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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

My wife / partner of 25yrs is leaving me for another woman.

91 replies

saddad2021 · 26/06/2021 21:44

So i guess i should just cut to the chase. My wife (43yrs old) who was apparently happily married to me, prior to this uncontrollable infatuation with another woman (37yrs old) has told me she has unfortunately fallen in love, and she can't stop the feeling. and this other woman who's also married with 4 kids, feels the same about my wife. She's sorry for all harm and destruction its going to cause but its apparently like a freight train that neither can stop. i have two boys 14 and 16 who are still none the wiser on what's going on. Making matters worse is we're all still living in the same household together, and my wife doesn't even try and hide it.. Like right now, she's on the phone to her in her car somewhere. Been there for an hour. I know this sounds like she's a complete c word. and right now she is, but this was one of the kindest caring humans i and many others felt about her. A month ago we were holding hands watching a sunset telling each other how rock solid we are together, and now she's on the phone with her new lover. She has NEVER EVER cheated on me. Always been faithful. Actually i was the douche at the start of our relationship. I went out for a lunch with a girl from work, testing the waters 20 yrs ago, and she nearly had a breakdown over it. She smashed my phone, was uncontrollably crying for days, lost weight from not being able to eat and while we got over it took yrs before she fully trusted me again. i know she isn't full on lesbian, because she really did love me, and crave me. Perhaps the last yr, she did seem like she started transitioning. Spending much more time talking to her female friends, some of which i know as a friend, (not the lover though) meeting them for beach walks. And she actually started going out more often with the couple of female friends she has, but respectful. Never a woman who said she was going somewhere and went somewhere else.. Actually she told me before actually doing anything with this other woman, that both had fallen in love with each other, before they kissed. Everything in our relationship has been shared since we got married at least. There's never been any secrecy. i know it all sounds like complete madness, and it really is. She's in tears (perhaps a little crocodile tears at times feeling sorry for herself, and feeling she's let her family down) she isn't saying, i'm going to end it with this woman and fix things with me, she is genuinely trying to figure out how to make it all work.. Her and this other married woman with her kids. all somehow living together ??? We're financially solid together. Paid off all our debts, don't owe a penny to anyone. Have a beautiful home in paradise. (SW Florida) We both moved here together in 2004. then had our two children. We're both british so have a lot in common. I'm trying to make sense of all of this. How powerful must a woman on woman attraction be for her to want to throw absolutely everything away on this ??? She's always been a bit tomboy ish. Like never wore makeup well or never felt comfortable in a dress. But she's very attractive. Pretty and cute, petite and one of those bodies that never puts an inch of fat on. A little bit like Ellen Page was before she / he all went transgender. If i was to describe a woman that reminded me of her while not exactly, but it would be her. Kinda cute and dinky and magnetic. I know she's had lots of attention in the past by other men, all of which she brushed off with ease. What i loved about her apart from being an amazing mother prior to all of this, is she's never looked for attention. Her hair is just tied back, no makeup or very little when going to work where this other married woman works, but for whatever reason, its like this lesbian attraction has an unbelievable hold on her.

I don't know for sure, because the final kill for me is when she tells the our kids, She called her parents this morning in England today to tell them everything, both of which said STOP and think about what you're doing. I even spoke to her dad, who obviously loves his daughter but knows only she can make the right decision.

I'm going to see a therapist on Tues to figure out what i need to do. i know what they're going to say. Break away make a fresh start, you don't need to be tortured like this.. BUT i am trying to save the marriage. You don't just give up on your family so easily.. We seem to just be bickering now more than being best friends. But even during some of the last week, we both used each others shoulders to cry on. I told her this needs to stop, either its me and our family or this other woman. But she's definitely leaning towards this other woman, even though its a train wreck waiting to happen. Any advice from a woman who perhaps is that way inclined, who may understand what she must be going through would be appreciated.

