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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

My instincts are telling me he`s having an affair (please read these signs for me) long

76 replies

Sakura · 07/05/2007 01:31

The last thing I need is another blow now, but I dont want to live with my head in the clouds. Ive had big problems with my mother (see the long-running thread), and then my MIL turned out to be a toxic control freak.
These days I donT know whether im coming or going but think my husband may be up to no good. I really hope Im just being paranoid, but my hunches have proved me right every single time in the past I dont even know if I can leave him even if he is, because I live in a foreign country (his country) where foreigners don`t have custody rights. I would rather stay married to him that get into a custody battle that I would probably lose, because I have no money and his family is loaded.
But anyway, this is what I have seen:

We met in university as mature students in the UK. There were lots of girls in the dorm where we met and we all got along well, and had a laugh. They were from his country. We all kept in touch after leaving, and I would say they are our mutual friends. He communicates with them more than me because they share the same language, and I was closer to some other friends on my course.
I dont have any male friends except for 1 gay friend from school and my brothers because I dont "get" the platonic friendship thing, but I know others do so Ive never minded the fact his friends are girls. Most of the girls including me have got married now. Anyway, the past few months he has mentioning one girl (M) now and again. She has been texting him with her news and things that she has been doing. She recently invited him onto an internet community, where they all share their news. Its not chatting, but more like posting a diary. I cant join because I donT speak their language. M is in her thirties and not married. Shes very attractive, and I would say shes his type. There was a national holiday here this week and everyone gets a week off work. DH told me that M has asked to come to ours for a holiday (we live in a lovely area by the sea). She tends to travel to meet people randomly because she has the money. She often goes to a foreign country or travelling to meet people. I was excited for her to come because I like having guests and showing people around our area. Me and DH were both excited for this visit, and arranged to do loads of sightseeing. AS the time for her to come drew closer, DH started getting lots of texts, sometimes late at night, like 11:30. Once I think he lied to me, saying he was getting special offers from the DVD rental shop, but he forgot that Im also a member, so I would have been getting the text too.
Anyway, she arrived. It was fun showing her around. But once I left the shower and they were on the sofa and they both shifted their position as I got walked into the room, as if they were getting up because I was there. It looked suspicious.
I have 7 month old DD so I was getting very tired looking after her constantly plus the sightseeing. After going to a restaurant one night I was really tired, but they were talking about getting a DVD to watch. It was already 10:00pm, so I said Id go to bed. THey dropped me off with the baby, and went to get a DVD (2 minutes from our house by car). I lied awake in bed waiting for them to come back, and it was about an hour later when they arrived. THey were laughing and joking in the living room, and when I walked in there was no "hi come and join us". They had a STarbucks coffee, so I knew they had been for a drive because STarbucks is miles away. I lay awake pondering all night. The next morning I couldnt look her in the eye. I offered her breakfast, but she said shed rather wait until DH woke up so we could eat together (she is a bit posh like that). I quietly had it out with DH in the bedroon, and asked him how hed feel if I went driving around with a man. He did look genuinely suprised, and said he just thought it was like being a student again, watching DVDs together. SO I cheered up and enjoyed her last day, thinking I was being paranoid.
WE dropped her at the airport yesterday morning, and she texted him in the afternoon to say thanks. He read out the (long) text for me.
Then late last night about 11:30 again, his phone received a message. He tried to ignore it, but I told him "youVe just got a message", He looked a bit suspicious. I looked at the phone and it said her name. I said "go on, read it out then". He read out bits, something about her wanting to meet his mum and dad next time . I couldnT sleep last night again.
This morning I told him I dont trust him and Im watching him with M. He got pissed off and left for work.
His dad has had a long-running affair that the family is just supposed to ignore, so this kind of thing exists in his family BUT he did encourage his mum to leave his dad. She chooses to sweep it under the carpet though.

