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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

Messages on DP's phone, do we still have a chance?

206 replies

DaisyD22 · 09/08/2019 13:12

Apologies for a long thread but want to avoid drip-feeding. Me and my DP, both 35, have been together for 6 years, we split before as we didn't get on very well and there were also external factors to do with jobs, family bereavement, money etc. which didn't help.
Mutual decision, we stayed friends as had still lots of respect and love for each other. We lived over 1 year apart, then started to become closer and after almost 2 years since 1st split, we got back together, moved in. We spend lots of time talking and making changes to make sure we don't repeat old mistakes. First months were great, almost felt like being in love for the 1st time again but now, almost another year on, we are struggling. We just seem to be different in many aspects, we argue quite a lot. I am career focused, he is more laid back. I am messy, he is tidy. I earn more than him, he just gets by. Sex is not great, it happens but it seems like a chore at times.
I still love him to bits as he is a good and caring man and I do know he loves me too but we just don't get on on a daily basis.
Recently he went to work and forgot to take his phone, and I did something I have never done before, I checked his FB. There were quite a lot of messages between him and one girl, I figured out it is someone he must have been dating or sleeping with when we were apart. The messages between them were rather friendly then sexual and quite reserved from her side but there was certain level of intimacy, as if they knew each other very well.
DP said in one message that me and him are not getting on :( and we might even split in the future... that was after one of our rows. He also complimented this girl many times and many times mentioned how much fun they had together in the past. He mentioned her 'great tits' once, too. Her response to all that is just laughing and changing subject usually. DP sent her a picture of himself, just a selfie and asked her for pictures, too. She ignored it but eventually sent him a couple of pics, night out ones with friends and one pretty selfie, with 'great tits' visible. DP's response was wow you are looking lovely, great, hot, still beautiful.
The messages went on for a couple of weeks, sometimes there were a couple of days with no contact. Last contact was about 3 weeks ago. Her last message was: I don't think we should talk that much while you are still in a relationship with Daisy, which he responded to: yes, I know, it's great to be back in touch but I do need to focus on trying to fix my relation with Daisy so it is best if we don't talk much right now.
I am really confused and upset by these messages. He clearly fancies her and trusts her enough to say we are struggling. It seems like a huge breach of trust. On the other hand,
I know him so well and know he would never cheat. It is just not in his book. So it is not physical now... and it's seems kind of typical for man to think of sex with other women, especially when things are not great at home... But... His FB search shows that he checks her profile out regularly and I also saw some downloaded pics of her in his phone. Most just normal ones but one or two quite seductive selfies, tops with cleavage, shorts, with legs and heels exposed. Not really sure what he saw in her as she is quite average.
She is older than me and I think less attractive but he clearly fancies her.
I just don't know what to do and think. We looked at houses together recently and I am also thinking I don't have that much time left for trying for a child but clearly it is all too messy now to even consider getting pregnant.
Is there any chance from here for me and DP? Should I confront him about it all?

OP posts:
matahairyy · 09/08/2019 13:17

Why do you want a chance? He sounds shit and your relationship not good. Never go back. Never second chances imo

newmomof1 · 09/08/2019 13:17

I honestly think you should call it a day. You're not compatible and he very clearly fancies this other woman - even if she's not as attractive as you Hmm

Mum4Fergus · 09/08/2019 13:17

I'd seriously reconsider any baby and house buying plans. It sounds as if Plan B is already in the wings...I'd leave him to it. Thanks

DaisyD22 · 09/08/2019 13:19

I didn't mean to criticise her, just trying to give as much facts as I can. As I am thinking he might be after ego boost when things go wrong for usConfused

OP posts:
Parent999 · 09/08/2019 13:19

If things are messy at 35, and youve split once and given it a second chance. If the second chance failed and you dont want to have children then you have your answer.
Its only when you get the relationship you want you look back and realise how wrong a previous one was. You only get one life, rip the bandaid off and move on.
Tick tock

DaisyD22 · 09/08/2019 13:21

We were so happy first 3 or 4 years though and we love each other. Maybe we just need to compromise better.

OP posts:
Aussiebean · 09/08/2019 13:21

Ignore the messages for a moment.

Do you think, in your HEAD, that you two are a good match? That you have have similar outlooks on finance, work ethic, values, child rearing? When you are at your lowest (like you may be after having a child) do you see him as a great and loving support?

Sometimes the head needs to win.

TerracottaLeggy · 09/08/2019 13:22

He's a disloyal tossbag. Discard.

fernsfordays · 09/08/2019 13:24

He's a scumbag 100%. If you were "the one", he would have married you by now and would not be messaging other girls telling them they are beautiful and have nice tits. He sucks. Move on.

