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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

Am i being ridiculous

214 replies

Brightonpierrot · 05/10/2021 23:48

Story is that my husband had an affair with a woman at his work. Affair lasted over a year. OW finally left him. He was devastated. Confessed all. I was devastated. Agreed to try and save marriage. Had counselling etc. Over 2 years go by and no contact from her. This week out of the blue she starts ‘liking’ his instagram posts. Just that.
He says he doesnt know why, he hasnt had any contact with her and doesnt want to. He says he’s dealing with it (by ignoring her) and I should trust him and ignore it too.
Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Chattycatty · 08/10/2021 01:14

Imagine yourself free of his drama free of thinking of her. Imagine yourself feeling safe and calm and warm. He really isn't worth your time get rid. You'll be free

Owlink · 08/10/2021 01:38

OP you & your dog are going to have a lovely, calm, happy life. You've got a lot of crap to get through to reach that life but it's basically just admin & patience. You're intelligent, strong, witty & kind. You'll see your children and you'll make plenty of friends naturally. You'll be so happy without that nasty twat in your life.

Cheering you on! Grin Wine

QueenBee52 · 08/10/2021 02:40

OP I am so glad you have seen through his embarrassing pathetic excuses for not having blocked her all those years back... he was praying for her to get in touch.. give him a sign .. something anything ... and she did.., his heart must have been euphoric at the mere sight of that LIKE....

You Lady are doing the right thing... He is a sad loser sat waiting for her to pick him up again..

Take your dignity and hold your head high... You will thrive without this crap in your life... good luck with your project 🌸

LHReturns · 08/10/2021 02:42

My stepfather had an affair behind my mum’s back. When she caught him he literally has done everything a man could do to make amends - for three years now and counting. He has not put a foot wrong as he wants to stay with my mum so much.

She has never been the same since and genuinely I think he has ruined the marriage for her. She will stay with him but he has taken away all the magic.

Please leave your husband. He hasn’t done everything possible by a long shot.

LunaAndHerMoonDragons · 08/10/2021 07:26

@Brightonpierrot

Thank you all for being so kind. I really needed to have my feelings corroborated. He was making me feel guilty for checking up on him. I know i need to trust but he’s obviously not trustworthy.

What i really want is my life pre-affair.it all looks so happy and carefree from here!

I do want not to have to think about it every day. Not to feel awful at his work dos (everybody there knows). Not to feel sick when his phone pings. Not to take pills, see a therapist. Not to be afraid to mention anything about it for fear of provoking a sulk or tantrum from him. Not to feel like a frumpy old woman.

But I am worried about the lack of people round me.

Is being with him worth feeling like this? How can you possibly trust him? He's acting untrustworthy and gaslighting you that the problem is you not trusting him, rather than the truth, that he's in fact he's not worthy of trust.
layladomino · 08/10/2021 09:03

@Brightonpierrot I'm LOVING this superstrength you!!

This is from one of your earlier posts:
I do want not to have to think about it every day. Not to feel awful at his work dos (everybody there knows). Not to feel sick when his phone pings. Not to take pills, see a therapist. Not to be afraid to mention anything about it for fear of provoking a sulk or tantrum from him. Not to feel like a frumpy old woman.

That is no way to live.... but your new approach is brilliant. It feels as though you are in control. He's on the backfoot. If he was hoping to triangulate and get make you feel uneasy about her again, then he's clearly failed. If he was hoping to gaslight you in to accepting they had some form of communication again, he's failed.

What he's learned is that you know your value. That you aren't frightened of leaving him. That you don't care much what they do. That you are stronger than that.

I suspect that will have shown her weaknesses up somewhat for him. And flirting with the idea of some form of contact again with her will feel much less attractive against a backgrop of lising his wife, home, children's respect etc.

Take your time, and whatever you decide to do, do it because it's the right thing for you. And don't ever forget this feeling now - you deserve a trustworthy partner who is 100% in your camp. You don't need him. You aren't some weak hanger on who will be treated badly. You know your worth. You deserve better than he has given you these last few years.

