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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

DH lied.

335 replies

ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 14/07/2022 20:24

DH has form for lying, he’s lied about tiny, insignificant things over the years, but he’s also lied about some big, shitty things too.

Each time he’s caught in a lie, I remind him of just how much I detest being lied to, he apologises and we attempt to move on - but it of course nibbles away at my trust each and every time.

Today, DH had meetings in London. I was told last night the meetings were a ‘big corporate spiel lasting from 9am to 5pm’. Anyway, I checked our tracking app that we have on our phones shortly after lunchtime, to see that DH wasn’t where I thought he would be (the HQ office), but was instead, in some random bar in a different area of London.

I messaged DH an hour or so later, asking him how he was getting on etc. He told me it was fine but a bit boring. I then asked him if his meeting was being held in the usual place and he stopped replying.

He got in this evening and I asked him what time the meeting ended up finishing, and if it’d been held at the HQ, to which I was told ‘yep, normal place, we finished up around half 4, was supposed to be 5 but they rushed through a couple bits so we could duck out a tiny bit early’.

Now, I can see from our app that he left the building where the meetings are held shortly after 2pm and was in a bar from then, until he left to get the train at around 5:30pm. When I asked him if he’d stayed and had any drinks, he told me that ‘once the meeting was finished, they left the HQ and he had one quick pint before getting the train’. I also asked him if the blokes from work were staying ‘out out’ for drinks after the meeting, and he told me they were apparently heading to a certain bar in Shoreditch. Well, I checked the app, and lo and behold, that bar that his colleagues were supposedly heading to ‘after’ DH had left, was in the fact, the bar DH had been sitting in for three hours.

For what it’s worth, the apps we use are never wrong. They might show you’re stood a few metres from where you actually are, but it would never show you as being MILES away from where you are, if you see what I mean. I can also tell when DH is lying by the level of (false) details he gives in answers.

I haven’t yet told DH that I know he’s bare face lied to me, but I am seething. He knows my stance on lying. He knows that above all else in life, I’m always, always going to be more mad about a lie than something he may or may not have done. It’s the lying. I can’t stand it. I don’t care that the meeting finished early. I don’t care that he sunk a couple pints in the midday sun. What I do care about is the fact he seemingly thinks so little of me, that lying about stupid shit is like a second nature to him.

Would you confront your DH if you knew he’d so breezily lied to you?

OP posts:
MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 15/07/2022 20:37

ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 15/07/2022 12:21

@Vikinga I don't even know whereabouts in Birmingham he's going, let alone which hotel the rest of the colleagues are staying in, or which hotel/b&b he'll be in. All I've been told is that there are regional meetings happening in Birmingham, work wasn't able to get him a room in the hotel everyone else will be in, so he's having to stay elsewhere.

That's the extent of my knowledge around what's happening next week 🤷🏻‍♂️

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

kateandme · 15/07/2022 23:02

Op this is draining you.it making you question him and yourself.its making you anxious and on edge.feeling you don't no What s up.
Rightly or wrongly he's chosen to keep making these little or big lies.and it hurts you therefore you should be working through it, or at least talked about it together.
But you can't live like this.it will erode you away.
It will start more arguments.
You will find lies in even truths he might say.
It will send you insane.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 16/07/2022 01:17

Just tell him straight out that you are really angry and disappointed with him as you were ill and he lied instead of putting you and the children first and make sure to emphasize it is the lies all the time and let him look after the children for a whole day while you go and do something nice for yourself. I really would be having a good think about your future as he is not going to change as liars never do unfortunately and he sounds very selfish. Sorry you are going through this and it messes with your mind as makes you feel you are going mad. Had an ex who did that to me also, was going out but never told me. Not with him anymore as cannot put up with a narcissist. Find your anger and let him know you are not putting up with his crappy lies anymore.

Sisiwawa · 16/07/2022 02:23

Your post is very similar to what I've lived with the last 7/8 years. Lies big and little, to my face, knowing that I absolutely detest it. Once I started seeing it I'd call him out on it every time. I'd say it's become more frequent and for a while I was always waiting to catch him out. Now I can't be arsed as I know the truth.
It's worn away any love or respect, strips my ownself-respect a little each time (couldn't just leave previously due to young child and low paid job so had to swallow it a lot more than i was comfortable with), but i started to put things in place and I'm separating because of it (mainly). It seems to be an automated defence mechanism and very immature. The other posters are right, he won't change, it will drive you insane. you just need to work out how much you're willing to take. He will start doing it to the kids too and they'll lose respect for him too, pretty sad.
I hope these born liars feel it was worth it...Stay strong

