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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

Staying in work after DH's "friendship"

27 replies

Thefifthbeatle · 01/03/2020 11:49

Three years ago, whilst I was pregnant with DD2, DH started texting a female friend of his very frequently - they were exchanging multiple messages every day for several months. I don't think they were sexual, although I haven't seen them all. DH used to go out with this friend, but many, many years ago, when they were teenagers. I explained that I was not very comfortable with the intensity of their friendship and asked him to put in place some appropriate boundaries. They continued to message each other, and I discovered this as we pulled into the hospital car park on the day I gave birth. I felt really let down that he had put their friendship above what I needed from him at a time when I was really vulnerable. We have since talked about this a few times and he says he understands how out of order it was, promises it won't happen again, etc.

After DD2's 1st birthday, I found a part time job and went back to work, having previously been a SAHM for a couple of years. This job isn't well paid at all but enables me to keep my foot in the career door. DH thinks that for the tiny amount I'm paid (significantly less than the childcare I need to do it well) this job has a disproportionately negative effect on family life - it involves late night working, and can be quite stressful. I feel that it is sensible to keep my hand in; my trust in him and his ability to tell when external relationships are straying into potentially inappropriate territory has been dented. Last night, when he was complaining about my job, I said that to him for the first time. He is really hurt. Was it an unreasonable thing to say/feel, given the circumstances?

OP posts:
Pinkerpellosa · 01/03/2020 11:51

Nope. Extremely fair. You can't fully trust him due to his past behavior. It sucks but he should have thought of that while texting his friend behind your (pregnant) back. He's hurt because his narrative of him being an angel waking the earth has been challenged. He realized you don't worship him unconditionally. And that's his fault.

SummerWhisper · 01/03/2020 11:53

No, it was completely in order. It also may be the case that he wants you at home so that he can pursue his 'interests' without having the responsibility / restraint of looking after the children. What about how important the job is to you and your future? He seems to care nothing about that. He is a very selfish man at best.

WTF99 · 01/03/2020 12:00

Fair enough really. You told him your thoughts and your thoughts are entirely reasonable. He only has himself to blame.

I think trust can be rebuilt over time. If you do too, maybe you should let him know that .
But don't give up the job.

AsCoolAsLangCleg · 01/03/2020 12:10

Totally fair. I'm. A big advocate of keeping your foot in the career door anyway but it's especially important if your partner has already shown himself to be unreliable.

BluntAndToThePoint80 · 01/03/2020 12:22

Why were you uncomfortable with his friendship in the first place ?

I just wonder because although he shouldn’t have lied to you, I wonder how reasonable/unreasonable it was of you to demand he cut down on a friendship - would you have done it if he was texting a male friend ? I Know I would not take kindly to my DH telling me who I could and could not be friends with - why do you think you should be able to dictate the terms of his friendships ?

If he’s been faithful to you, why wouldn’t you trust him to be friends with a woman in the first place ?

I get you perhaps not trusting him as he lied to you (and nothing excuses that), but I do wonder if it was because you were being controlling when pregnant ?

onlinelinda · 01/03/2020 12:24

Good idea.

Thefifthbeatle · 01/03/2020 12:28

It was the intensity of the friendship which was ringing alarm bells, and I guess the fact that they used to be together, albeit when they were very young.

If it's relevant, at the time he was also under a lot of pressure at work - I felt that I didn't get much of his time and attention, and the little there was to go around was being diverted to someone outside our family.

OP posts:
Baboomtsk · 01/03/2020 13:01

What exactly were the appropriate boundaries you asked him to adhere to?

To expect him to completely cut her off and not message at all seems jealous and controlling. Did he agree to completely stop messaging her? If not then I'm not sure how he betrayed your trust.

thewreckofthehesperus · 01/03/2020 13:05

These are consequences of his actions. He cause this and doesn't get to feel 'hurt'.

If this isn't an oh shit moment for him where he realises how close he came to fucking up then I'd seriously suggest couples counselling so he can have it laid out clearly for him and you both can move on from it.

At the moment he seems to think he is the only one with feelings and that needs to be kicked into touch pdq.