In his favour:
1]He is in some ways quite innocent- he had no idea I was coming onto him when we met until I planted a kiss on his lips. He just said he never imagined I would be into him.
2]He really cares about what other people think (its his culture) so he may well have been trying to be hospitable when he took her for a DVD.
What do you think on reading this? And what the fuck do I do if he is having an affair, or about to have one?

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 08/05/2007 07:34

Does he know his father has had affairs? How does he feel about it? Are his parents still together?

I totally understand your discomfort with the whole situation, I just think it might be better to put more energy into fixing the underlying problems. I really doubt he's actually sleeping with this old friend, and if he's just feeling nostalgic for his single days, treating him like he's sleeping with someone else isn't going to help, is it?

(I really loved Tokyo when I went, years ago. I sorta tried to convince DH to move, even!)

warthog · 08/05/2007 08:10

it's so so hard. i've also moved country where i didn't know anyone and had no support. i've just come back from a couple of weeks in fukuoka - i have family there.

i really feel for you and am thinking of you. i really hope nothing is going on.

poppadum · 08/05/2007 08:32

Am hardly ever on Mn these days, but saw this by pure chance. I used to live in Tokyo. It was very hard and I feel for you.

Have you contacted the Foreign Wives Club?
www.foreignwivesclub.com/pages/resources.html ( sorry, can't do links)
Also Being a Broad. ( www.being-a-broad.com)

Hope you find support.

Ooopsydaisy · 08/05/2007 08:45

Sakura, you little puppet!
I 've been reading your posts and I am really feeling for you.

After all your explanations this is my opinion.

[1] If you think your gut insticnt is always right- hold it there.

[2]Some men don't adapt well to fatherhood and take time to understand the big changes that it entails.

[3] Some other men do not have respect for what it means to be married and he doesn't seem to be showing it to you by bringing a friend home.

[4] I think he's playing out.

[5] If you can afford it hire a private detective. My mum did it to prove my dad was playing away- it helped her to recover her sanity as she thought she was always imagining things. It helped her in court when they divorced

[6] You must try to create a social netowrk for you and your baby. Sometimes having someone to let out your feelings and have some support.

Sending you big big big hugs and love from London!!!!

NotQuiteCockney · 08/05/2007 08:54

Woah, how is him having a friend visit disrespecting 'what it means to be married'? I'd agree that he's not behaving appropriately, if he's being unfaithful, physically or emotionally, but surely being married doesn't mean you can't have outside friends any more?

DarrellRivers · 08/05/2007 09:04

I really feel for you Sakura , I am married to someone from a different culture although somewhat easier he was brought up in uk and we live here in uk
Do rememeber, things do get easier as time goes by, you are still in really early days both with the relationship and with being a family together.Having a baby changes everything and puts lots of stress on a relationship. You sound like you are doing a wonderful job but don't do anything rash, work on the language thing, keep working at your relationship and start an emergency money fund (you may never need it) but it will make you feel stronger. Remeber the main thing is to keep you and DD together so do everything with that in mind.
Get some support either through those websites or mn and keep strong. Things will seem so much better soon

Monkeytrousers · 08/05/2007 09:10

I think that statement should be taken into context of all that's be written NQC, not on it's own

gess · 08/05/2007 09:26

It sounds quite innocent to me Sakura, but it also sounds like a huge culture clash. The MIL thing sounds very similar to someone I know who married in Japan- live in a very inaka area with a MIL from hell. There is a whole culture in Japan about the MIL being bloody awful though.

Learning kanji is incredibly dull, but would make a huge difference. I started with kiddies books whilst over there, when learning Japanese over here had little card things- makes it manageable. I think Japanese is so different that it takes a while to get into the language before it suddenly becomes easier to learn.

If you're anywhere near Hiroshima ken I may be able to put you in touch with an Australian girl I know who sounds in a similar situation (the one I mentioned in the first paragraph). She's more a friend of a friend, but I could probably track her down. I know she had some very tough times when her son was small.