RobinMoseby · 09/08/2019 13:26

How can you respect him after seeing how he has pestered that woman? She clearly isn’t interested and is uncomfortable with no idea how to handle it. She ignores his requests for photos before eventually giving in to his nagging 🤢 she changes the subject with he ‘compliments’ her 🤮 and he downloads her pictures (to wank over presumably. Poor her and poor you with that one).

He’s disrespectful to you, your relationship and his ‘backup option’ (I think he’s got a surprise coming because I don’t think she will be there if you two breakup). Why do you want to be with him? You deserve better.

parent999 · 09/08/2019 13:26

DaisyD22 Fri 09-Aug-19 13:21:01
We were so happy first 3 or 4 years though and we love each other. Maybe we just need to compromise better.

Look up cognitive dissonance.
Youre chasing what you had some time ago. I wasted many many years trying to find the woman I first fell in love with, she didnt exist [at least anymore]

Seriously when you get the right relationship it just feels right and you wont be posting for stranger's opinions.

DaisyD22 · 09/08/2019 13:27

When we were on off for a while, I was in touch with one of my old flames, too. And I knew I just needed a friend and yes, an ego boost, so I don't 100% see him talking to her as being disloyal. It is more the obvious comfort of their messages that worries me.
If we are compatible... 50/50. He is very caring and hands on, family focused. But these other issues...

OP posts:
Belfield · 09/08/2019 13:28

Other woman aside you don't sound like you have a great relationship so should forget about babies.

Alloftit · 09/08/2019 13:30

What a shower of shit your relationship sounds. Write it off as a bad job and move on.

FuriousVexation · 09/08/2019 13:32

^It seems like a huge breach of trust. On the other hand,
I know him so well and know he would never cheat.^

What on earth would make you think this?

Genuine question.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 09/08/2019 13:33

You don't sound well matched at all. You can be so much happier that this.

Bluntness100 · 09/08/2019 13:33

I also don't understand why you want it to stand a chance, it's clearly not working and it didn't work before.

And as for her being less attractive than you, I'm sorry, but it's in the eye of the beholder and he does think she's as, if not more attractive. Personality also has a lot to do with it.

I'd forget the messages, I'd focus on if this relationship can be fixed and if not, which is likely if even sex is a chore, then the both of you should just move on.

Parent999 · 09/08/2019 13:34

DaisyD22

Be honest what advice were you hoping we would give you?
You dont need anyones permission or validation to stay in that relationship, or go. So what do you need?

Youre 35 and would like children one day! what are you going to do about that?

DaisyD22 · 09/08/2019 13:35

OK. He cooks, cleans, does majority of chores, hardly ever goes out. Non drinker. He was huge support to me through my cancer scare and when I was 3 weeks in hospital. He gave up on a good job to move back with me and now has an average job he doesn't like much but doesn't complain. He makes me laugh and always has time for me. I am definitely more selfish, so to speak, in this relation. Maybe it is me in the wrong.... He is not a bad man. But this woman...

OP posts:
newmomof1 · 09/08/2019 13:37

Do you have fun together? Do you see yourself spending the rest of your life with him?

If you do, just talk to him. Tell him he's crossed a line and ask what he wants.

AlexaAmbidextra · 09/08/2019 13:37

Oh dear OP. You are desperately trying to justify and minimise here. He clearly fancies another woman. He will take it further if she lets him. You are being very naive if you believe he wouldn’t cheat. Let it go. Your relationship is going nowhere.

Parent999 · 09/08/2019 13:39

So just tell him he needs to be no contact with other woman or youre gone. Then get yourself to counselling and work on your future. Youll know soon enough if the other woman is still a problem for him or you

DaisyD22 · 09/08/2019 13:39

I am sure he would not cheat as we discussed cheating many times and he has strict beliefs about it. Also, his father cheated on his mum, they had a nasty break up when he was a teen, and he always had very difficult relationship with him because of that. He is not a cheating type.

OP posts:
matahairyy · 09/08/2019 13:41

Hollow laugh.

They’re always the worst - who bang on about cheating

MarthasGinYard · 09/08/2019 13:41

'also saw some downloaded pics of her in his phone. Most just normal ones but one or two quite seductive selfies, tops with cleavage, shorts, with legs and heels exposed. Not really sure what he saw in her as she is quite average.

Perhaps he does find her more attractive than you and uses them as wank fodder too.

It would be over in my eyes.

Once you declare you have found it he will just hide it further under stones.