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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

Needing support for those days after first finding out about husband's infidelity

921 replies

Sazdun · 27/03/2022 18:05

Okay third time lucky. Unfortunately some of you will have followed what happened to me yesterday and finding out my husband of 8 years was unfaithful. There have been super kind people who have reached out and from the bottom of my heart I thank you. I wish j could buy each of you a well deserved wine or chocolates. I still can't find it in me to reach out to my IRL friends or find the words but I am meeting my friend tomorrow and lets hope I can by then. My original thread has been put up so I can get some of the helpful info people posted but no more replies can be made. My follow up thread has since been deleted because it is a thread about a thread. I did not know this is not something you are supposed to do. Anyway I have started this to keep anyone who is helping me stay updated or for anyone going through the horrible or similar same thing to get some helpful advice. Some people have questioned if I am infact real. I am. I am a 38 year old mum of two who has been with her husband since she was 23. I was concerned about his relationship with another woman but while I came on here yesterday thinking I would get feedback on how to approach my feelings and deal with my husband, I got angry and stood up for myself. I never ever thought it would lead to this. So if you doubt me or what to pull every little thing I type please don't, predictive text is a bitch. This is my life, my girls lives and I just need support and help.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 29/03/2022 20:14

I think he thinks that if he leaves you alone you will “calm down” and get over the “misunderstanding” as he calls it.

Sazdun · 29/03/2022 20:25

SHORT NOVEL INCOMING

Nice day with the girls thanks. Couldn't find the strength to say to mum friends yet. Think they all thought I was sleep deprived as tears were running down my face while singing under the sea earlier. Fuck sake. Kids as always keep it real though. Oldest requested I make my hair 'better' ( she is a really girly girl) and put on makeup before we go to meet her pals after nursery. Maybe she is getting me back out there already. Lol.

So he responded. This came in just as I was sorting baths. His timing is fucking terrible, he knows bath time is a riot and yet seemed to expect an immediate response. Anyone else's baby hate baths and decides it is the perfect time to do a poo every time? Older D has also decided she only does showers now, probably because she has had to deal with leaping out too many times to dodge the poos . Also is adament she can wash her own hair and then screams because it gets in her eyes. So stressful. He has texted me twice since asking me what I think and can we talk. Fucking wait!

H would be mortified that I am sharing this as he is very private which makes me reluctant to ask my friend her thoughts as I think she is likely to discuss with her H. She has been in touch as have some others but they all keep saying sorry and that they thought I knew...one exception is from a friend who is ready to kick his arse and has lost it at her own H because he had heard rumours. Fucking men sticking together and not wantjng to cause a fuss. It is just a shame she lives in the states. There is still i tiny part of me that still . H has clearly spent hours crafting this, a lot of it, is just taking what wrote and saying sorry I love you. He isn't giving me answers it just leaves me feeling not much different. I needed to hear this on Saturday, I think having time to think and maybe imagine things that possibly never happened have done their damage. Does it read like he means it? Thinking of him puts me in a rage at the moment and I don't want to be hasty, reply and say something I will later regret or that I cannot come back from.

Has anyone here actually forgiven and got back together? Playing out all scenarios in my head but I think even with OW out the picture, how do you rebuild that trust?