Monkeytrousers · 08/05/2007 14:33

let us know about the text messages Sakura. It isnt nice to have to do it but it's the only way you will know where you stand and make an informed decision

Genidef · 08/05/2007 21:26

Sakura
It sounds like you really need a friend from home to visit YOU for a bit. Is there anyone who could come out and see you in the next couple of weeks?

I think it makes sense to find out your legal position vis a vis your kids whatever - it's always important to know where you stand on these matters whatever the future holds. But I think it's too early to be talking about jumping on a plane home and ending things at this point.

I have also lived in a few countries where I didn't speak the language - in addition to the foreign wives club, you may want to check out what 's on offer at the embassies or (I'm assuming your British) the British Council?! Places where people tend to gravitate at one point or another, not necessarily to become the main outlet for your social life or anything. Maybe your university has an alumni club?! Just throwing some ideas out.

Sakura · 08/05/2007 23:56

THanks again for everyones advice. Ill check out all the groups youve mentioned. Thanks gess for offering to contact your friend. I think Ill be okay- I do have foreign friends here that I can gripe to about my MIL, but not really anyone I could talk to like I am on here. Im waiting for the right moment to check the phone. It might not be until the weekend, and even then, I may have to check it again in a week or so.

OP posts:
Ally90 · 09/05/2007 11:48

Hope its all okay Sakura, sounded innocent to me if insensitive. I'd be peed off if my dh spent time with a female friend and got texts late at night. But as someone pointed out...time changes when you have a baby. I used to go to bed at 1.30am, now I go at 9.30pm

However if your gut feeling is something is going on... hard situation for you.

xxxxhugsxxxxx

matilda57 · 11/05/2007 19:49

I really feel for you Sakura ((HUG)). I am single and know to make a major fuss of the wife if I visit a couple - in fact, going overboard to alleviate any worries the wife has. I don't think your husband is playing away, but neither of them really thought about your feelings, and I do think it is inappropriate that they have an exclusive relationship. Maybe she doesn't realise - I agree that contacting her directly yourself eg 'we enjoyed your stay''we were thinking that blah blah' would make it clear. Your husband has to understand that what he is doing is inappropriate and hurtful (insensitive) - try to tell him calmly. I don't think this situation says anything about your marriage tbh: marriages are always vulnerable to varying degrees, particularly just after you've had a baby. YOu've got a lot to cope with Sakura, though I suspect you're made of strong stuff! If the worst came to the worst (and I don't think it looks like it will at the moment?), Britain is a big place hun - you don't have to live with your brother or relatives. Your mother doesn't have to know where you are. X X X

Sakura · 12/05/2007 01:54

Thanks Ally and Matilda,

Matilda, Im glad you wrote that all marriages have their ups and downs (especially after a baby), and that just because Im suspecting something, it doesnt necessarily mean that the marriage is rubbish anyway. THats true too about Britain being a big place. Ive talked to him, and he said that there isnt going to be anymore texts between them now and that they were just texting a lot because of the visit, but now everything is "back to normal". I told him it wasnt appropriate for her to text a married man late at night. Thats never appropriate, and that they might not have mentally moved forward onto the fact that now we are married. They didnT give me my proper place as his wife (and mother of his child). Maybe they did just see at as being students again. I sound like I wanted special treatment, I didnt. Its just that there was no recognition from them that the dynamics had changed completely.

Ill check his phone while hes sleeping some time this weekend, and copy down any texts. Then hopefully the mystery will be solved.

OP posts:
Ally90 · 12/05/2007 07:31

Nicely put Sakura! Not special treatment, its as it should be.

LittleSarah · 12/05/2007 07:48

'I am single and know to make a major fuss of the wife if I visit a couple - in fact, going overboard to alleviate any worries the wife has.'

Really? How horrible that you feel that is necessary.

