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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

Tell me what to do with my life Mumsnetters, I feel so lost

37 replies

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 25/07/2021 02:35

I'm sorry this is probably going to be really fucking long and maybe a bit confusing.

This post involves swinging, there are lots of different dynamics to swinging relationships so however you think it should work is not always the case. Please don't come at me if you think it's seedy and gross, that's just your opinion and I've heard it all a million times before from people who have no real idea

I have been with my husband since I was 15, and I am now 30, so half my life! He is 2 years older so we're almost the same age. We've been married 6 years. Many years ago, we discussed/fantasised about having a threesome, we decided to try and make it happen so we joined a swingers website and never looked back. We have been swinging for 12 of our 15 years. It's more of a cuckold swinging relationship where I will have sex with other men and usually leave DH waiting for me at home. I usually go to swingers clubs or will occasionally arrange to meet men off the site (but ONLY if they have several verifications from other members so you know they're genuine). Obviously not during the pandemic though, but with just one exception which I'm about to talk about...

Back in 2019, I met a man from the site, we went to a hotel and the sex was incredible, it sounds so ridiculously cliché but it really was like the sex you read about in erotic novels, where you just get totally lost in each other and keep going for several hours. After that meet we kept in contact, briefly chatting every few months (stuff like "Hi, how are you? We should arrange another meet if you're keen?" Etc just really brief conversations of 2-3 messages. About 9-10 months after the first meet, we met up again and it was just as amazing as the first time. Again briefly chatted every so often after this meet. The 3rd time we met was just before the first lockdown, after this, we started chatting a bit more often and we tended to meet up in between lockdowns Blush (he was WFH and I'm a SAHM so not like we were constantly mingling with other people so the risk was as low as we could make it, although that does not excuse our recklessness and we've been extremely lucky not to end up ill).

I have met up with him 3 times this year and honestly, I really like him. I feel happy when I spend time with him. He's kind, courteous (he opens doors for me!), generous (sent me an enormous luxury hamper for my birthday!), he makes me laugh, he does incredible things to me in bed and he's just all around lovely. I often find my mind wandering, thinking about him. He has actually said he sometimes thinks of me too. DH knows about all the meets but he has no idea how I feel about him, I'm careful not to talk about him too excitedly or enthusiastically, I don't want to hurt DH by letting him know I like this guy more than he realises. He thinks I just really enjoy the sex. I haven't let on to anyone how I feel, well, apart from you reading this thread now.

Now, to DH. I love him, but I'm not sure if I'm IN love with him anymore. I'm feeling more and more unhappy. Over the last few years he's become increasingly grumpier, mostly with the children, he changes after they go to bed and he's all cheerful and lovey dovey with me. This carries on until the moment he gets out of bed the next day when he flips into bad mood mode again. I find that he brings the mood of us all right down almost every day. He's just so snappy and I don't know why. He can be laughing and cheery one moment, and snappy the next. I've tried bringing it up but he shuts it down and either denies that he's grumpy, or says he is tired. I don't believe his moods are anything to do with the swinging and how we do it, he loves it and wholeheartedly encourages me to have fun. And like I said, his mood disappears once the children have gone to bed.

At home I feel very under appreciated, like whatever I do will never be enough. He's always very quick to point out what housework jobs I haven't done. But if I spend all day cleaning and tidying, he won't say a word on how nice everything looks. I can't remember the last time he paid me a compliment other than 'sexy', I think the last time he called me beautiful was the night I gave birth to our son over 3 years ago. And I DO remember that because I recall being taken aback, thinking how out of the ordinary it was! I never get a general "You look nice today." type comment. Sex-wise, he is good with his mouth and hands but PIV lasts about 3 seconds and he's done, he feels bad about that but won't speak to anyone for help, we don't have PIV sex often because of this but we do other stuff.

I feel like I've painted him out to be this awful person, he's really not. He's always chipping in with doing housework (despite pointing out what I haven't done, he's always happy to run the hoover round, put a wash on, pick up the bathroom cleaner etc), he's generous with money, always buying us all treats like takeaways or going out for ice cream, days out (pre COVID) etc, when he's in a good mood he's so fun. He usually lets me have my own way on lots of things like choosing our kitchen cupboards, the house decor, getting a dog etc.

Those few short hours I spend with the other man, he pays me more lovely compliments than DH ever does. He calls me beautiful, he says he loves my pale white skin, he says he loves my curvy body and that he can't get enough of me. If I ask to meet up he won't hesitate to say yes because "I can never say no to you." I've spoken to two friends about him and they both say it sounds like he likes me, I haven't admitted to them that I like him too.

Now, here is where I'm confused. I love DH but I really like this guy. Am I just latching onto him and projecting my feelings because he's so lovely to me? I know DH loves me but I just feel so taken for granted, I'm nowhere near as happy as I used to be. To be completely honest even before I realised my feelings for this other guy, I was fantasising about how it would feel to leave DH and be single. I regret settling down so young, I wish I had done more, I wish I had lived as a woman on my own. Instead, I became a mum at 20 and have been a SAHM ever since, even if I did leave DH I've no idea how I would manage life without him. I've been trying to get a job to earn my own money, I don't have any personal savings at all, but because I've been a SAHM for so long and from such a young age I'm basically unemployable. Every job application I either don't hear back, get a no thanks because I don't have experience etc and on the rare occasion I do get an interview I don't get it because of a lack of experience/confidence/knowledge.

