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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

OW strange behavior

46 replies

Firestarter19 · 11/01/2019 00:58

Name changed for this.

My DH had what I would call an emotional affair. They became friends online, social media and then started texting. We live a long way from her, they couldn't have met up. She has a husband but DH would tell me they were not in love anymore. Lots of mentionitis from DH, "OW this, OW that". When I became suspicious I checked the messages and they were texting lots. Sometimes she was making snide comments about me but in a subtle way that would go over most bloke's heads. Keeping him onside, shoulder to cry on and he was badmouthing me a bit and telling her private things about me/us. I was so angry. It's like she was using him as an emotional crutch and DH was enjoying the attention.

When I found out what was going on and challenged DH he wasn't pleased and there was minimization/gaslighting but I told him it was an emotional affair and eventually, after some protestations from both he and OW about how they were friends/it was all innocent, contact was cut. Basically I told him cut her out or we're finished. And he did. First with the texting and then social media. He deleted her from Instagram about a year ago. She still follows him on it but never comments or likes his pics now. We have been working on our relationship and things are much better.

But the weird thing is shortly after he deleted her the OW suddenly started posting regular photos of her 'D'H on Instagram. She's been on that site for about 5 years and not once before this had she posted his photo. I know it's her husband and not someone new because she has posted his pic on FB before and tagged him in it. Her husband isn't on Instagram. You would have thought she was single looking at her Instagram pics before this. Previously she'd have lots of pics of herself posing (I reckon most of them were taken by the husband) but not a mention of him. It was all "I went here" along with a pic of her posing and grinning away wherever she was or "Here's my dinner" along with a pic of a single plate of food on her table. "Today I did X, it was fun!" and pic of her doing whatever. Now though there's all these photos of her DH and of the two of them together out and about, "Here's DH and me on our anniversary!", photos of them at Christmas, here's what we ate on X occasion, lots of usage of 'we' now in her captions rather than 'I' and so on. My thinking is that she's always taken photos of him/them together anyway, she's just not posted them on Instagram. I think it's very strange. What's her game I wonder. I don't for a second think she's doing this because she's all loved up with the husband now, it seems a calculated move. Also my DH used to tell me that she'd text him saying she was going out on dates with other men. Not sure if this really happened or she was trying to make him jealous. I'm just wondering why she's doing suddenly posting these photos...

I haven't said anything about this to my DH. He hadn't mentioned her since before the defriending last year, prior to that he'd said she'd emailed him once to ask how he was doing but he said that's when he last spoke to her. But when we were on holiday recently we got talking to a man who looked very like her DH (he's quite distinctive looking) and the next morning I mentioned this man to my DH, said he was a nice chatty guy etc and he responded with "He looks like OW's DH!" I didn't let on that I thought so too, I don't think my DH knows I've seen photos of her husband before. I just said "Oh really?" and he said "Yes. Oh and I haven't been speaking to her since that last time". And I said ok then and changed the subject.

And she keeps posting photos. I just find it, strange that she's posting all these photos now when she didn't post a single one before.

OP posts:
Boysandbuses · 11/01/2019 15:57

I know it's not uncommon.

My ex husbands girlfriend does it to me

Looking up your ex is different to looking up and analysing the behaviour of a OW who had contact cut with them a year ago

SuziQ10 · 11/01/2019 16:07

You sound a little strange to from original post. You might find you feel better once she's blocked on EVERYTHING by both of you.

Butterfly44 · 11/01/2019 16:15

Why on earth do you care? What's it to you? No idea why you are even looking. It's her feed and her life to post whatever and to whoever she wants to to her own followers.
Maybe all your DH has said to you isn't even true. Why assume what she told him was even true? Very odd.
I would concentrate on your issues at home as you are still bothered by what your DH sees. He should have blocked really. Any so should you.

funkylittleboatrace · 11/01/2019 16:26

Lord

Looneytune253 · 11/01/2019 16:30

A ‘near miss’ is sometimes likely to make you appreciate what you have. My dh was in contact with a lady much more than I would’ve liked and when I found out he cut contact completely and then we were defo more lovey dovey for a while. Same concept. Also she may be aware that some people may be aware of what happened and wanting the world to know that she’s still happy with her husband. Kind of sticking up for him iyswim

fuddle · 11/01/2019 18:17

She's either much happier with her husband or pretending to be! I think you're naturally curious. I'd be furious with my DH if he'd done that to me. I think your DH still has work to do in your relationship

AppleBlossomArseCheeks · 11/01/2019 18:24

You sound obsessed I'm afraid.
It's your husband that did this to you not her and by following her every move you won't be able to move forward.

allaboutHR · 11/01/2019 19:56

I don't think it's strange of you to look but I think it's not healthy. It's not going to help you move on from his betrayal. Maybe you're still looking for answers as to how your marriage got in to this situation? Maybe you need to unpack it with your husband a bit more?

Santaclarita · 11/01/2019 20:29

You do realise he's been looking at her pictures too? Otherwise how would he know what her husband looks like?

She probably knows you're both watching her and is loving the attention.

Dirtybadger · 11/01/2019 20:36

Maybe it's woken her up and she's focusing on and enjoying her marriage more now. Hopefully.

Renarde1975 · 11/01/2019 20:47

OP, you DO appreciate in your OP that it can be read both ways, especially the massive role reversal that goes on right at the start...

I told him it was an emotional affair...

Dallasty · 11/01/2019 21:20

"comments that go over men's heads"???? Wow, no wonder he was seeking attention elsewhere if thats the way you condescend him. Because yeah...all us guys are really dim. OP...you're the weird one.

