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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

Is he having an affair?

879 replies

worldupsidedown · 05/08/2017 07:39

Dh has been acting very strange the past couple of weeks. It's all quite sudden and I'm still trying to work out when this all started. Yesterday I spent the day feeling sick to the stomach that maybe he might be having an affair.

Last night he was very late in from work, not too unusual, but when he'd told me earlier in the week he didn't seem bothered, for a Friday night he usually just wants to get home, be with family and hates having to do after work socials/business dinner, etc. When he got in, must have been the last train, he was 'asleep' he didn't put the bedroom light on, just went to the bathroom then got into bed and then was obviously sending/reading on his phone quietly for a minute or so, put the phone down, then a minute or so later picked it up to read something received before putting it down again. Then I could tell he was restless and not going to sleep, normally he's out of it in minutes, but he was like this all night and has been more so recently. He blames it on me snoring/groaning etc, which I know I do but he snores too and he usually sleeps better. He's been downstairs with his iPhone now since about 5:30, I don't think he was trying to sleep on the sofa or something as he made a coffee.

He was acting very strange all the time on holiday last week and this week too. Barely talking to me, avoiding conversation and eye contact at the dinner table etc, no work discussed, funny things, nothing, sense of humour loss and I can't seem to say the right thing. He went for his daily runs in the afternoon on holiday but when he got back he'd do more excises and avoid getting in the pool with me till I got out. Also being careful at what he eats, no dessert. He also seemed to be emailing someone a lot, could be work related but I'm sure it was his gmail app he was using, I saw the coloured background, not phone/work mail and he seemed a little sheepish when using it, and he usually discusses his work stuff with me if there's something going on, nothing mentioned at all. On holiday he slept in the spare room, I didn't mind, his reason was not having slept well because of my keeping him awake and he needed to catch up, so I said I was ok with it, but now I'm wondering if it was ulterior motive.
On our way home,at the airport we sat for a drink and our DD mentioned how he'd been 'grumpy' all holiday, he didn't answer, just grunted and looked away.

I don't know if to let this ride more, just be myself and normal, oblivious, see what he's like this weekend as it's our first home since the holiday, maybe I'm being paranoid, or should I try to get something out of him? I hate confrontation, maybe I should wait, he should explain himself.

On holiday at our villa last week he barely spoke to me or my daughter (15), it's like he's had a sense of humour loss or just in his own world. Also choosing to sit on his own at the far end of the sunbeds, reading and going for a long run late afternoon, this he usually does anyway but this year, instead of straight in the pool to join me he'd faff about and then do some further exercises, pretty much till I was done in the pool.

At the airport, on our way home, my daughter tried to bring up his behaviour and he just grunted and looked away. He's also been non-committal on my suggestions of booking our holiday next year.

We had house sitters staying and at dinner together on their last night he barely spoke to anyone then went to get ready for work the next day

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 05/08/2017 18:03

You shouldn't have told your dd. She's 15. Do you want her to hate him?

WombOfOnesOwn · 05/08/2017 18:10

God forbid a 15 year old girl hold her father's affair against him. She should just think it's mutual and idolize her cheating dad and blame mum equally for the divorce instead of hurting a poor baby man's feewings.

SpartacusSaiman · 05/08/2017 18:12

The dd is too young to be dealing with this.

Not saying you shòuld have lied to her and not tell her eventually. But the first person?

Didnt you already say she was having some difficulties?

worldupsidedown · 05/08/2017 18:13

DD has already commented directly to him about him behaving odd, she'd find out anyway, better I tell her rather than her find out during her parents potential screaming row.

OP posts:
Haffiana · 05/08/2017 18:18

Not better that you tell her. I'm sorry, but you are an adult with adult problems and you should not be dumping them on a child.

Haffiana · 05/08/2017 18:18

And expecting her to keep quiet about what you have told her? This is just wrong.

Gmccax · 05/08/2017 18:19

You are all going off topic, if OP wanted to talk to her DD that is her choice!

VladmirsPoutine · 05/08/2017 18:20

Not better that you tell her. I'm sorry, but you are an adult with adult problems and you should not be dumping them on a child.

100% This.

Don't use her as a tennis ball in a match against your husband.

worldupsidedown · 05/08/2017 18:24

She's the one who's in the past, questioned why I put up with him if he's been unreasonable with me and said she'd stay with me, not him

OP posts:
worldupsidedown · 05/08/2017 18:26

Now he's upstairs in the bedroom, likely texting her, I so want to confront him or tell his mum!

OP posts:
Whatsername17 · 05/08/2017 18:28

Confront him. You can still talk to a solicitor on Monday.

Haffiana · 05/08/2017 18:29

She's the one who's in the past, questioned why I put up with him if he's been unreasonable with me and said she'd stay with me, not him

Well great. What has that to do with burdening a child, a DAUGHTER with details about their parent's relationships? You are treating her like a prize to be fought over, a weapon against your husband.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 05/08/2017 18:32

Don't confront him yet, let him sweat it, whoever it is, isn't going to run the course, he appears to be desperately keen, very unattractive.
Get your ducks in a row, then call the shots !
You're doing great, you really are, try and hang on in there, do it for you and your girl .
You can decide later, if you want to stay with him, but pave the way, anyway.