Brightonpierrot · 08/10/2021 09:14

Thank you @layladomino but i am definitely not super strong.
I can’t throw off this awful headache and am alarmed how an emotional crisis can affect my health.
I feel very depressed today. It hadn’t occurred to me before but i think his other gram followers (including our kids and mutual friends) will have seen her likes. They must think I am such a mug. Why would she do something so public? She could have contacted him more privately rather than announcing her return via social media.
He comes home today. I am not sure how I will be. Just reserved and cool I expect. He says i can look at his phone and check he’s blocked her. I am not sure how i feel about that.

OP posts:
anunseemlylovefordustin · 08/10/2021 09:18

Just read the whole thread and you rock, lady. I'm so pleased that the scales seem to have fallen from your eyes and you feel stronger. If it helps, I left my Exh four years ago and I don't have any family at all that are closer than an 8 hour drive. I only have a couple of close friends, and their life situations are much different than mine (I'm an older mum with a 4 year old).

My life is challenging sometimes, but it is SO wonderful. So calm, with so many moments of joy and fulfilment. No drama apart from toddler drama, no one causing me pain, no nights agonising over what he was doing, no practically turning myself inside out trying to make things work. Imagine your life free of this pain, of the constant worry and doubt, free of questioning everything and going over everything, being gaslighted and minimised and humiliated (he's still doing it now, by trying to tell you you're overreacting).

That new life, full of peace and fulfilment, is within a fingertips reach for you, trust me. Grab it, lady. Life is too short to waste a second of it on a-holes.

MadamMalkin · 08/10/2021 09:22

"Now he’s just angry and says I’m awful for not trusting him."

What a bastard, he really does seem to think he can do whatever he wants, and you should just put up with it and shut up about it.

litterbird · 08/10/2021 09:43

Well done OP I have been following you on this. You are going to be in for a roller coaster of emotions. You may feel you want to go back in your weak moments, its natural to do that. Try and return to this page to read your posts. When things get written down they somehow make us realise how on earth we put up with the twisted pain that so many women go through after an affair to make it work, when ultimately it doesnt. The betrayal you have faced is extraordinary. Good luck to the both of them...yes, he can have her. How you managed to continue to stay in your house let alone your bed knowing he slept with her is incredible on its own. You can have such a peaceful life if you choose to, it will be messy at first but the light at the end of the tunnel is there if you want it.

ChargingBuck · 08/10/2021 10:05

He’s now saying he’s angry with her because she knew i’d see the gram stuff and must have done it to cause trouble between us. “Dont let her win” he actually said that.

See "Forced Teaming" - Gavin de Becker, Gift of Fear.

He's already started on "The Script" with his pathetic attempt at Hoovering you back in. Be prepared for tears, anger, laying more 'blame' at your feet, 'illness', even suicide threats ...

Brighton, I got a little jolt of pride & happiness, seeing your update about just laughing at him :)

He can't believe the temerity of you - being the one to call the shots & steer the break up. That's meant to be his decision! - he desperately needs you back in your box, tolerating his bullshit, until he is in a stronger position to make a proper play for OW.

Ha ha ha ha. He will be hating losing control like this.

lonerwolf.com/hoovering/

MydogWillow · 08/10/2021 10:06

You have been running on adrenaline so the crash won't be pleasant. Make sure you seek help if you feel you need it.

Look up the stages of grief. You will probably identify with most of these over the next few months. It's part of the healing process.

Showing you he's blocked her is irrelevant and means nothing. He's trying to make himself feel better by being a good boy. "Look what I've done! See? I'm a good person. Aren't I? I've done that. It's all better now. That makes you like me now? Look, you can trust me now "

Sounds familiar?

Look after yourself @Brightonpierrot

Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep · 08/10/2021 10:28

Anyone else thinking of this scene?

Brightonpierrot · 08/10/2021 11:06

Yes i wish i was kate winslet naughtystep. Never mind.

@litterbird I don’t sleep in the bed of shame (that got thrown out along with all the sheets and towels. DH spent a squillion pounds at john lewis. He also gave me a car (i hate driving). She has been expensive for him - especially as at one time his business was paying both her and her husband some inflated salary.