Mum4Fergus · 11/01/2019 22:20

I think you're behaviour is stranger than OW's in all honesty Hmm

Firestarter19 · 12/01/2019 00:13

Thanks for all the comments.

DH knows what her DH looks like as they were once friends on FB (him and the OW, not her DH). I'm wondering if her DH said something and that's why they were no longer connected on that site. They all like motorsports, that's how he and OW 'met' on some motorsport page. I'm not into motorsports. I am friends with another lady who knows the OW and said she's manipulative so it's not just me. I've also seen things she put online on another site (using her Instagram alias) saying she wishes she'd never gotten married and talking about a 'friend' of hers several times, that he says this and that and it's 'cute' - she was talking about my DH. Hmm DH is friends with some exes on FB etc and they're all nice people, I'm even friends with one of these ladies myself. But this woman just makes me nervous. I truly hope she has decided to work on her marriage and these photos are because she's proud of being seen with her husband and happy to be with him.

I want to ask my DH to block her but I'm a little worried that he might make a fuss again. I agree that it's not healthy checking her page but I was cut deep by what happened. it's taking a while to get over it. Maybe counselling would help? Hmm. And people (like my DH) think it's fine if there's nothing physical going on, but him sharing an emotional connection with another woman was so upsetting. Telling her stuff before me etc. He's a little socially awkward and doesn't realise what's appropriate sometimes.

OP posts:
kidsneedfathers · 12/01/2019 02:01

Dear Firestarter
You know what Oscar Wilde said: the best way to get rid of temptation is to give in to it (just parphrasing). I agree as long as this temptation is cheating/harming someone.So you are tempted to look at this OW public site.Normal/natural/not unusual . And ypu harm noone. In order words:you are OK. Especially that the OW and your OH were nasty to you and spoke about you on your back. Ignore what others say. And you give in to this temptation-perfect and with the blessing of OW (Oscar Wilde) and the blessing of many around. Some around find this abnormal/disturbing etc: their problem given that you harm noone-and it is also their right given you post here. So far so fine. Now if you allow me to express my opinion then here it is. I think in the long run this kind of obsession might harm you. This woman harmed you enough. Try to distance yourself from her. If you find it hard them please ask yourself the following queztions: is that becUse you don't fully trust your OH? Can you talk to him about this obsession and clarify with his help.what might keep you g back to follow her? And before there questions: do you suffer a bit from OCD or ADHD that just keep alive "bugs" in your mind? If the latter is true then maybe it is worth talking to your GP. ..Many would not like to hear what I will say here but that is what I think: most OW/OM are nasty or psychologically disturbed people. They often initiate the treason-especially with "nice" partners. I wish no-one to ever have them colluding in their OH orbitre when they have no time for their fool OH..

kidsneedfathers · 12/01/2019 02:03

As long as this temptation is NOT CHEATING OR HARMING -Sorry for the typo

MistressDeeCee · 12/01/2019 02:06

You're not strange, OP. I hope you're ignoring those unkind and unhelpful comments. You've been hurt and aren't over that. You have trust issues to deal with too, and that's your husband's fault not yours. He brought her into your relationshipas it were.

Do go to Counselling, it will help. Not couples' counselling though - go on your own so you can think and express, get your head around what's happened and the best way forward from now on.

In the meantime it really is best to tell your husband you're not happy with the Instagram following. You need to unfollow her too but you'll not feel better about doing that if your husband hasn't also unfollowed.

Him being socially awkward has no bearing in this - I'm quite sure he didn't feel awkward talking about you inappropriately and disloyally behind your back with another woman.

A candid conversation with him, in the 1st instance. Then take it from there.

Firestarter19 · 12/01/2019 16:23

Thanks to the above posters.

I've never followed her on Instagram or anywhere else. I just pop in and check out her pics on airplane mode (so I don't accidentally like them lol). I want to tell DH to block her so we can both move on properly, his argument last time was that she "hadn't done anything wrong". But it had affected me, it was like he was prioritising her over us. It doesn't help that she is much prettier than I am, I guess I get insecure. Her and her DH seem to have quite an interesting life, always doing fun stuff. I'd probably find her harmless if it wasn't for what happened.

Yep things were fine with me and DH before this. I though so anyway. Need to get that trust back and work on myself too. I'll investigate about a counsellor. Thanks again.

OP posts:
MsDogLady · 13/01/2019 02:51

Firestarter, your problem is with him. You are with a man who believes that there is no harm in having an emotional affair, as long as ‘there is nothing physical going on.’ In fact, his emotional bond with OW is not yet broken.

You told him to cut her out or you were finished...but he hasn’t. You want to tell him to block her, so that you can move on properly, but you are ‘worried that he might make a fuss again.’ The last time you asked him to block her, he argued that ‘she hadn’t done anything wrong.’ They both did plenty wrong by establishing an emotional connection, offering shoulders, slagging you off, and discussing your private business. He still wants to protect her and can’t bear to offend her by completely blocking her.

Focus your anger on your husband. He breached his fidelity and betrayed your trust, but it doesn’t sound like he is admitting that, and he is not doing what you need to restore trust.

Sashkin · 13/01/2019 05:04

It may be that she was deliberately NOT posting pics of her DH before (when she was involved with your DH), and now your DH has blocked her she has gone back to her previous level of posting about her DH. So this might be normal for her, and what you were seeing before was abnormal, IYSWIM.

AgentJohnson · 13/01/2019 08:03

I want to ask my DH to block her but I'm a little worried that he might make a fuss again.. This is the issue, this woman’s social media footprint is a distraction

Your “we’re doing much better” is contingent on you STFU, which has led you to look for answers from anyone except your H.

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