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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

What do men typically tell their affair partner about their marriage?

138 replies

Weareyourfriends · 16/02/2018 22:43

My friend is having an affair with a married man. He has obviously told her some things about his marriage to make her feel better about being involved with him.I am willing to bet that women on here who have either been involved with a married man or whose partners have strayed can predict the things that he's told her - so what do you think they are? If the answers come back as accurate as I expect, I will show her this thread to help her understand that what he is told her is absolutely classic - and therefore likely not true.

OP posts:
rainbowlou · 17/02/2018 22:16

Bastards x

littlegecko · 17/02/2018 22:21

I think there are several very common themes:

"Just together for the kids. We both know it's over and haven't slept together for years"

"She's got mental health issues/is controlling and I'm worried about what would happen if I left"

"We aren't actually together but she won't leave the house and I can't just throw her out"

TheFormidableMrsC · 17/02/2018 22:46

It really is amazing, the common themes. I think I heard it all from ex-h and OW...all of it utter nonsense.

How any woman in her right mind listens to this shit and carries on a relationship with a turd like that is beyond me.

PancakeInMaBelly · 17/02/2018 22:49

How any woman in her right mind listens to this shit and carries on a relationship with a turd like that is beyond me.

Its flattery by favourable comparison

TheFormidableMrsC · 17/02/2018 22:50

You're right Pancake

Offred · 17/02/2018 23:01

I also think this is a bit of an enclave re views on affairs...

In general these ‘common themes’ are used precisely because they chime with what most people’s misconceptions re affairs and re women’s role in marriage are; happy people don’t cheat, wives are frigid, mothers bitterly exclude fathers, wives are all money grabbers...

Offred · 17/02/2018 23:02

People are primed to swallow this shit.

PancakeInMaBelly · 17/02/2018 23:11

Well, since Ive known 2 sepatate OW say the exact thing about the DW/GF with the same amount of glee: "I SAW her and she's REALLY UGLY Grin " I think thats the way it works

Make the OW feel good by telling her how much better than the gf/ow is Sad

yetmorecrap · 17/02/2018 23:17

I guess saying, "actually we get on pretty well, like each other, but I am a bit bored and you seem a bit desparate and I really fancy a shag on the side with someone different, you know a bit of a change and you seem quite nice' Isn't usually going to exactly endear you !!

Cracker09jacker · 17/02/2018 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pasithea · 17/02/2018 23:30

I know of a couple who have been in an affair for 11 years. They both have spouses that they wouldn’t leave.

PancakeInMaBelly · 17/02/2018 23:32

Truth is more likely gonna be "it takes more EFFORT to fuck my wife than it takes to fuck you because she wants me to give a shit about her boring day to day shit and I'll feel the same about you if we end up together and you start nagging me about things like parents evening or family dos we said we would attend but then I double booked it..."

PancakeInMaBelly · 17/02/2018 23:38

Shockingly it worked.
Yup
Theres something about getting one-up on another woman that appeals to some women. Quite a lot of women.

TheFormidableMrsC · 17/02/2018 23:46

Pancake Certainly that is true in my case. OW is older than me, without being unkind, she is not attractive at all, has facial injuries from being kicked by a horse, is taller than my ex-h, is also a very unkind and quite nasty person (I am far from the only one who has been affected by her behaviour in various ways) yet she appears to get her kicks out of getting one over on me. At least she "thinks" she has. She really hasn't, the deluded fool, she's welcome to the cheating shit. He has and will continue to cheat on her. For some reason, however, she put the focus of all her spite and bile on me. So needs to grow up, she's past 50 and should know better really *sigh.

PancakeInMaBelly · 17/02/2018 23:49

For some reason, however, she put the focus of all her spite and bile on me

Also a common feature with the OW I know.
They have such venom for the wife/gf its completely illogical.

Offred · 17/02/2018 23:59

I think it was an important moment when I realised that DS and DD dad was not prolifically cheating with all these women (at least 50 that I know of) because they were ‘better than’ me but simply because they were vulnerable in some way and would therefore be grateful for his attention...

Offred · 18/02/2018 00:00

It made me think about my own vulnerability and why I had stayed with him so long.

TheFormidableMrsC · 18/02/2018 00:01

It is indeed! She described my support group of friends as a "coven" as she has none (I am told that I am very pretty, I don't subscribe to this as I have massive confidence issues, but it's lovely to be complimented) and she HATES that. So, I am relegated to nutjob ex-wife, deluded, in her own words "a sad fuck", "the worst excuse of a loving mother I've ever seen", "you deserve everything you're getting", "I am bored of your pitiful bleating", oh it goes on. I recall one former acquaintance of hers coming across me at a gathering and saying "I literally cannot fathom why your husband left you for her, I really can't". So, no wonder she's got the hump, poor cow! I am not sure it's illogical, it's insecurity, it's knowing you've ended up with a cheat, it's easier to blame the wife/gf and make them the focus of it rather than admit that you are a really poor judge of character and are happy to accept somebody else's really sloppy seconds.

Hownow39 · 18/02/2018 00:08

lol this is the wrong thread for you love 'Yesterday 18:53 kidsneedfathers

In my case i know how the OW stalked him and stroke his ego. She clearly told him i know you love your wife and will never leave her but i love you noone compares to you,i am willing to defy my milieu just to be with you, i am happy with the little bit pf crumbles you give me, i pay for my tickets/hotel etc just to be with you whenever she cant or does not want to join you. ...i know her. She knows me and know my kids. She knew he was msking sacrifices so that all his earmings eould be invested in our health and facilitate my wife (the kids needed expensive treatments. ..they are all ok now and do extremely well healthwiae and academically) . So not all men are telling lies to dip it into The OW. On the contrary... The OW might be attracted to him and stalk him because she sees how much he loves his wife/kids and how many things he does for her/and the kids. She might become bold if she sees that the wife is "neglecting" him because she is busy with the kids etc...I have solid proofs of all I claim

You should be on the bullshit the man tells the wife when he gets caught thread !!

