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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

Am I being controlling?

20 replies

SquiggPig · 29/11/2018 15:08

bit of background...

Bf and I (both in our early 50s) have been together in an open relationship off and on for 5 years. I say 'off and on' as we have had a few breaks due to me being emotionally absent sometimes, and rightly, he has found this difficult to deal with.

For the past 2 years we have been living together and things have been good. I have made a huge effort to be more affectionate and dedicated more time to 'us' as I know this was hugely important to him.
On the whole we get on very well, enjoy the same things and share hobbies.
The open side of our relationship worked very well for us. We had no secrets and were very open about desiring sex with others.
We had a rule that it would all stop if ever one of us was no longer happy with the arrangement.

Around summer time of this year he told me that he was no longer enjoying the lifestyle and was struggling with seeing me with other men.
We talked about it and we agreed to become exclusive.
I was a little disappointed but there was no question of me not agreeing to this as I love him and respect his wishes.

One of the women he had met on the scene had become a friend of his. They would message each other via Facebook daily and occasionally she would ring him. I was privy to the messages (nothing other than chat about a hobby they both share and banter) and was present on a few occasions that she rang. He answered the phone to her with me in the room and the conversations were usually about some drama at her work , or to ask his advice on something practical.

Last week she asked him if he would like to go to an event this weekend with her. It's a day event that is to do with their hobby. I knew this as I read the Facebook messages on my laptop when he had forgotten to log out. The last bit isn't really relevant though as we both have access to each others devices.
I presume he said yes, and that it must have been over the phone as there are no more messages on the subject.

So, on Monday he comes home from work and casually says " Oh, and I are going to on Friday, that ok?"

I felt a bit weird and anxious as he has rarely seen her before and not had sex too.
I said it was fine, but made a joke about the fact that he wouldn't be used to coming straight back home afterwards, and asked him if he would be disappointed. He just laughed it off.

I know that he isn't seeing her other than when I know about ;she lives a very long way away , plus he likes to text and ring me frequently throughout his day so I always know (as much as anyone can) where he is.
However I have seen that he messages her good morning and goodnight virtually every day.
I mentioned this to him the other night and he couldn't see the problem with it.
However I for some reason do have a problem with it. It's making me sad and anxious. I can see from their conversations that she is very clever and witty, and they seem to bounce off one another. The conversations would make me smile if it wasn't my bf and another woman having them!

Would it be right for me to ask him to reduce contact with her, or is that controlling?

OP posts:
Adora10 · 29/11/2018 15:19

Looks like he has renegated on the new set up; I'd not trust him and I don't think an exclusive relationship involves your parter messaging another woman morning and night.

I think it's because you have always had an open relationship up until now and it's a hard habit to break; he seems to think he can dip in and out of the arrangement. I wouldn't tolerate it and I don't think you are being controlling.

Trinity66 · 29/11/2018 15:23

Looks like he wants you to not sleep with anyone but him but those rules don't apply to him. Maybe test the waters and tell him you're meeting up for a drink with someone you used to hook up with but just as friends and see how he reacts

Justmuddlingalong · 29/11/2018 15:25

I don't think you're being controlling. I think the relationship going from open to exclusive has blurred the lines. It looks like he's wavering on remaining exclusive to you, but expecting you to stay exclusive with him.

RivanQueen · 29/11/2018 15:33

Your concerns sound valid to me OP and you don't sound controlling. When you moved your relationship from open to exclusive it changed the dynamic and the expectations you have regarding his (and your own) level of involvement with people outside of your relationship. I would tell him how you feel about him messaging this woman as much as he does and how you are concerned that he might be thinking about sleeping with her when he meets her for this event. Given how you must have good communication to maintain an open relationship without issue for so long you should be able to be open with him about how your feeling now?

SquiggPig · 29/11/2018 15:51

Thank you all so much for your replies. I wasn't expecting it given the time of day I've posted.

The odd thing about this, is that when he first mentioned giving up meeting others I was (and still am) more than happy for him to see other women even if I didn't see other men, and it was him who was adamant he wanted to settle down and be monogamous. The reason for this was because I got far more pleasure seeing or knowing about his exploits than indulging myself.
The problem I have is when it becomes a relationship of types.

OP posts:
RagingWhoreBag · 29/11/2018 15:56

It sounds like you are both good at compartmentalising sex and love. The problem here is that the constant messaging is erring more on the side of love than sex, which was never your agreement. I get why this is bothering you. You need to talk to him and make sure you’re both happy with the new rules.

Robin2323 · 29/11/2018 19:28

I agree sex is just sex but this smells of relationship/ emotional affair.
It is not something I'd be comfortable with.
Best thing to do is have an honest conversation.

category12 · 29/11/2018 19:38

It seems like you're giving up things/compromising a lot for him, but it's not really reciprocal. On a surface level you're OK with giving up the open relationship, or it being closed for you - but your subconscious ain't. And that's fair enough, it isn't right that he gets everything his own way. Is there some kind of D/s dynamic in the mix?

