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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

Do I interfere?

48 replies

SadieContrary · 19/09/2017 06:39

Interfere seems a bit strong but felt it might garner more traffic (sorry) - what I really mean is should I talk to my BIL before my DSis calls time on their marriage for good?

The only reason I suggest this is because him and I get on very well and I think he might listen if he hears it from another source?

Basically, she's unhappy and he's not listening. It's like he's in denial. She's in the midst of an affair (approx 6mths now) he knows about it but is turning a blind eye, I think, in the vain hope that it'll fizzle out and they'll all go back to normal. She's taking it that he just doesn't care. When the affair started (one night stand), he found out, begged her not to leave, promise it was just a one night stand and he would forget about it. She couldn't as was crippled by guilt so asked him to go to Relate with her to get to the bottom of why it happened in the first place. He reluctantly dragged himself along but as he said he forgave her and wanted to move on then he felt the process to be pointless and money they didn't need to spend. Sad Therefore, the affair started up but with intent on both sides this time.

He's like an old man before his time (they're the same age, mid 30's and married for 4 years). She's constantly trying to get them to do stuff together, even stuff out with her interest such as going to see his fave football team but his response is 'I can watch it on Sky, what's the point?'. It's not a money issue as they can afford to do it.

Anyway, we spent several hours on the phone last night and she's a mess (I'm not condoning her affair, she knows this but this guy has given her a window to how life might be - problem is, he's also married and there's kids involved there. Not good)

To go back to my BIL, I'm wondering if I called him and said, 'look, you need to pull your head out of the sand, she loves you as a person but life is too short to be miserable and one day she'll pack up and go with no coming back, if you don't want that, then you guys have to do some serious work and soul searching to get this marriage back on track'

One bit of me says, not my business. One bit of me says, I love them very much and he's a good man (albeit needing a kick up the arse)

If my DSis found out, it wouldn't cause a terminal fall out between us but when I suggested a while ago that I speak to BIL she said no as 'he needed to understand himself'- the guy is clearly struggling though.

I'm married myself and consider myself to have a very good marriage but I know that takes work and it's not all magically working with no effort on both of our parts.

Go on, flame me, tell me I'm a nosey busybody or whatever. I'll just be sad if a marriage ends when all avenues weren't exhausted.

OP posts:
Isetan · 19/09/2017 11:02

You mean well but.... stay out of it. He doesn't want to change and she wants her cake. They both must of heard of relationship counselling, unfortunately despite supposedly wanting their relationship to work neither are prepared to actually put the work in.

Don't get thrown under the bus for two people who don't sound compatible.

CardsforKittens · 19/09/2017 11:04

I understand your wish to do something to try to make things better. I just don't know if it will work. It sounds like he's not very motivated to make changes and I'm not sure what you could say to motivate him. But if he does want to talk things through maybe you could be a friendly ear... I just wouldn't expect too much if I were you.

KickthewallonSalthillprom · 19/09/2017 11:06

When my marriage was struggling a good friend of my ExH decided to advise me on how to resolve my issues.
I told him that it was the most humiliating experience of my life and to please leave me alone. Even his wife tried to shut him up as she could see how mortified I was.
Leave them to sort out their own relationship.

Bringmewineandcake · 19/09/2017 11:10

Complicated question but from your last post, is your BIL openly acknowledging of his wife's affair even in front of her? If so there is definitely nothing to salvage here. There's no secret, no pretence of a marriage - it's just a sham.

SadieContrary · 19/09/2017 11:16

Bringmewineandcake
Spotted them together when OM dropped her off last wknd. That was his only comment that I mentioned before.
DSis said she was almost relieved because she thought it might force him to talk and get all the cards out on the table but nope.
I've read through my responses and all the replies several times this morning and agree from the outset that it sounds like a hopeless case but still going to call him tomorrow as even if they do split, my DH and I like my BIL and wish him all the best. Maybe he will open up to me and I can stress how dire the situation is and see if he can grasp that he will need to do something to make DSis see that he's bothered. Maybe he won't and I respect that too. I'll totally take his lead as I understand what KickTheWall says about being mortified when someone tried to intervene in her marriage

OP posts:
dowagercountess · 19/09/2017 11:19

She said she wished he'd gone nuts cos then she would have known he'd cared.

Do you think half the reason for the affair was to get this reaction? - to try and make him fight for the relationship more ?