Graphista · 18/02/2018 00:08

Ahhh...cheating bastard bingo!

We haven't had sex for months/years.

We don't sleep in the same room

We're like brother and sister

We're already separated we're still living in the same house for practical/financial reasons

She's already met someone else (ie she cheated first therefore I'm justified - usually a lie anyway)

Claims of wife being abusive

Claims of wife being ill and that's why he can't leave (mental illness particularly popular as it covers several awkward issues "why does nobody know?" "Because she's embarrassed", "I can't leave because she'll self harm/commit suicide/have a breakdown" - pretty much ensures ow won't put pressure on him to leave/tell wife, "she doesn't look ill" well mental illness doesn't look obvious)

Claims of wife being unsupportive of THEIR stresses

"I mean, 'my wife doesn't understand me'.....really?
how do you even keep a straight face?" They don't say it that bluntly it's more subtle. "X y z stressor happened to me and she was too wrapped up in pending promotion to provide me the support I needed" type thing.

That they were "trapped" into the marriage (my ex tried that bullshit with his mother - she bollocked him! "Don't be pathetic! Nobody held a gun to your head!")

That their DC were unplanned even unwanted by them.

"I've tried so hard to make it work" omg yes - when what they mean is they once bought petrol station flowers on a non-event day and expected a fucking medal and a bj!

My ex mainly did the "she doesn't understand me" and "we haven't slept together/are already separated" crap - I was being very supportive of stress he claimed he was feeling due to promotion at work, we were discussing plans to ttc no 2 and definitely having regular sex. Complete bullshit he told now wife 2. She was v young and naive at the time. Prior to us discussing her mother (not much older than me) said to her he was probably lying.

Mindhunter - yes I've known a couple of cheating men caught out on that one - the wife they're supposedly not sleeping with becomes pregnant - and of course naturally at a certain point it becomes public. Then it's "it was a one off for old times sake just unlucky she fell pregnant" or "it's not mine, but she feels awful and doesn't want people to know" 🙄

"Why are these all likely to be lies? Surely if he was in a happy, secure relationship he wouldnt be having an affair?" 😂😂😂 ok then. Besides the fact it IS usually bull, if he's THAT unhappy he should

A be trying to resolve it with his wife or

B leaving her before he even THINKS of starting another relationship

NOT coming onto someone else behind her back!

"So the women you’ve lived with for 20 years, had kids with, have finances with doesn’t understand you? Well what chance would I have? Get lost" excellent response love it!

"and I don't blame people for looking for a bit of happiness elsewhere to be honest" oh really? Are you cheating already? Or think it could never happen to you?

"The same shit cheating women say." Oh definitely, cheating women just as bad.

Sunflowersandsnow · 18/02/2018 00:08

I genuinely believe and have done for a while that men in general have no interest in marriage.

If you remove societal expectations, the 2/3 year engagement timeframe, the gentle ribbing “when are you going to pop the question” from family and friends, if you removed all of that a huge number of men would have no interest in getting married and staying with one woman forever.

Someone said above that the daily grind/lack of sex/monotonous life is just part and parcel of marriage. I think women are much more happy to accept that than men are. And when they realise that’s their life from here on out they cheat.

I’m not saying that right. I divorced my h after his affair. But I really think men and women are looking at marriage and seeing two completely different things in their future.

Of course there are just the men who are arrogant enough to want whatever they want and fuck anyone else. But I believe it goes deeper than that for a lot of men.

SandyY2K · 18/02/2018 00:11

I guess saying, "actually we get on pretty well, like each other, but I am a bit bored and you seem a bit desparate and I really fancy a shag on the side with someone different, you know a bit of a change and you seem quite nice' Isn't usually going to exactly endear you !!

^....^Very true.

The OW is often jealous of the wife...and sees her as an obstacle.

She believes the lies of him being treated so badly and starved of affection by his wife...and sees herself as his ray of sunshine.

Offred · 18/02/2018 00:17

the wife they're supposedly not sleeping with becomes pregnant - and of course naturally at a certain point it becomes public. Then it's "it was a one off for old times sake just unlucky she fell pregnant" or "it's not mine, but she feels awful and doesn't want people to know" 🙄

In my case; ‘it’s not physically possible for the baby to be mine’ ‘so why are you on the birth certificate?!’ ‘Her and her mother forced me to sign it!’ ‘Ok so why does the DNA say you are the dad?’ ‘I have no idea’ 🙄

Offred · 18/02/2018 00:18

IMO men have as much interest in marriage as women, if not more, what they see marriage as though is a way of legitimising them and as a way of securing domestic and sexual services.

TheFormidableMrsC · 18/02/2018 00:25

Offred I agree with that. My ex-h LOVES marriage. He is a "love bomber". I didn't realise how deluded I was about this until his affair. He proposed to me within a couple of months. It transpired he'd done the same to the previous wife as he needed somewhere to live (moved North to South with work). With me, I think it was probably because he didn't want to pay rent and thought he could move in with me (I didn't let him, it was a good while before we did that). Now with OW, he CAN'T marry her because she'd lose her firefighters widow's pension so he's in a bit of a bind now! Has it "all", but he hasn't, it's "all" hers. How amusing Grin

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