But being in the house is hard at times. Apparently he cooked dinners for her there and i always imagine her sitting at my table guzzling the finest wines known to humanity. I will be so glad if it is sold.

OP posts:
litterbird · 08/10/2021 11:10

@Brightonpierrot

Yes i wish i was kate winslet naughtystep. Never mind.

@litterbird I don’t sleep in the bed of shame (that got thrown out along with all the sheets and towels. DH spent a squillion pounds at john lewis. He also gave me a car (i hate driving). She has been expensive for him - especially as at one time his business was paying both her and her husband some inflated salary.

But being in the house is hard at times. Apparently he cooked dinners for her there and i always imagine her sitting at my table guzzling the finest wines known to humanity. I will be so glad if it is sold.

Oh my goodness OP, this story is getting worse and worse.....now the reality has set in...you are seeing things as they are now....get out and get on with your lovely life. You tried to make it work but ultimately she is still there, in the background taunting you which is horrific. Go girl. Big hugs.
layladomino · 08/10/2021 11:39

Try to stay in the frame of mind that you won't stand in his way, you aren't going to beg, you know you deserve better, and that you won't be playing games.

Even if you feel like you're crumbling, play the part. Have some phrases ready. Take deep breaths. Stay calm. Rehearse the points you want to hammer home (eg why did he not immediately block her when she first 'liked', and given he knew it upset you, and why did he turn it around and blame you for not trusting him. Has he forgotten what he put you through, that he proved himself untrustworthy, and he's undone any good work he'd put in by acting untrustworthy again recently).

Onthedunes · 08/10/2021 12:39

@Brightonpierrot

Thank you *@layladomino* but i am definitely not super strong. I can’t throw off this awful headache and am alarmed how an emotional crisis can affect my health. I feel very depressed today. It hadn’t occurred to me before but i think his other gram followers (including our kids and mutual friends) will have seen her likes. They must think I am such a mug. Why would she do something so public? She could have contacted him more privately rather than announcing her return via social media. He comes home today. I am not sure how I will be. Just reserved and cool I expect. He says i can look at his phone and check he’s blocked her. I am not sure how i feel about that.
It sounds Brighton as though you are really anxious of his return. Your headache is a manifestation of the fear you have with him.

Your depression is you turning that anger inwards on yourself, this man makes you ill.
He sounds like a controlling bully and you take whatever just to avoid the battles and anger. I think your safest bet would be to grey rock him, don't get into discussions about the rights or wrongs of the situation, you are not strong enough and he will only excuse himself and make you feel responsible for the situation.

You really need to be away from this man, away from that awful house and the memories, a place which is yours that is free from his control, the house reeks of his abuse of you and his control.

Your envoiroment is important as are the people who surround you, your mutual friends who you think are laughing at your weakness, it's all a prison to keep you from fighting back, from having your voice heard.

You are scared, frightened to be alone.

He's been a very cruel guard within this prison and upped his abuse towards you as the years have gone by, he has abused his power.
His girlfriend is hiding behind that power and expects him to protect her, they are evil.

You can do this, slowly and quietly at your own pace, taking your time to back off, slowly increase your confidence.
Find a place for you, that safe haven, do it up, make it nice have periods where you just dissapear, a place where he doesn't know exists.
You can move away from this man gradually if you feel your health could not cope with a huge showdown.

It's a suggestion, one that puts you in control and one that could make you realise that your confidence can return on your terms.

You are tired of fighting, give yourself a place where you can recover from the battering of his humiliation, his insulting and his contempt for you.

He allows you no pride and no respect.
He really is a vile individual, start erasing him from your life, send him in another direction away from you.

Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep · 08/10/2021 13:44

I'm notbsure I would call him evil, dunes, simply selfish, thoughtless, unkind and unpleasant. All of which are quite bad enough. I do agree that engaging any further with him won't help you though, OP.

Get a lawyer. Get the money (half the house and pension if applicable). Get out. Just find a neutral phrase and repeat it - something like "i think it's time we called this quits" or "I don't want to be married to you any more".

They teach the SAS to resist torture by repeating a set phrase, even if it doesn't necessarily make sense 8n the context. I've found it helpful when under emotional duress.