Love you, have done since you poured a pint over Fergie's head and I pointed out to the team 'that's my girl'. You will always be that girl to me. Thinking of you baby back then and now never fails to makes me smile because you never fail to smile. Stuck in airports, pissing in a bucket, extension left forever, you smiled. Even when [the baby] is a grump and you have had 2 hours the whole night I'm greeted with a smile in the morning. You make the best of everything. When you are hammering my ears about the dog towel, the washing, the dishwaser you always end with a smiling capiche. Knowing I chipped away the confidence of my ballsy girl for years, well there aren't any words it was never my intention. We both say how alike you and [oldest daughter] are -all sass and smile. Don't think you have to behave any way but who youbare to ensure i love you. I love that our girls are turning out to be just like you. [Baby] smile that is your smile baby and I love it, no matter it often comes after she shits all over me and pukes on my shoulder. I love you and no thinking for a moment it has ever been otherwise. You are my wife but also my closest friend. You have given me so much and you did not deserve the hurt I have caused you. I would have killed anyone who hurt and made you cry the way I did and I hate myself for doing that. I should have told you but I was a coward and worried that I would lose you. My pride about not embarrassing my dad and mom and family if you cancelled the wedding was given priority over not being 100% honest with you. I am paying for being a wanker putting my short term desire above being a good man. The man I am and the man you married and have loved all these years. Marrying you, having the girls with you, building a life with you I have never ever regretted not once. I love my life with my three girls and I don't want to lose it but now it relies on your forgiveness. Don't give up on us. You have questions I know just I don't know the answers to all of them myself. I wish i couls answer each one tonreassure baby but I promise you this though nothing has happened between us since we got married I promise that on my grandmother's grave. The feelings for [OW] it isn't about wanting to have sex with her or hide her in plain sight and have an affair, it is just I liked having her in my life as a friend, someone else to talk to and she felt the same. We both know we messed up fooling around and still feel guilt, embarrassment and remorse for it. At the time we should have been adults and realised there was an attraction there but not mistook enjoying each others company years ago as something that also needed to be acted on the way it was. That has gone now, maybe that stupid mistake got.it out the way, I don't know but there is nothing there now. Honestly. I think you also know her well enough, to know that isn't her either. We were stupid and impulsive. It was also inexcusable for me, when given the chance to be friends again, to have lied to her, to both of you, to believe the other knew and to allow you to become friends. I have destroyed the trust and respect of my partner in life and a friend and likely lost your trust if not more in the process. I put myself first and brushed it under the carpet rather than being a man. To answer your next question about why. I do not and I repeat ansolutely do not think she is better than you in any way shape or form. I don't favour her over you or love her like I love you or think of her constantly, weeks go by with no contact between us. She is a friend, she is not there to be an add on to you or give me something you don't, she is a friend who I like having in my life. Our dynamic is unusual I give you that and one I find hard to articulate the easiest way is just to say she is someone I wanted to have in my life. I know now that hurt you. I'm sorry it was not meant to undermine you. It is strange making a close friend as an adult and to have that sort of easy friendship especially one with the other sex is not what i would have expected for myself. I'm a lad as you know well so to have them become a close friend in a short time and the be a girl that don't view romantically is one it has taken my head time to get round. She isn't special or taking me away from you. We chat about things but not anything I would not talk to you about ( with exception of your baby blues which i felt so useless during). In most cases I have already talked to you about it first. Yes there have been times she has provided a female perspective when at times I have been at a loss to help you and when you didn't know yourself what you needed. It was just like I have asked you what to say to her when she has spoken to me about not having kids. Ofcourse I have feelings of love, concern, loyalty towards her the way I do with all my friends. Maybe because she is a woman I act on them differently and help her out more at times but she doesn't rank above you or any such nonsense.
As for the wedding. I do not know why I felt the way I did. She was happy, I was happy to see her happy and as to why I got upset I don't know what caused it but I don't think it is me now being upset she is married or wanting her to not get married and be with me. You know she was upset because her dad was not there to walk her down the aisle and didn't want to replace her dad with Gerry which her mum suggested. Seeing her walk down herself then her mum walking up to join her brought a tear to my eye and be proud of her. The dance was just a dance there was nothing behind it but I understand by that point why you might have been seeing things that weren't there. Its not the same way I behave with other friends and that is unsettling for you. I'm sorry. I'm not purposefully trying to hurt you. I just care about her and want her to be happy and looked after. It doesn't mean I think I should be the person doing that. You are right we should perhaps have kept our seperate ways years ago but we didn't and I wish I could go back and change time but I can't and have to live with the decisions I made. As we have built a friendship and got to know each other on a purely platonic way I have grown to care for her as I do all my friends. I want her like the rest of them in my life but I know why moving forward that may now not happen. My hesitancy to do this and why the thought of it hurts me so much, is something I need to work through. It never ever means though i have an ounce less love for you. There are not enough sorrys in the world baby. This is my doing not OW or the friends and family you think lied to you. Do not judge or feel anger to them or anyone who wants us to work to fix this. This is solely on me. I love you.

