, you see... and sometimes a type of shame about being betrayed gets in there...so watch out for that. This is not about you being "a good girl" or an "understanding wife" or a "strong woman moving on" it is more likely about being a pathetic, weeping, screaming banshee...and finding out its normal to feel such deep distress for a very long time. Only with loving self care and attention, will you heal. Then (and only then) can you truly decide if you still want your partner...as your choice...not because you THINK you OUGHT. Far too often partners run into moving on too fast because they want to "put it all behind them"... unfortunately it doesn't really work like that. Don't be afraid to give it the time it needs. Give yourself the time you need. The strength of your relationship needs to stand the time taken.

For me this advice has given me permission to explore how I really feel without trying to just move on quickly and get things back to normal. I hope it helps a bit. Sending hugs your way x

rizlett · 06/06/2017 16:55

For today and maybe tomorrow and maybe till after your beautiful baby comes you just don't know whether you could work through it or not.

It's hard not knowing but really what do we ever 'know'?

Make your peace with not knowing, with not deciding. With waiting.
It will all become clear. You H needs to accept that one day you will know - you don't yet know when - but you will.

At some point you will know exactly what is right for you. You don't need to worry about this. If you really love you then give yourself the time needed until you do know whether it will work for you or not and if he really loves you he will freely give you the time you need too.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 06/06/2017 17:02

too much togetherness lead him to the affair .....he has signed his own death warrant there, HOIST BY HIS OWN PETARD!

I am so angry on your behalf, how dare he come at you with such shite, but expect to shimmy himself back into YOUR home under the guise of being helpful

no no no....he can go back to his parents and rent an office space, see how much togetherness he gets there.

ComedyofTerrors · 06/06/2017 17:29

I really think that you need to give yourself space and time before you even try to make a decision. You have so much going on.

Could you tell him that you want to hear no more about it until a decent time after you have moved and had the baby and that until then he does not move anything into your house including himself.

I'm sorry, I don't believe that a reputable Counsellor would have said anything like what he has reported. It seems he is all about himself at the moment, making sure he has a way back in and being around you so much that you just won't have the time to make a proper decision. He is also giving himself permission to do just about anything he might want in the future under the guise of not "spending too much time together".

Please take the time and the space you need to make a clear decision, without him trying to bulldoze himself back in with what seems to be very little consideration to how you're thinking and feeling.

If he really wants to save the marriage, he should give you the time and space that you need without constantly pushing to move his stuff and himself back in and have things go on as they were before - quite simply they are not.

Reow · 06/06/2017 17:39

Sorry OP, I think he's being a cheeky cheeky fucker.

He should absolutely rent elsewhere for at least 6 months.

Reow · 06/06/2017 17:45

It sounds to be like he needs reminding that you would be fully justified to never speak to him again, and start divorce proceedings on the spot in view of his actions.

RidingRossPoldark · 06/06/2017 18:12

Sycamore, I'm full of admiration for you having read your threads recently inc. the first one from last year. Like others, I'm raging on your behalf. You say that it was just 'the grass is greener' but is this really any better than him wanting to be young again? We all meet attractive folks and miss a carefree youth but if I were on an 8 hour train journey to cheat on someone i love, I'd have plenty of time to think about what I was about to wreck-i just couldn't go through with it. Yet, he went along with it. He put you, pregnant with his child, in a situation where you had to read an email about him having monkey sex. Now, when you're feeling vulnerable, on the verge of popping a baby out and the house move etc, he wants to stay with you to help. Don't know him, don't know his intentions but to me it feels unfair on you, an injustice that he could so easily worm his way back in because you're at a difficult stage in your life. Please, please don't be pressurised into doing anything that you don't want.

Really hope you work through to find what is best for you. You've been with this guy since you were both young. It will be a terrifying thought not having him in your life, really tempting to go back to status quo. But there is whole wide world out there-you don't need him to be happy. He can be as involved as you like with the kids but think of your own happiness-don't limit yourself to a life with a guy who betrayed you
💐

InigoTaran · 06/06/2017 19:21

Appalling woman to email you and give details about what they got up together...

BirdBandit · 06/06/2017 19:36

I still can't get over that he hasn't given up his online game, he is still chatting to them on WhatsApp?!? He doesn't even want to give up that to show willingness to fix this.

How does he think this is going to work? That he shags a girl he met online gaming, (cringe at that) gets caught, doesn't really change any of his behaviours, but because you are nice, and he is entitled, he gets to come home and play families?

Please OP, don't let him mug you.

BirdBandit · 06/06/2017 19:41

And this crew he chats online with WTF? Where is their gauge for acceptable behaviour. How come he gets to stay, but OW is voted out (is it because of her predatory fanny, DH blameless?) Why is HE still allowed to play?

Is this the attraction for him, that they react to him as a top dog?

Syc4moreTrees · 06/06/2017 22:45

We've had a long talk, thank you so much to those who said I needed to take time and stop trying to fix things or decide what's happening immediately. I know it's obvious, I'm just not thinking straight!

We talked and cried and hugged and have decided he is going to look for a flat or a room near the new house. We'll take it day by day when the baby comes for a while and he can see the kids like usual.

He spent the day cooking and has filled the freezer with dinners for me and the boys. He would like to come for dinner some evenings, but it's all up for negotiation.

I feel much calmer, and I hope he just follows through with all the plans. I think it was productive.

OP posts:
MyOtherProfile · 06/06/2017 22:48

Well done trees. That sounds sensible.

ohfourfoxache · 06/06/2017 22:55

Oh Trees well done. You should be bloody proud of yourself (I know I'm just an internet stranger but I'm bloody proud of you) Thanks

Mustang27 · 06/06/2017 22:57

I think from all your posts there is no doubt you both love each other dearly, Hubby has just lost sight of that somewhere along the way. I'm hoping he realises that you need space and sees it through. He really doesn't sound like a horrible human just a very foolish one, which makes it all the more hard for you to stick to your guns. I'm hoping it all works out for u Syc as you totally deserve it. You are a bloody trooper Flowers

FlippinNorah · 06/06/2017 22:58

That sounds like a sensible way forward. Well done. However things turn out between you in future, I'm sure you'll be able to look back and see that this was a good decision.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 06/06/2017 23:02

I'm glad you've come to a resolution for the moment. FlowersFlowers

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 06/06/2017 23:09

Also I meant to say earlier: if he's pushing you to move on/get over it, remember he's known about it for much longer than you have.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 06/06/2017 23:14

Also: flat, not room, so he can have the DCs for tea/overnight. Otherwise he'll be at yours all the time.

Syc4moreTrees · 06/06/2017 23:15

You're all so wise! Genuinely can't thank you all enough ❤️

OP posts:
BewareOfDragons · 06/06/2017 23:19

I think the decision that he find someplace else to live is a smart one.

You need time. Him being under the same roof and pretending that all is well is not what you need right now; it's what he wants. This is evidenced by his constant use of we and our when he's talking about your new house, your moving, your spare room, etc. Don't get lulled in to having him back if you're not ready.

And you may never be ready. You might, but you might not. You will
likely eventually forgive him, but that doesn't mean you will want him back. He knows this and he's probably terrified by the idea, but that's not your fault or problem. He has done this, and he has to live with the consequences ... he's changed your lives, not you, and he also needs to stop telling the children that it's up to you. He did this.

Take all the time you need to decide what you want to do. Don't let him rush you. You have too many other things going on right now.

Personally, I wouldn't allow him at the birth. Giving birth was when I felt at my most vulnerable. I wouldn't want someone I didn't trust in the room with me, tbh.