Then, when you're free of all this, you can sit and enjoy cake and fine wines, with pride in yourself and knowing that your happiness is in your own gift.

FlowerArranger · 08/10/2021 14:28

This man is making you ill, @Brightonpierrot !!!!

You seem so scared to be alone. Why is this? Can you imagine the relief of being rid of all the crap he brings to your life?

There is not a single positive associated with staying with him that I can see.

Can you start detaching physically? Your mind, your feelings and everything else will follow... Flowers

Brightonpierrot · 09/10/2021 18:03

Small update: he’s blocked her on instagram etc., he’s made his gram private. He’s obviously trying. He’s sorry he didn’t block her immediately.

He told me me she first liked one of his posts weeks ago and he was irritated and ignored it, them she did it again a few weeks later and he phoned her to ask her what she was playing at and tell her to stop, but she didn’t answer the phone. Finally, she did it again this week and before he could do anything I noticed and it all kicked off.

I don’t know what to think anymore (numb) but i am glad i noticed so she (and he) didn’t get an easy ride.

DH apparently told a colleague OW had been in touch and their response was ‘what about her husband poor bloke’.

God DH must feel like a right fool. All this heartache caused for nothing.

OP posts:
ChargingBuck · 09/10/2021 18:12

He told me me she first liked one of his posts weeks ago and he was irritated and ignored it, them she did it again a few weeks later and he phoned her to ask her what she was playing at and tell her to stop, but she didn’t answer the phone. Finally, she did it again this week and before he could do anything I noticed and it all kicked off.

Dear lord he likes feeding you hogwash OP.

So ... several weeks ago, she made contact, he chose not to tell you, he rang her, & he lets several weeks elapse but tells you "before I could do anything" ...

This is the same bullshit all cheats sell their wives when they have been found out.
They admit a partial truth, as little as they think they can get away with.

"Um, yeah, you could say it started 2 years ago but it didn't really, I just accidentally let her give me a hand job at the xmas bash & then nothing else happened honest, it's just she wouldn't leave me alone & I knew you'd over-react so apart from accidentally falling into her pants in the broom cupboard when you caught us that time, nothing has happened, I promise, I love you, it's all her fault, she's trying to ruin our marriage, don't let her win, if you gave me more sex I wouldn't be tempted, I should have blocked her but I didn't know how & anyway it's not my fault & I love you stop being so MEAN to me ..."

Does that sound like him, Brighton?

Brightonpierrot · 09/10/2021 18:22

@ChargingBuck yeah maybe. I don’t believe anything anymore.

The next thing I'm expecting is that unable to contact him on social media she will try to engineer a meeting.

And if course he wont tell me about this because i will overreact. And so it goes on.

OP posts:
Nightbringer · 09/10/2021 18:35

Op I don't want to cause you more hurt.but his drip feeding is like someone being caught out. Is it possible they have been in touch for quite a while. Around the time he reinstalled Instagram?

Days ago it was too much trouble to block her. Now he admits this has been going on a bit and instead of blocking her and telling you he called her? To have a go at her? Why does he still have her phone number?

She is, according to him, creating this drama but didn't answer his call or call him back? I wouldn't believe that.

Is there a chance they have been in touch and she liked his posts on the hope you saw it?

ChargingBuck · 09/10/2021 18:43

[quote Brightonpierrot]@ChargingBuck yeah maybe. I don’t believe anything anymore.

The next thing I'm expecting is that unable to contact him on social media she will try to engineer a meeting.

And if course he wont tell me about this because i will overreact. And so it goes on.[/quote]
There's definitely some engineering going on, but you don't need to concern yourself with what CheatWoman is up to.

You need to get wise to the psychological engineering your DH is doing to you.

Apologies, may have posted this previously, the thread's got long enough for me to forget! - but please comfort yourself with the remarkable, clear-sighted & funny Chump Lady -

www.chumplady.com/2012/04/the-humiliating-dance-of-pick-me/

Brightonpierrot · 09/10/2021 18:43

@Nightbringer do you mean they have been in touch over the 2 years since the affair and she wants me to know? So they can be together? Why is he trying to stay married to me if thats the case?

OP posts:
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