OP posts:
LadyCordeliaFitzgerald · 29/03/2022 20:31

Is it just me that finds the behaviour of the OW really mystifying? I was in a similar position years ago. I met a guy days before moving away for several years and there was chemistry between us but we became friends (emailing each other which might give you an idea how long ago this was). I really valued this friendship and felt that the boat had sailed on a relationship but when we were living in the same city again we met up and the attraction was still there. He gave me the impression he had broken up with his girlfriend and eventually we slept together, when in fact they were engaged and weeks from getting married. I was furious and disgusted when I found out. I felt betrayed, and that he had cheated on me as much with me. The friendship was shattered completely, and I couldn’t bear to be near him. It was unforgivable. He was such a terrible disappointment of a man.

I just cannot fathom being able to get passed that, never mind then insinuating myself into his wife’s friendship group, and family.

Clearly there are plenty of women who find cheaters attractive so maybe that’s the difference. I’m far too cynical to see it as a romance - I wasn’t his great love, or even a friend worth keeping, just a handy shag. Obviously people can and go tell themselves all sorts of daft things but the level of abasement this OW is displaying is nearly masochistic.

Or am I the odd one that expects a basic level of respect and trustworthiness in my friendships? Honestly OP, I know you’re hurting deeply here, but maybe this is a case of water finding it’s level, and you’re too good for either of them?

Evilcountspatula · 29/03/2022 20:37

He’s now gaslighting you about his actions and feelings re the wedding, please don’t fall for it. And no real commitment to doing whatever it takes to get you back, there’s no concrete offer to cut her out of your lives. It’s still all about him and very little about you. You’ll make your own decision and I understand that changing your life irrevocably won’t be easy, but personally there’s no way I could move past any of this. No decent person with any shred of remorse or respect for their partner would continue to cultivate a friendship under these circumstances and the same goes for her too.

Thesefeetaremadeforwalking · 29/03/2022 20:38

OP,
before you even think about replying to that voluminous sad-sausage, woe-is-me rambling diatribe - about 900 words saying nothing - please check out

www.chumplady.com/

for the low-down on typical cheater ploys.

Again I am so sorry that this is happening to you. I have sat where you're sitting and it's a lousy place to be Flowers

Robin843 · 29/03/2022 20:38

God he's full of shit isn't he? He's lying, he's a lying liar. He doth protest too much. He's minimising and deflecting. If you want to make a go of it and forgive his infidelity (they've had sex) then she is an ex friend for both of you and he gets a new job.

Whatever00 · 29/03/2022 20:40

He is gaslighting you. How dare he suggest you saw something that wasn't there.

icanclearabuffet · 29/03/2022 20:41

I took 2 things from that

  1. it's down to you to forgive me
  2. I'd still like OW in my life but 'I know that may not happen' So as far as he's concerned,it's all on you OP to forgive him and for you to agree to OW staying as a friend and being forgiven. Absolutely no mention of what HE's going to do. I'm assuming he's going to sit it out until you 'come round' and you all carry on before! Sod that!
Holland56 · 29/03/2022 20:42

I don’t understand why he isn’t trying to win you back, isn’t telling you how he will immediately be stopping the ‘friendship’ with OW / but instead sticking up for her, continuing to tell you he cares for her and wants her to remain in his life and telling you not to take this out on her.

I’m so sorry OP 💐

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 29/03/2022 20:43

...I want her like the rest of them in my life but I know why moving forward that may now not happen. My hesitancy to do this and why the thought of it hurts me so much, is something I need to work through...

His hesitancy to cut ties with her in order to save his marriage in other words

What a piece of shit

ProperVexed · 29/03/2022 20:44

The utter bastard just gets worse. You have to forgive him, forgive her and forgive all your friends. He is not going to get rid of her. So he will still have it all!
The cheek of the man!

Rainbowpurple · 29/03/2022 20:44

Ugh he is still saying he is hesitant to cut OW off his life even though his life with you and the girls depend on it. This will be it for me I am afraid. He wouldn't hesitate if he knows he is about to lose the most important thing in his life.

Godxilla · 29/03/2022 20:45

Dear OP, I have followed both threads with sadness horror and awe ; awe as you are doing amazing job of trying to keep it together for the kids, awe, as you dealing with the practicalities and the way you are processing this shit.
This made me think, from the long spiel he gave you : I want her like the rest of them in my life but I know why moving forward that may now not happen. My hesitancy to do this and why the thought of it hurts me so much, is something I need to work through.
Why the hesitancy? You should be his number one, no? Especially now.