OP posts:
AnotherKrampus · 26/06/2021 21:57

You seem to be more concerned about image and her looks, like she is some doll on your arm and the fact that until recently, she never came into her own as a person. It sounds like she is discovering who she is and becoming more independent. Falling in love with someone else, seems like only part of the story, it sounds as though she has outgrown you and the marriage and is happier out of it. It happens. For some reason reading this, makes me bristle and dislike you, as you come across as very self-centred. Perhaps this other person actually sees your (ex) wife for who she is not what you think she ought to be. Focus on dealing with the break-up but stop trying to badger and manipulate your wife and point score with the rest of the family. Your sons will get over it and yeah, plenty of second marriages and new relationships involve new partners living together with their kids. Sexual orientation is not a reason for it to be wrong.

Hoppinggreen · 26/06/2021 22:01

I’m sorry she’s cheated on you but that’s what you need to deal with rather than the fact that she now has feelings for a woman.
A friend of mine has been in a similar situation, married with children for almost 20 years but then fell in love with another woman. I don’t think the persons sex was a factor there either, she just found someone who’s company highlighted the deficiencies in her marriage.

Sakurami · 26/06/2021 22:05

Maybe this woman looked beyond what whe looked like and what she actually is? Bloody hell, paragraphs describing what she looks like as if it has any bearing on this!!

Lastnightidreamtofmanderley · 26/06/2021 22:06

I think your last response was harsh. I think you come across as very caring and like you love your wife very much. I can’t offer any insight to your current situation but right now you have no control over what your wife chooses to do. Concentrate on your DC, make sure they know that their lives are stable. Deal with what is within your control

EKGEMS · 26/06/2021 22:07

She's really acting despicably towards you and IMO she should've moved out immediately after telling you her plans. I don't get the impression you're only appreciating her for her looks or the image you have as a couple. I think she absolutely should move out and also be the one who tells your children, and face the fallout. I think your children are old enough to choose which parent they want to stay with, but my gut feeling is they'll want to stay exactly where they are. Your wife is going to get a huge shock thinking their future together is going to be all rainbows and unicorn sprinkles when she's just another run of the mill cheater

altiara · 26/06/2021 22:21

Sounds like she’s fallen in love.

Cissyandflora · 26/06/2021 22:24
Biscuit
Branleuse · 26/06/2021 22:26

Im sorry this is happening to you OP. You speak about her with much love. This must be really difficult.
Im not sure there is anything you can do.

Iwonder08 · 26/06/2021 22:30

Your wife is a having an affair. You need to stop concentrating on the fact it is with the same sex person. I can imagine it is even more confusing, but it doesn'tchange the fact she is having an affair. And she is not trying to hide it. You need to concentrate on your therapy to help yourself to come to terms with that and have enough strength to go through separation.

Mytym · 26/06/2021 22:38

You want to fix the marriage but she doesn't. You have to accept that.

drpet49 · 26/06/2021 22:40

* She's really acting despicably towards you and IMO she should've moved out immediately after telling you her plans. I don't get the impression you're only appreciating her for her looks or the image you have as a couple. I think she absolutely should move out and also be the one who tells your children, and face the fallout.*

^Completley agree. I fee so sorry for you and your children OP. Your wife’s behaviour is disgusting, she is having an affair but you won’t get any sympathy here I’m afraid. Most posters will turn it around to blame you because you are a man.

JollyRanchess · 26/06/2021 22:43

Maybe she cheated on you because her new partner cares about more than what she looks like. Not saying it’s ok to cheat, but the way you talk about her is so shallow. Maybe she needs more.

WhoDidAndWhy · 26/06/2021 22:45

It’s irrelevant that the other person is female. It’s irrelevant what your wife looks like. You need to stop fixating on those things. Plus, it makes you sound very weird.

Focus on what’s going on. She’s told you she’s out of the marriage. Start making arrangements. She needs to start organising herself to move out. You need to support your children.

Sjdmcfeet · 26/06/2021 22:54

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LizzieMacQueen · 26/06/2021 23:16

Christ, I thought you meant Elaine Page ..... as you were.