SquiggPig · 29/11/2018 20:22

No, not at all category

OP posts:
SquiggPig · 29/11/2018 20:27

Robin2323 I have said it feels like he is having an emotional affair and he is adamant it's her friendship he wants.
With the backing of Mumsnet I am going to speak to him when he gets back tomorrow from the event.
Incidentally I don't feel compromised, or like I have had to give up something hugely important. I was disappointed to start with but don't give it much thought now.

OP posts:
Robin2323 · 29/11/2018 22:04

Just reread your opening post x 3
My dh had a female friend who
Would contact him via fb. DH
Told me all about it.
She said how well he'd done (how gorgeous I was )
Didn't bother me at all, at first.
She was married and lived nearly 3000 miles away.
Next minute she's 'in love ' with
Him and planning a life with dh.
Lol
But I should have put my foot down much sooner than I did.
Alls well now, though for a while he didn't get why I was upset.
Men and women see things differently.
Your dp May just be offerings friend ship but the ow could be forgiven for misreading the situation and have her own agenda .......

peekyboo · 29/11/2018 22:11

Perhaps you're more worried about her giving him the emotional attention you've tried so hard to nurture in your relationship?

SquiggPig · 30/11/2018 08:31

I am peekyboo , I really struggle with the effort it takes to be affectionate and attentive. I love sex with him but am quite selfish in other ways. I know that has to change.

He left for the event a couple of hours ago and has no idea I am bothered by it.
Will speak to him (and her if necessary) this eve.

OP posts:
SquiggPig · 30/11/2018 08:35

Robin2323 I feel I should have put my foot down sooner too. He has several female friends who pop up now and again for coffee, dog walks etc.
The problem for me is I think that due to us being in an open relationship for so long, my judgement of what is acceptable in a monogamous relationship is blurred.

Does you DH have any contact with the woman now?

OP posts:
user1479305498 · 30/11/2018 09:57

I played the cool wife for years when DH had a very young friend and texting was going on all the time. Problem is 13 years later I found a pile of poems/songs all about this person that I thought was ‘just friends’. It’s totally affected how I feel about partners opposite sex friendships ’ because it seems to me one or the other often has an underlying unspoken agenda. I have a friend in her30s who made good friends with a 50 odd year old guy (single) , never ever any kind of attraction on her part, he started getting a bit needy and one day just flipped and said ‘do you think I would put this effort in and hang around all the time if I didn’t think I was going to get sex out of it at some point’. Certainly changed her view on friendships too!! I think you have to set the boundaries now and day you have no issue carrying on with an open relationship but if it’s exclusive andmonogamous then that will mean that over communicating or spending lots of one on one time with other women is off the cards for you

Katgurl · 30/11/2018 10:10

My god OP you two sound like the calmest most reasonable people on the planet. Could you bottle that and give it to me please?

I guess the lines are blurred for you because well they are blurred. You both agreed no more hookups but left it there. Perhaps you need to redefine again what an exclusive relationship means to you both.

It doesn't sound like he has any intention of cheating to me. Perhaps you could join the friendship too? I wouldn't be able but as I said you sound a lot calmer than me.

Robin2323 · 30/11/2018 10:15

Absolutely not! (Well over a year) and there would be 'serious' consequences if he did.
She however still has 3 photos of him & her on her fb which I'm not happy about but she did take the others down (she left her Xh and has new boyfriend - who also lives 1000's of miles away)
BUT I still don't trust her. (Crazy)
I totally trust dh he's more than
On board with me on this now.
Think men can be s bit naive.

SquiggPig · 30/11/2018 15:59

user1479305498 I had always thought that women were wrong to deny their partners female friends, however it does seem that there is a lot of line crossing going on.

Katgurl A bit too laid back I think Hmm
I don't think he has any intention of cheating either for a few reasons, the main one being he knows that he would be homeless, as it's my house we live in!
I wouldn't want to join the friendship. Even I'm not that laid back Grin

Robin2323 I'm glad your DH saw the error of his ways. It could have made for years of resentment if he hadn't.

Reading all your posts has confirmed what I already knew deep down - he can't have his cake and eat it

OP posts:
oiiiiiii · 30/11/2018 16:58

You guys just haven't talked about this enough to have covered off how different scenarios are going to play out now that you've closed the relationship.

You need to talk more. Talk about what you're worried about, what might happen, etc. Talk first, before choosing a solution.

Robin2323 · 30/11/2018 18:42

You seem a very strong woman op.
This good morning and good night stuff is well over the line.
My youngest is away at Uini.
We speak every day usually, but even we don't do the morning/ good nights thing.
On some level he's got to know it's not ok.
I don't suppose he'd really like it if some guy was sending you the same messages .....,

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