1VY · 16/07/2022 06:22

Sisiwawa · 16/07/2022 02:23

Your post is very similar to what I've lived with the last 7/8 years. Lies big and little, to my face, knowing that I absolutely detest it. Once I started seeing it I'd call him out on it every time. I'd say it's become more frequent and for a while I was always waiting to catch him out. Now I can't be arsed as I know the truth.
It's worn away any love or respect, strips my ownself-respect a little each time (couldn't just leave previously due to young child and low paid job so had to swallow it a lot more than i was comfortable with), but i started to put things in place and I'm separating because of it (mainly). It seems to be an automated defence mechanism and very immature. The other posters are right, he won't change, it will drive you insane. you just need to work out how much you're willing to take. He will start doing it to the kids too and they'll lose respect for him too, pretty sad.
I hope these born liars feel it was worth it...Stay strong

This is exactly the same as me and my ex. I was stupid enough to believe that

  • he couldn’t help it
  • he wouldn’t lie about big things
Turns out I was wrong on both counts. He stole money from out joint business and he had several affairs. As well as lying about anything and everything.

Yes he could help it. It wasn’t a metal illness or a bad habit. It was about power, control and manipulation .

He was a total bastard about the divorce, he hardly every sees his kids and they all hate him. He is lying to wife number three now.

YRGAM · 16/07/2022 06:40

I'm sorry but the tracking has really surprised me. I didn't even realise these apps existed, never mind that half of Mumsnet seem to stalk their partners with them

daisychain01 · 16/07/2022 06:40

ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 15/07/2022 10:14

@Catlover1970 Not at all. I get the opportunity to go out, it's not like I'm cooped up inside or chained to the hoover. I have a 'big' night out maybe once every 4 months, so I'm not jealous of the fact he gets to go out. What's irritating me is that he lied about what he was doing when there was absolutely no need to, and in that moment, he chose a bunch of random work colleagues over his sick wife and small children.

We here on MN can't change your husband.

we can observe that you're spending significant time and energy using the tracker, getting wound up by him not telling you the truth, or bending the truth, or worse still, you not even knowing what the truth even is!

that's hours of your life you'll never get back.

it's a horrible situation, you've got 3 DC you can't just up and leave, and you probably don't want to, but the unvarnished truth of this is that he doesn't sit at home worrying about you lying to him, but you do.

YRGAM · 16/07/2022 06:46

CBAMumma · 14/07/2022 22:28

IME people lie like this when they know they are going to be told off / moaned at etc.
One thing you could do is try to change your response to him. Eg just say. ‘Look I know you’re lying and you know you’re lying about this afternoon, I don’t blame you for wanting to go out with your friends, but on this one occasion I really needed the help.’ And just leave it at that.
Perhaps the lie itself isn’t the issue, but more the reason he feel he needs to lie. It sounds like he likes to step away from his family commitments/responsibilities sometimes, and knows he’ll get it in the neck, but equally it’s all falling on you.
Lots of posters are going on about the tracking app, lots of families use these, but I think it’s good he had it on (you can turn location services off), if he was really trying to deceive you and cover his arse he’d have turned it off.

I agree with the first part of this. He wanted some pints in the sun (who wouldn't?) and decided that this was more important than coming back to help you out. That's not great, and in this situation I wouldn't do it, but it's understandable. He will also most likely have been pressured severely to stay by his colleagues. There is a slim to zero chance he is cheating.

I've told similar small lies in my relationship before because it is easier than having an argument. He may well just be conflict avoidant - do you have a history of arguing over disproportionately small issues? That being said, him leaving you when you are I'll is not good and this is what I'd focus on.

Aubree17 · 16/07/2022 06:56

Ok so he lied (it seemed) because he wanted to stay out for drinks and you would have wanted him home had you known the meetings were over.

Talk to him.

Aubree17 · 16/07/2022 06:58

ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 14/07/2022 20:40

@Stichintime I've already said upthread that I woke up this morning vomiting bile alongside having diarrhoea. We have 3DC under 5. I checked the app to see if he was on lunch so I could call and speak to him. I didn't want to phone him during the meeting.

Why not just send a text asking him to call you when he's free?

The app tracking is unhealthy.

spotcheck · 16/07/2022 07:56

I've told similar small lies in my relationship before because it is easier than having an argument. He may well just be conflict avoidant - do you have a history of arguing over disproportionately small issues? That being said, him leaving you when you are I'll is not good and this is what I'd focus on

Of course lying and fucking off to the pub is easier than stepping in to your responsibilities as a parent, and looking after your ill partner! It is immature, uncaring and breaks trust. You may want to examine your own position on ‘small lies’.

RiojaRose · 16/07/2022 09:58

I think the biggest problem here is that he doesn’t respect you. He doesn’t respect you enough to come home when you’re unwell, and he doesn’t respect you enough to tell you why he decided not to come home when you’re unwell.

Anyone can be a decent partner when life is running smoothly. It’s what he does when you need support that makes the difference.

