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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

We are divorcing, but I found some woman's pants in my husbands laundry

128 replies

sleepymum50 · 26/06/2022 10:34

Ok, I need some advice on what to do.

as I said we are separating, but still living in the same house. We haven’t slept (sex) together for 5 years, haven’t shared a bed for I year.

i am the one instigating the separation, he keeps saying “this isn’t what I want”. But it is his controlling and entitled behaviour that makes me want to leave. We have been doing our own cooking and washing for the last 6 weeks. Before that I had been doing both (laundry 100%) in our 30 plus years.

our washing machine has been out of action a couple weeks but got fixed yesterday. My husband did his laundry first (mostly undies and socks). He told me there was room on the drying rack, so I did a small load of my stuff.

I went to hang it on the rack, and a couple of things dropped to the floor. One of which was a pair of ladies pants, black half lace, size 10 tui (sainsbury). They are absolutely, definitely not mine.

my first question. Does anyone know of a completely innocent explanation? He has been away from home overnight, but they have been normal reasons. Go to see friends, stay with his brother. Could he have gathered up the pants when he was packing his own bag?

he is notoriously messy, disorganised, forgetful and slapdash. The fact he actually put them on the drying rack and then told me there was room for my stuff makes me wonder if he even noticed they weren’t his pants.

He was out at the pub last night and I went to bed before he got back. Just to add, I didn’t even feel jealous at the thought he might be shagging around.

But I am concerned at the deceit. I have said to him, “Look were not making each other happy, you could go on and find someone else. His reply has always been who would look at an old crock like him with IBS, plus he’s not interested in someone else. (He’s not a bad catch, slim. Fit, charming, funds)

The thing is, he always twist the facts and turns it onto me. I truly believe he has narcissistic traits. I think he truly believes ‘his truth’ , so it goes around in circles.

I am loathe to confront him, as he will deny, deny and I wouldn’t put it past him to accuse me of making it up. He hates to be proved to be in the wrong.

shall I just suck it up, we’re separating anyway. Perhaps keep a closer eye on him. Look for proof.

I am finding it really hard to think he has done this, but in 30 plus years of doing his laundry, I’ve never found a rogue pair of ladies pants in our laundry.

But if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck ……..

OP posts:
Autumndays123 · 26/06/2022 12:20

Quite frankly, none of your business.

Jenasaurus · 26/06/2022 12:28

vintrgte152 · 26/06/2022 10:37

He might have planted them to make you jealous.

100% this

cuparfull · 26/06/2022 12:32

He's slim, fit??? Don't ask, you might get a shock as did I. Fold and ignore. You'll be out of it soon Flowers

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 26/06/2022 12:33

Of course he has done it on purpose. Ignore.

FemmeNatal · 26/06/2022 12:34

Didimum · 26/06/2022 11:28

So sick of the ‘what does it matter’ responses. As if you can’t imagine why this might not hurt someone. Divorce and separation are painful.

They haven’t had sex in five years, of course he’s going to be sleeping with someone else.

SandyWedges · 26/06/2022 12:34

Might be his

DemelzaandRoss · 26/06/2022 12:36

I think he put them there to wind you up. Especially as he can’t stand not being in control re the separation. He probably wants to begin an argument.
Ignore… the Narcissist will hate this. Watch out for other strange occurrences.

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 26/06/2022 12:36

Im petty, i would put a mans thong in the wash and put it out in plain sight to dry.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 26/06/2022 12:36

wobytide · 26/06/2022 11:52

Maybe they are his pants

Sprinkle chilli powder into the gusset.

See if he is squirming in a couple of days.

😁

SandyWedges · 26/06/2022 12:38

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 26/06/2022 12:36

Sprinkle chilli powder into the gusset.

See if he is squirming in a couple of days.

😁

Ahh see someone else has already had the thought they might be his.

PassThePringles · 26/06/2022 12:38

Leave them where they sit, they are totally irrelevant to you now. Don't wonder, don't question, yous have both moved on with the separation and it's not worth giving him the opportunity to lie and make himself feel superior with his narcissistic lies, it's only you who'd get hurt/wound up. I'd treat them as if they were his boxers, you aren't fazed by them so no reaction is needed imo.