BluntAndToThePoint80 · 01/03/2020 14:30

Did you talk about your concerns calmly like adults and he agreed with you, or did you insist he cut down this friendship ? I’m not convinced you were entirely reasonable in your initial request.

What were these “appropriate boundaries” and did he really think they were required ? Did he agree it was an inappropriate relationship ?

You sound controlling in the first instance to me (perhaps driven by pregnancy hormones, perhaps insecurities) and then you now use it as a bit of a stick to beat him with - either you’ve forgiven and moved on or you haven’t.

Was he actually unfaithful or did he admit to being tempted in that regard ?

SleepingStandingUp · 01/03/2020 14:37

Well he in u too be upset your working so that you can leave him one day because you think he'll cheat.

Yanbu to be honest about your feelings.

Some couples counselling might help you both

hellsbellsmelons · 01/03/2020 14:37

Is he has hurt by this as you were when he let you down so spectacularly??
NOPE!!!
He's playing the sympathy card.
These are YOUR thoughts, feelings and fears. You can't change that.
He COULD have changed that but chose not to.
These are the consequences for his actions.
You can't help how you feel.
He is hurt and that is how he feels now.
You are also still hurt.
Have you had come couples counselling to get all this out?
If not then I might be a good step towards fixing all this.

SleepingStandingUp · 01/03/2020 14:37

He is nbu to

OldWomanSaysThis · 01/03/2020 15:09

You should keep a foot in your career door no matter what. Period.

Findumdum1 · 01/03/2020 15:14

YADNBU! Keep your hand in absolutely anyway, even without this issue. You are young. If you'd seen the number of middle aged women spiraling through the menopause with nothing to keep them busy as their kids have left home or dealing with the fallout when their husbands fuck off or havinf to ask them for money to get their haircut you wouldnt even be asking this question. Keep your hand in and keep some financial independence, always, is my, considered, advice.

Findumdum1 · 01/03/2020 15:15

that I have seen that should say

BigFatLiar · 01/03/2020 15:20

You are not being unfair to tell him you don't trust him
He would not be unfair to feel that he can't stay with the lack of trust.

frazzledasarock · 01/03/2020 15:24

I’d have left DP if I discovered he was having intense messaging conversations whilst I. Was pregnant. The doing it whilst I was in labour would be a deal breaker for me.

I don’t think you’re unreasonable at all. If he has a problem with it, he needs to work towards rebuilding your trust.

I bet he’d be non too pleased to find you constantly on your phone to an ex, especially when you have no time for your family.

Womenwotlunch · 01/03/2020 15:27

YanBu
Btw- it’s a sensible thing to keep your foot in the door.

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead · 01/03/2020 15:34

Always sensible to keep your foot in the door, regardless of whether you fully trust your husband or not, but in your case I'd say it's an imperative given his lack of awareness (at best - at worst it's total disrespect for you and bordering on emotional infidelity).

babychange12 · 01/03/2020 15:36

Always sensible to have a foot in the door
Childcare costs should be seen as family expense so half paid by you and half by him

I will never let myself be reliant on a man for money

Dozer · 01/03/2020 15:39

WOH would be sensible even if you 100% trusted your H, and you have good reason not to. Would WoH more and in the best paid/best prospects job you can, even if that means DH has to make work changes or childcare costs increase further.

You don’t even have “full disclosure” about his affair.

Dozer · 01/03/2020 15:41

Also, be v v wary of a man who claims it’s “not worth” you WoH. Is he promising to financially support you and the DC long term in the event of a break up? And/or to do things that might affect HIS earning power in order to parent the DC? Doubt it.

AnyFucker · 01/03/2020 15:43

For "intense messaging" read affair

If my husband had an affair I would be sure to maintain my ability to support myself. It would be stupid not to.

BaolFan · 01/03/2020 15:43

Working is necessary for my own happiness and wellbeing.

The cost of childcare is a necessary and shared one, like the rent/mortgage, electric and so on, so that objection holds no water.

I refuse to leave myself completely financially dependent on a man who let me down at a time when I was literally about to give birth. Sorry if that stings but it's the truth.