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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 dh justified in being put out by this?

14 replies

Mytwistedimagination · 16/08/2018 10:32

Last week was our first wedding anniversary following dday in May (he'd cheated while living away through the week for work, with a friend, we were together for 7 years at the time, she knew about me). Last year he forgot for the first time. We were arguing around that time (funnily enough, about him keeping something from me...) so I don't know if it was subconsciously deliberate.

This year he made an effort. I'd told him last year that if he couldn't remember things like that, he should put it on google calendar, which he did, so I'm not actually giving him massive credit for remembering himself. Anyway, he got me a card, book (not a great choice, but vaguely in my interest zone), and flowers. I got him nothing. Even though the A was pre-marriage, I feel like a second choice, guilt relationship, and the marriage is tainted because he lied all the way through it. I feel like I married under false pretenses, and was somehow tricked into it because I hadn't known the truth. Consequently, I don't feel like celebrating the anniversary. I think I might have felt somewhat more appreciated if he'd taken the day off work to do something, or booked dinner out. Hell, even if he'd said we'd get a takeout!

He didn't say anything on getting back from work, but was obviously quiet, cold, and not making any effort. He's usually been trying to do the right thing since I found out, but behaved like a complete bastard beforehand. He was denying it even as I told him I had the confirmation message from OW in my hand. Also told me at that point (rather than admit the truth) that it would be best if we got a divorce.

So three months down the line from this, I'm having a hard time thinking I want to celebrate the marriage. I don't know if he feels that's hypocritical, as I expected him to make the effort (I didn't damage the relationship, he did, so surely he should be putting more effort in to fix what he damaged?). So is he justified in being put out that I didn't get him anything?

OP posts:
Musti · 16/08/2018 10:35

So he was cheating before and during the marriage? Do you have children?

pinkyredrose · 16/08/2018 10:35

Do you want to stay married? You can't trust hin can you. Hope you got an std test too.

KlutzyDraconequus · 16/08/2018 10:38

So you found out in May that he'd cheated with your friend before you were married.
You've been married a year. So he cheated over a year ago.

You married this man without full knowledge of the facts. I am not surprised you don't want to celebrate it. I'm surprised you're still with him TBF, but I'm not the forgiving type..

Mytwistedimagination · 16/08/2018 10:46

No, the timeline was longer. We'd been together 7 years when he cheated with a friend of his, who knew we were together. He thought better of it after telling me he was leaving, but kept the whole thing quiet. Over the next few years we got married, house, kids etc, but I found out about it this May. So we've had some good times, he appears to have been faithful in between, but since finding out, I've found it difficult to trust him. Although he's doing all the recommended things, I'm still not in a position to celebrate a happy marriage! We are giving it a go because we genuinely have been happy.

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cakecakecheese · 16/08/2018 11:45

It's only been a few months so it's completely understandable to still be devastated by what you found out but because you've been happy together recently he may have taken that to mean that you're 'over' what happened. Have you had any relationship councelling?

Doingreat · 16/08/2018 17:42

He doesn't sound like he is doing much making up to be honest. He should be going all out to make your first anniversary amazing, given he's seeking your forgiveness. I bet he thinks you're over it by now.

lowtide · 16/08/2018 17:58

How did you find out

lowtide · 16/08/2018 17:59

Oh I see. Message from ow
Years later!? Why on earth would she do that. Was it really over

Mytwistedimagination · 16/08/2018 22:14

cake no, he works away a lot - he was away six weeks straight a few days after I found out, on and off since. Although he's spoken to someone on the phone, nothing has happened yet.

Maybe he did think I was doing better than I am. It seems utterly self centered that he'd think I would be in the emotional position of buying him something nice three months after that bombshell though! Thoughtless, obviously has no comprehension of how something like that affects a person.

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scottishdiem · 16/08/2018 22:21

I think there is a problem here in that he will view cheating on you as something that happened over a decade ago (from what I interpret as your timeline) and has lived with the lie since (and tried to pull you into it when you found out).

You've only just found out really so are in a very different place than him. You havent even really had the time to decide if you are going to forgive him him, never mind move on.

You both need to get to the same page before you can move on. If you can.

Mytwistedimagination · 16/08/2018 22:26

How does that happen though? It was over and done for him years ago, I'm always going to be years behind him in terms of processing it....

OP posts:
Tashley · 16/08/2018 22:34

Trust ain't something that comes back over night , it's something you both have to work together to build back , it can be done but again it ain't no over night fix ,
First of all you both need to talk about what happened as hard as that will be ,
Find out why he did it ? Do you even know ?
And then depending on his answer decide if it's something that can be fixed and worked on ,
But do not stay with him for the kids you will make yourself miserable, you need to have a long think
Are you able to wake up every morning and look at him knowing what he's done and still kiss him goodbye ect , if you can't forgive him for what he's done then walk away for both of you ,
What he's done is no doubt inexcusable , but you won't be able to hold that over him forever ,
It's going to take time to get over it and time to build your relationship back , but that will only work if you can move forward from what's happened
He needs to show you it won't happen again he only wants you
3 months ago you found out ? Have you had good times since finding out ?
Trouble is all we can do is give you advice end of the day it's you that has to actually deal with the situation,
Ask your self
Can you forgive him ?
Can YOU move on and forward from this
Can you trust him
Is your relationship worth saving .
If you can't say yes to those questions then end it ,

Why didn't you get him anything? Yes he doesn't deserve it but the way I see it you're the better person so why not get him something that says HEY I LOVE YOU YOUR A C**T HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ASSHOLE .
If it was and I stayed I'd be doing everything to rub in his face to show him what he's messed up

Jelly67 · 16/08/2018 22:37

I always think if someone cheats they should tell the person before they get married to give them a fair chance to decide if they still want to marry the person. Otherwise it must feel like you got married under false pretences which of course is going to taint your view of the relationship/marriage. You'll have to decide whether it's something you can get over which will take time, possibly counselling to rebuild the trust and a lot of patience from him (which in fairness is the least he can do). In saying that you both need to work on it together and if you decide to stay together then separate the good times from the past.

Mytwistedimagination · 16/08/2018 22:44

tashley maybe I'll do that for his upcoming birthday :)
We are both doing everything possible (apart from the counseling, but hopefully that's in the future), talked about all the details, why it happened, why (he says) it won't happen again etc. It is terrifically hard. And hurtful. I've had ups and downs in the last three months. Only to be expected. I can see he's making effort, but I don't think he sees the efforts I have to pit in not to go off on him every time something triggers the shitty thoughts of them, which is every day. Or the effort it sometimes takes to sleep in the same bed as him. That's why I wondered if it was reasonable for him to feel narked I hadn't got him anything to celebrate a (now) shaky marriage built on a lie.

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