GeorgiaGirl52 · 26/06/2021 23:22

@drpet49

* She's really acting despicably towards you and IMO she should've moved out immediately after telling you her plans. I don't get the impression you're only appreciating her for her looks or the image you have as a couple. I think she absolutely should move out and also be the one who tells your children, and face the fallout.*

^Completley agree. I fee so sorry for you and your children OP. Your wife’s behaviour is disgusting, she is having an affair but you won’t get any sympathy here I’m afraid. Most posters will turn it around to blame you because you are a man.

Also agree. Whether woman or man, still an affair and still wrong. But You cannot keep her in the marriage. So... See a lawyer. Keep the house so your sons will have a familiar base. File for custody of your sons. Make sure you are present when SHE tells them she is leaving. Don't let her spin it as "your father is throwing me out and leaving me penniless."
After she tells them, arrange for counseling for the three of you. As soon as you can, arrange a trip for you and the boys back to see their grandparents.
Cockenspiel · 26/06/2021 23:23

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Graphista · 26/06/2021 23:29

You're focusing on entirely the wrong things!

It's irrelevant that it's another woman fact is she cheated, she completely disregarded your marriage and your family and acted on feelings that at that point she had no right to

That said you also seem way way too concerned about looks/appearances

You've said very little about her character or why you married her

What matters right now are the dc and getting things sorted legally/financially in a fair way with particular regard to as smooth a transition as possible for the dc

LemonMeringueThreePointOneFour · 26/06/2021 23:32

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ForgottenWhyImHere · 26/06/2021 23:53

www.straightspouse.org/

As you are in the US, you might benefit from talking to someone at the Straight Spouse Network.

To all the previous posters questioning the OP's attitude... finding out or being told that your partner, whom you thought was straight, is questioning their sexuality (or not questioning, but has realised they are LGBTQ) is usually confusing, distressing and raises a lot of questions. The straight partner often analyses every detail of their life in the search for an explanation and hope of saving the relationship. If you haven't been through it, it is hard to understand.

Counselling is a good idea. Support from people who know what you're going through can also really help.

KittyFilter · 26/06/2021 23:54

'We' re both British so have a lot in common'

What a bizarre thing to say 🤔

saddad2021 · 27/06/2021 01:10

@AnotherKrampus

You seem to be more concerned about image and her looks, like she is some doll on your arm and the fact that until recently, she never came into her own as a person. It sounds like she is discovering who she is and becoming more independent. Falling in love with someone else, seems like only part of the story, it sounds as though she has outgrown you and the marriage and is happier out of it. It happens. For some reason reading this, makes me bristle and dislike you, as you come across as very self-centred. Perhaps this other person actually sees your (ex) wife for who she is not what you think she ought to be. Focus on dealing with the break-up but stop trying to badger and manipulate your wife and point score with the rest of the family. Your sons will get over it and yeah, plenty of second marriages and new relationships involve new partners living together with their kids. Sexual orientation is not a reason for it to be wrong.
i have no idea how you came to that conclusion, i was just saying i love how she doesn't care about attention. i love her for her personality more than anything. the looks is a bonus. i came on this forum as i knew there would be more women then men. Women understand women better. They may be able to give a better handle on the situation. that's all. i don't treat her like a doll.. we do everything together. absolutely everything.
OP posts:
sfeirical · 27/06/2021 01:12

Good for her! 🥰

saddad2021 · 27/06/2021 01:13

@KittyFilter

'We' re both British so have a lot in common'

What a bizarre thing to say 🤔

not really, we've both lived in the US since 2004. Both raised in the UK from the same county. When you live in a different country, its refreshing to be with a British person. We joke about the differences in personalities between the American's and the British. One other way you could put it is we have a lot in common. It made us closer in my opinion.
OP posts:
NannyAndJohn · 27/06/2021 01:27

Looks like she's finally broken free.

Have another Biscuit to drown your sorrows.