AcrossthePond55 · 05/08/2017 18:33

It's fine that she sees he's 'acting odd'. Not fine that you tell her it's because of an affair. There are 100 ways to handle that don't include telling a 15 year old that her father is having an affair.

The fact that she's noticing he's 'acting odd' doesn't mean that she will find out anyway at this age. Yes, she'll probably put two and two together when she's older.

As I said, my cousin is dealing with the fallout of doing this. And both of her now adult children resent that she told them and blame her for dragging them into an adult situation. They've told her that it would have been better if they had told them the usual 'Mummy and Daddy can't live together any more' thing. That's not shielding the guilty party, it's shielding the child(ren). They've both said they would have realized what broke up the marriage when they were older.

But the cat's out of the bag now. I just suggest that OP not speak about it further to her DD and just reassure her that both her parents love her and that adult situations are for the adults to deal with. And that it's OK to have a good relationship with her dad.

SurferRona · 05/08/2017 18:35

Get your ducks in a row first OP, and read about The Script on here so you're prepared.

user1476382353 · 05/08/2017 18:36

Yes it was. (the condom bit I mean) Have it out with him - NOW. But if you love him enough to take this kick in the stomach, don't let your quite justified anger at the betrayal cloud the situation.
If only for your own peace of mind, find out why he strayed Nail him down, don't let him squirm away and don't stop until he opens up - and opens up 100%
Good luck

PeawitPerkins · 05/08/2017 18:37

Very sorry you are going through this. You sound far stronger than I would be.
I do agree with others that you need to be careful with your DD, especially as you mentioned counselling for teen issues. But the situation is so raw right now, telling her was understandable.

IloveBanff · 05/08/2017 18:39

"Now he's upstairs in the bedroom, likely texting her, I so want to confront him or tell his mum!"

Tell his mum? Confused Like he's a child and has been naughty?

supersop60 · 05/08/2017 18:39

YY to not discussing it further with DD. Please reassure her that you will deal with it, and that you both love her.
My sister was in your situation, and used her DS as her confidante and sounding board, and he couldn't handle it. He's still angry and hurt 4 years later, with both of them. He also had to do his GCSEs in the middle of it all - I don't know how he managed it. my sister had a breakdown and couldn't work, her DH refused to leave home and caused major major stress.

badbadhusky · 05/08/2017 18:47

Agree about keeping your daughter out of it. My parents split when I was in 6th form and they both used me as a wailing wail/confidant/messenger service. Aside from my feelings about my family breaking down seemingly being of no consequence to either of them, it utterly changed my relationship with them & continued to affect my adult relationship with both of them. They're both dead now, but it was never the same after the divorce. Don't involve your daughter - even if you don't intend it, she will feel like she's being forced to take a side.

pandarific · 05/08/2017 18:48

Ugh, my mum did this, I remember every detail. She told me everything about why he said he was breaking up with her, including that they never had sex, and that he wasn't in love with her, that she'd changed since they got married.

I was fifteen years old. I didn't need to know the details!

Booboobooboo84 · 05/08/2017 18:56

Your daughter is already receiving counselling and your just burdening her with more. You could easily have been honest and said we are just having some problems try not to worry about it.

I know your very focused and clear on what you need to do and that's great. But she's a child and she may look like an adult but she's not. Don't let her pay the price for his affair.

im so sorry your going through this though

JustMumNowNotMe · 05/08/2017 19:03

I too think it was a bad move involving your daughter; but can see why you did. I'm sorry this is happening to you OP Flowers

Irongirl71 · 05/08/2017 19:04

Whats done is done you've told your daughter. I guess you needed to talk to someone. Damage limitation now. No good people having a go at you for telling her I think your probably going through a lot right now and maybe not thinking rational in certain aspects as trying to contain what you know will come out in a certain why (for example telling your daughter)

If I was you I would spend more time with him smother him with affection and telling him you can't wait to have the romantic break with him. He will crack he will try and push you away avoid the cuddles. He will feel uncomfortable.he will give you a reason to question it.

When he goes to work send him a WhatsApp pic of the receipt for the condoms and just put #didntknowweneedprotection
Let him start panicking then let it unfold and go with it. Either way an argument Is going to go down. Better out than in.

Itsnotwhatitseems · 05/08/2017 19:14

I am so sorry your going through this OP and feel sad for your DD too. I am not going to have a go at you for telling your DD, that's done now and to be honest if it was just the facts, like you have said on here then its not like you have said he is having an affair, if you just mentioned him purchasing condoms, booking an apartment in London, then that's not too bad. It was my own DC that discovered my ex was having a relationship, my DD saw a message on her DF phone and my DS2 said to me "for god sake mum, everyone knows dad is seeing another woman" It hurt a lot but they had found out before me and we were partially over, just living together, kids find these things out so I don't think telling her is completely wrong.

I hope you get the strength to get through this x