Sakura · 13/05/2007 01:56

Little Sarah, please read the comment in the context that it was written. This thread is obviously not about single people having to reassure insecure married women. If I was that insecure, she wouldn`T have been in my flat for a week, would she? It the chain of events that have lead to this thread that have upset me. Matilda said that because she felt the dynamics of our student relationship had changed and that should have been recognised by this woman, and that she herself makes sure she respects that when she visits married couples THAT is what she meant, I think.

OP posts:
Anniegetyourgun · 13/05/2007 08:05

Just got back to this thread as my browser was playing up yesterday.

It sounds as if you handled it exactly right, to be honest. What you asked for is completely reasonable, and well done DH for taking it on board. Checking the texts, so long as he doesn't find out you've done it and feel insulted, will put your mind at rest. My view (probably the most suspicious on this thread) is that it's best to set reasonable ground rules BEFORE anything happens.

MrMariella · 13/05/2007 08:27

Am really surprised at the poor -imo - comments hear.

Have I got it right here - it's ok to be dishonest, with reading other people's text messages??

IT's "innappropriate" to text a male friend at night, who amongst a million and one other things happens to be married??

The assumption it is him that is struggling with naivity and maturity and being a parent.

Anniegetyourgun · 13/05/2007 09:04

Yes, Mr Mariella, yes on all counts.

Reading texts is sneaky but it's not dishonest - what did she lie about? We'd all like to trust our partners but Sakura needs to protect herself and her child too. How many affairs get found out through mobile phones? Loads, by women on this forum alone!

It IS inappropriate to text married men late at night. "Amongst a million and one other things happens to be"... well I'm sorry for Mrs Mariella if that's the importance you put on your relationship.

He has shown himself to be naive in matters of the heart before, and even wise and decent people - more often but by no means exclusively men - have been caught out by "accidentally" falling in love. There are very few people who can truthfully claim to be that smart in all situations.

It is very likely that he IS struggling with becoming a parent; unless he's totally disengaged as a father it will be a big change for him too. Nobody said he was immature. He's just having a quick memory tour of his youth, that's all. Nobody, least of all Sakura, said that was a bad thing per se.

Next!

MrMariella · 13/05/2007 09:28

Thank you forthe comprehensive account!!

Reading someone's text message IS dishonest. But that is just a bye-the-bye compared with lots of other issues of trust here....

We obviously are looking down opposite ends of the telescope....

morningpaper · 13/05/2007 09:37

the OP sounds innocent to me

I really hate this "married man" stereotype that comes up here sometimes - like they are naive and stupid and ruled by their penises and are some strange property of the wife who can lay down random rules about interacting with them

Anniegetyourgun · 13/05/2007 09:46

Never trust another human being 100%, in my view. Including yourself. We are not gods, we are fallible creatures and we do make mistakes. To err is human, to forgive divine, and all that jazz.

I do understand what you mean about reading his text messages, it is mistrustful and intrusive, but at the same time if you have been given a reason not to trust then it might be necessary. Forewarned is forearmed and all that. So yeah, you're not wrong, but we're not wrong either.

MrMariella · 13/05/2007 09:54

Rights and wrongs? No. It's just opinion.

And no need to worry about MrsMariella.

greenday · 13/05/2007 10:07

An old female friend visited my DH few years back. He was then my boyfriend. And we were then living in another country. I remember with clarity how side-lined I felt in their company. All they talked about were good old times, old friends, etc ... never once did I get any 'acknowedgement' that you were describing. I totally understand how you feel. Like you, I feel that my DH was just being a good host to her. And he didn't mean to leave me out. I felt she could have been more considerate and should have made the effort to include me in their conversations. But I think she assumed she had more 'possession' of him just because she knew him longer and before 'our time'.
I do hope its the same situation as yours. By the sound of it, I think so. It does make a lot of sense though ... if your DH says its all back to normal and all the texting were the result of the visitation and excitement.
Also, I'm sure that, apart from this isolated incident of an old friend's visit, you'd be able to guage his devotion to you through his everyday actions and affections.
Good luck!!