I just don't know what the fuck to do with my life. I need some guidance because I can't see a way out or a way forward, but clearly something has to change because I cannot carry on like this for much longer :(

OP posts:
Shehasadiamondinthesky · 25/07/2021 10:58

Of course the other guy is lovely and flattering to you, you only meet up occasionally for sex.
If you lived with him he would probably be as shitty as most other blokes are at home.

Notnowkate · 25/07/2021 11:01

@EvenMoreFuriousVexation

Leave the whole swinging aspect out, it sounds like your DH is an absolutely shit dad.

What would you need to do to become employable? Anything will help at this point, including volunteering.

Or Escorting....
ThePurplePalace · 25/07/2021 11:01

This is why I feel so confused. Because I know that I only see those snapshots of him on our meets and through texts. I don't know what he's like day to day. I like the him that I know, if that makes sense? I completely understand what you're saying about it being a fantastical escape route and I agree, like I said I'm not sure if I just feel this way because he's lovelier to me than my husband is.

I guess it doesn’t matter either way. If you decide to end your marriage you could continue to have an amazing time with this guy. It’s not that you’ll be leaving your marriage for him, you marriage will end and you’ll have someone on standby for fun. Sounds pretty peachy to me Wink

category12 · 25/07/2021 11:02

Really hard to run and make money at it, huge struggle to find suitable venues and they get closed down all the time. I wouldn't recommend it.

I think you'd be far far better looking at getting yourself a regular job or career going - you're only 30.

Umberellatheweatha · 25/07/2021 11:04

Hello fellow big dreamer! You totally sound like me op, I always have ideas that sound fun/about how to earn money without having to work for anyone else. But I'm awful with follow through xD

Often tbf, as you've found, the idea wouldn't be something you could put into practice anyway.

Perhaps theres something a little smaller you could start with. Eg: design your own sex toys and sell them?

I'm sure lots of people will come along and tell you to be more practical and stop dreaming. Maybe that's good advice. But let's face it, its less fun. You do you. Keep thinking, look at your means and see if you can adapt your dreams to them.

category12 · 25/07/2021 11:04

Sex-work really doesn't solve the long-term issue of OP not knowing what she wants in life and it doesn't get her a pension or career options.

Howcanthisbe123 · 25/07/2021 11:08

I didn’t read your whole post as it was rather long but it sounds like the grass is greener, however, let me tell you your grass is pretty god damn green lady and much more so than the standard!

You’ve got a reliable and steady relationship with a great guy PLUS you have a great lover!! Your husband also helps out around the house- your like at 85% perfect- no one has 100% perfect and compromises need to be made, if that’s putting up with a grumpy guy now and again I don’t think it’s that bad, everyone goes through a grumpy stage!

It’s normal to you so you can’t see how good you’ve got it!

allwrongitsallwrong · 25/07/2021 11:14

Your area is likely to have employment support schemes for economically inactive people like you. You would get a mentor who would help you consider your options. They may have a budget to pay for training, though this is likely to be low level training. They will know about apprenticeships in your area as well as how to return to education to train if that is what you want. That will help with the employment side at least. You can probably find out about these schemes from your local council.

dottiedodah · 25/07/2021 11:43

TBH as others have said here you are getting great sex,conversations and lovely presents .This is in contrast to DH who has all the pressure of a young family and day to day concerns such as Gas bills ,house maintenance and so on .I wonder if you truly love this other man or whether he is an escape from a life which has lost its sparkle? Is he married too? You speak about starting a career,can you look into Access courses for a degree maybe ?At 30 you are very young still and have many options to think about .You have more of an Affair situation ATM .

Sarahlou63 · 25/07/2021 13:24

It's funny that a previous poster suggested I work in the sex industry in some way, I have actually toyed with the vague idea of setting up a swingers club in our area as there's nothing closer than an hour and a half away.

Why don't you talk to local nightclubs about hosting club nights? Lots do fetish events mid week when they wouldn't normally be busy. Just a thought.

HoneyComb11 · 25/07/2021 14:15

Hang on….

Your husband does a full days work, comes home, helps with housework, whilst on occasion you have sex with this other man, whilst he cares for your kids at home.
He supports the whole family with his income and carries the financial burden.
It sounds like you’re bored, you need to get a job and put your focus elsewhere.
If you don’t love him, then by all means leave him but you’d need to get a job to support yourself. Or are you expecting this guy to financially support you and your kids?
It sounds like you want the best of both worlds and are only with him for the lifestyle he gives you. Your poor husband!

HollowTalk · 25/07/2021 14:28

For god's sake, get a job which interests you and which is not based on the sex industry. You need something else to focus on.

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