SadieContrary · 19/09/2017 11:25

Dowager
I believe her when she says the initial one night stand was unplanned. I also believe her that if BIL had made any sort of effort after he found out then she wouldn't have gone back.
I think it resumed again because she was still so lonely and frustrated and then OM msgd and it went from there. I told her she should have confronted BIL at that point and said she was v unhappy.
Instead she's just got herself into a bigger mess Sad

OP posts:
SadieContrary · 19/09/2017 11:28

DSis has also told BIL in the past that they should separate and he just shuts her down. He does not want it.
If it comes to it, she will just need to pack her bags and go and send correspondence via a solicitor

OP posts:
Offred · 19/09/2017 12:00

He's not willing to forgive and move on though is he? He just CBA making any effort with anything.

This is now a real shit show as neither of them have the balls to do the right thing.

Don't get involved.

FrogFairy · 19/09/2017 12:12

Does your sister love this other man, or is trying to provoke a reaction from her husband to fight for their marriage?

Knowing him as well as you do, do you think his passive attitude in all areas of his life are down to depression or not being arsed?

I would talk to him and spell it out that he is close to losing his marriage. Then it is his choice if he lets that happen or try to act to save the marriage. Not wanting to victim blame here, but their life sounds so sad but maybe not beyond being saved.

splendidisolation · 19/09/2017 12:15

I guess the biggest question is this: was her husband always this waym

SadieContrary · 19/09/2017 13:12

There's been no mention of the L word yet. Just that she feels so good to have some passion.

BIL has always been like this, his Dad and Brother are the same. Horizontal to the point of flat lining! He's not depressed although I'm sure this situ is making him pretty sad

OP posts:
cakecakecheese · 19/09/2017 13:33

I doubt you having a word would make any difference anyway. Like your sister says it needs to come from him. It sounds like she wants someone with a bit more oomph, and if that's not in him then he can't force it. Cheating isn't the answer though, she needs to do something about this soon as it's not fair on either of them.

CiderwithBuda · 19/09/2017 13:34

Your sis and bil are not compatible. He sounds very passive and horizontal as you say. If he is not willing to make any effort even in the face of his wife having an affair there is no hope. He doesn't think going to Relate to save his marriage is worth spending money on.

Basically he want life to carry on as normal with him plodding along but not actually making an effort.

I don't condone your sisters behaviour but that marriage is dead anyway. Unless she accepts that that is who and what he is.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/09/2017 16:02

If you do decide to get involved, I think you should encourage them to end this charade and get divorced already. They are epically not suited for each other. Their relationship will never be anything but a disaster.

wellyclad · 19/09/2017 21:25

If he is not willing to make any effort even in the face of his wife having an affair there is no hope.

^ this

Bringmewineandcake · 20/09/2017 22:48

Did you ring him, Sadie?

pictish · 20/09/2017 22:58

Stay out of it is my advice. First of all, you'd essentially be urging your bil to fight for his cheating wife. Hmm. I don't think that's something you should be pioneering, do you? And secondly, stay out of it just because.
No one is asking you take on the role of marriage guidance counsellor here, so why are you?

SadieContrary · 21/09/2017 04:43

Sat over the phone for ages... then I didn't call Sad

I really, really read all of your responses and made my decision on:

My DSis might say she wishes it was different but she is invested emotionally/physically somewhere else so she's given up whether she is ready to face that or not.

I like my BIL and would also like him to be happy, so better to encourage my DSis to make the break so he has the chance to meet someone else (hopefully more on his wavelength) and be happy.

It's none of my business. Yes, I love them both, and I wish their marriage wasn't going down the toilet but the only two people who ever know what go on in a marriage are those who are in it.

He's always been like this, not right to try and change the fundamentals of a person, and he's a guy with a good heart. The right one is out there for him.

In the meantime, I will be doing all I can to dissuade my DSis from continuing to see this OM (wasting my breath, I know)

Cheers all

OP posts:
schoolgaterebel · 21/09/2017 13:23

I think he's better off without your cheating Dsis, I'd stay out if it if I were you.

TalkinBoutNuthin · 21/09/2017 13:35

I guess the affair is a way of goading SOMETHING out of him. Some life, some reaction, instead of the continuous nothing that she gets from him.

How many other things did she try over the years to get a reaction from him I wonder?

But if not even an affair could get even the smidgenest reaction from him, then he is as apathetic as all hell and your DSis deserves better.

She really should have walked away before she descended to this. She'll hate herself for the depths she sank to, and she'll hate him even more afterwards. So sad Sad.

Chathamhouserules · 21/09/2017 13:41

I think you made the right decision. He's not the right man for her. They can each find someone better suited. Hope it all gets resolved soon

heyday · 21/09/2017 13:45

If the OM had been an free agent then she probably would have buggered off by now. If I were you I would talk to BiL give him some things to think about and work on. Once you've had that conversation then leave them to it as there's nothing more you can do.

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