WTF475878237NC · 29/03/2022 20:46

Does it read like he means it?

^ yes. He means to keep this woman in his life at all costs.

Honeyroar · 29/03/2022 20:47

He’s still wittering away, isn’t he! Flowery, flowery shit. It’s all down to you whether he loses his family.. bla bla. Suddenly he’s saying his feelings were just the emotion of watching the ow get married. Last week he said he couldn’t explain how he loved the ow. Nothing he has said remotely changes the fact that he’s lied and been selfish/cruel.

Moser85 · 29/03/2022 20:48

I want her like the rest of them in my life but I know why moving forward that may now not happen. My hesitancy to do this and why the thought of it hurts me so much, is something I need to work through

Ugh, if you take him back and he cuts her out he'll be one of those who openly pines over the OW while the wronged wife has to watch.

Moser85 · 29/03/2022 20:49

There's no way he would forgive you either. Imagine you cheated just before you married him, then stayed friends with the man in question and encouraged a friendship between them.

And everyone else knew and thought he was ok with it, because that's what you let them think.

He would never ever forgive you!

Redshoeblueshoe · 29/03/2022 20:52

If I was you I'd have probably smacked my head against the wall after reading that.
Thesefeetaremadeforwalking got it spot on: voluminous sad sausage, woe is me rambling diatribe

Yellowghost · 29/03/2022 20:54

He’s minimising it all. He doesn’t want anything to change and wants your permission to carry on as normal and she stays part of his life. Fuck that op, you will never have any peace in life if she’s still in it.

Guiltypleasures001 · 29/03/2022 20:55

Sorry op her and him are a pair of fucking psychopath fantasists, who think they can wear you down with pages and pages of words. It's all bollox, no matter how he likes to spin it in whatever flowery language he uses

The bottom line is they lied they colluded they kept it going over 8yrs
He's been living a double life, and she's been able to treat your kids as her own

It's so fucked up I don't know where to start, it's the oldest story in time he cheated everyone knew bar you.

You go forward however you need too, but his sorry but but but cuts no ice
It's still cheap disrespectful and well you know Thanks

Itsthemaybelline · 29/03/2022 20:59

Just text back. "It's bathtime FFS. TLDR."

Justalittlebitfurther · 29/03/2022 21:02

I don’t normally comment on threads like yours and definitely wouldn’t say LTB as I know situations are much more complex than they often come across on MN.
The thing that strikes me most from his message is it really is all about him. There is not really much thought for you and how he’d do anything to change for you or to win you back. He is still talking about her far too much. He just wants it all to get back to normal and for nothing to change.

bjrce · 29/03/2022 21:05

Robin 843 took the words out off my mouth.

He is so full of shit its unbelievable! He is still manipulating you - he actually still thinks its possible to both get you back and have her in his life! FFS!

The only other thing no one has mentioned is - he knows OW doesn't fucking want him now anyway - she has her new DH, so all he has left is crawling back to you - somehow it can still all go away if you just forgive and forget!

Best of luck with that!

Sazdun · 29/03/2022 21:18

I feel like I am back at square one. I am so angry but reading him call us his girls and talking about loving the girls looking like me and our wee bits, makes my heart flutter. I know everyone is probably spewing at that but I loved all those little things in our marriage and our wee family. At the same time I know I have spent years being the cool gf/ wife and being smiley and jokey when I have sometimes been annoyed or not happy because I wanted to not lose him to someone else if I nag or go on. Over time i became that person it is no longer an act. It has happened less since I had my daughter's because I just did not have the energy to be so easy going but I now think if I had been 100% me from the start would we have lasted. He talks about me being ballsy but it seems he wants to play white Knight to someone who is not like that.
He is still making me be the one to call the shots and terms of this.
Does he get that all he will be left with is his non romantic best friend, is he willing to take that as an alternative to us?
I don't know if I should just text him that and make it that fucking obvious to him because it does feel he is not getting the gravity of this.
Wonder if I should text OW. God I bet she has probably seen that message and given advice on it.

OP posts:
Guiltypleasures001 · 29/03/2022 21:21

My guess is she's pre approving the messages before you get to read them

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