Riverlee · 26/06/2022 12:39

“Go to see friends, stay with his brother.”

Are you sure he was where he said he was?

Blusteryday101 · 26/06/2022 12:39

Definitely a rather pathetic attempt to wind you up and give you the message "I'm alright Jack" just fold with rest and put on bed and act very serenely like a swan and don't mention them! Give him a taste of his own medicine! He wants you to be exercised by this, so don't give him the satisfaction! The giveaway is him uncharacteristically pointing you towards the drying rack.

Getting divorced after 30 years must be tough emotionally, but him playing games like this shows you have made the right decision op! He probably bought them himself in Sainsbogs! He is hurt and is trying to get back at you/make you jealous.

You obviously don't want to live with someone who is controlling and entitled and I wouldn't dream of encouraging you to stay if your mind is made up but just something about the way you wrote "makes me want to leave" rather than "is the reason I am leaving" makes me wonder if this is really what you want op. Forgive me if I have completely the wrong end of the stick, but you wouldn't be remotely bothered enough to start a thread about the pants if you didn't still feel something for him? Maybe not? But either way, thirty years is a long time and it's a shame it has to end this way. Could you see a counsellor together so that you could both move on amicably if nothing else?

SheSaysShush · 26/06/2022 12:39

MissNothing1991 · 26/06/2022 10:37

I don't really see why the size, colour and brand of the underwear needed listed with a 'definitely not mine'. Is that to imply they are cheap or something?

Eh?

OP is clearly saying she doesn't own a pair of kickers like this or bought from Sainsbury's. How you get that she is implying the knickers are cheap I do not know.

SheSaysShush · 26/06/2022 12:41

@SoupDragon

'aloneagain83
MissNothing1991 totally missing the point of the thread rolls eyes

She has a point though 🤷🏻‍♀️'

What is the point??

placewherewebelong · 26/06/2022 12:41

MissNothing1991 · 26/06/2022 10:37

I don't really see why the size, colour and brand of the underwear needed listed with a 'definitely not mine'. Is that to imply they are cheap or something?

its more likely she is talking about the reasons she knows theyre not hers.

PassThePringles · 26/06/2022 12:41

I left that response due to you saying you weren't jealous (good) but it's bothered you to write a thread (still fine) but imo he sounds like he's wanting a reaction, totally stonewall them. Handle it privately like you are on here. Give him no response at all.

Jalepenojello · 26/06/2022 12:43

Innocent explanation? you said it yourself you’re separated. You do not need an explanation at all surely

Comedycook · 26/06/2022 12:46

Could be because....

He's shagging someone else

They got picked up somewhere by accident

He's planted them to make you jealous

He's wearing them

Does it even matter though? It's over anyway

Porcupineintherough · 26/06/2022 12:47

dudsville · 26/06/2022 10:36

Also, aside from curiosity there's no reason you need an answer to this.

^^This. Your marriage is over, you are both free agents now.

Misunderestimated · 26/06/2022 12:48

Jenasaurus · 26/06/2022 12:28

100% this

If the style and size are different to what you usually wear, then I think it's a relatively cheap way to get inside your head.
If they were similar to yours, they might go unnoticed and get lost at the back of your knicker drawer.

PutTheFruitInMyBellender · 26/06/2022 12:52

Right decision, OP. What he does is of no consequence to you. It's no longer your business, and it's not your problem (and vice versa).

billy1966 · 26/06/2022 12:53

Why would you care?

You are separating and glad to be.

Ignore what he is up to and get as far away as possible from him as quickly as you can.

Nothing to be gained from getting into IMO.

Nimo12 · 26/06/2022 12:56

Why do you care? You're divorcing him

BackToTheTop · 26/06/2022 12:58

I'd hand them back to him and say

'I don't have an issue with you shagging someone else, as far as I'm concerned it's none of my business, but I don't appreciate you using our washing machine, to wash her dirty knickers, and hanging them on the dryer for all and sundry to see' then leave it at that.