I’m like you, OP: I can’t stand lying. It’s immature and disrespectful, and it eats away at a relationship. Love isn’t enough to overcome it.

Crikeyalmighty · 16/07/2022 10:19

I understand you OP- thing is once you realise they have told small lies you are on hot alert for the bigger lies. My H told me lies regarding porn use - wasn't that interested/used it very occasionally when away from home- bit of a 'new man' -it was only when I put the child locks on our router when our son was a teen (but actually blocked nothing- son was keeping some bad Company and I grew concerned) that I actually realised my H was telling me a complete load of guff- and still does, as it was most days the minute I was out the house- sometimes several times a day I've never told him that I know. I am 60, we don't own our house and I'm not in the best position just to say sod it- and no I don't trust him as much as I should. There have been other lies too- really stupid ones, like yours , pretending to be somewhere they were not etc. i have the app too- mainly to know when to put dinner on etc or check if he's stuck in traffic. In your case, that's really selfish behaviour if you were unwell- simply putting himself first

ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 16/07/2022 12:37

I agree @RiojaRose originally I was only focusing on the lie, but now I'm becoming increasingly annoyed realising why he lied - and that's because, as you've quite rightly put, he doesn't respect me.

If I was available to help out a family member or a friend that had D&V while stuck at home with their children, I absolutely would! And if I couldn't, I'd like to think I'd at least drop them a message later in the day to see how they're coping and getting on.

The realisation that DH knew I was ill, didn't bother to ask how I was feeling when his meetings finished and instead made the conscious decision to not get home for a further 5 hours, then have the audacity to lie to my face is really, really irritating.

It reeks of selfishness.

OP posts:
ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 16/07/2022 12:39

Thank you @spotcheck the more I sit back and think about it, the more it's dawning on me that this runs so much deeper than a simple 'small lie'.

OP posts:
ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 16/07/2022 12:42

@Crikeyalmighty I'm sorry to hear you've dealt with lies for as long as you have, they really do wear you down, don't they. And I know what you mean about being on alert for more lies. I've now convinced myself - rightly or wrongly - that im going to be fed more lies in some capacity next week when he goes away for work.

It's difficult when the one person in the world that should be honest and open with you, can't find it within themselves to respect you enough to give you the truth

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 16/07/2022 12:46

Your stance of lying is that you'll confront him, get cross but ultimately take it up the arse.

At some point you have to ask yourself what is the point of bothering saying anything to him?

You'll say you lied, he'll deny it, you'll show proof, he'll say sorry then carry on lying to you.

He's not going to change because, in his mind, there's no reason to.

IncompleteSenten · 16/07/2022 12:46

On not of

Namechangehereandnow · 16/07/2022 12:59

ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 16/07/2022 12:42

@Crikeyalmighty I'm sorry to hear you've dealt with lies for as long as you have, they really do wear you down, don't they. And I know what you mean about being on alert for more lies. I've now convinced myself - rightly or wrongly - that im going to be fed more lies in some capacity next week when he goes away for work.

It's difficult when the one person in the world that should be honest and open with you, can't find it within themselves to respect you enough to give you the truth

So why stay with him??

secretskillrelationships · 16/07/2022 13:11

I think you’re trying to make him change to sort out your discomfort. We all do this but it’s pointless. He’s shown he’s not interested in acting differently because if he was, he’d already have done this. You’ve explained repeatedly to him how important it is to you and he simply doesn’t care. I think you need to accept that.

Lying is clearly something you find very difficult and it might be worth unpicking that a little because nearly everyone lies - little ones to avoid hurting feelings to big ones to avoid getting caught out. We all lie somewhere on this continuum. What is it about lying that you find so enraging? What agency do you have here? You can’t change his behaviour, what can you do yourself to reclaim your power back?

Finally, it’s absolutely okay to be unable to live with this - if that’s how you feel, don’t lie to yourself and pretend it’s okay. I’m pretty hardcore on lying, hence my username, and I’ve failed to act in the past because I didn’t think the issue was big enough or serious enough or important enough. But it absolutely was and ignoring it eroded my self esteem massively.

Crikeyalmighty · 16/07/2022 14:59

@secretskillrelationships I love your username and you are bang on correct. I guess it depends what kind of a person you are and what kind of a relationship you have, but if it's what you thought was a close relationship with a lot of one on one time where you thought you were a team- it's quite devastating to find your partner/husband/wife has a whole side to them they are hiding away from you , be that sexuality, gambling, drugs, porn, affairs , escorts, big debts , etc.

FartNRoses · 16/07/2022 15:48

Your DH is cheating on you, OP!

The one about being booked at a different hotel is the clincher!

What a rat!

ireallyshouldntbesurprised · 16/07/2022 15:56

@FartNRoses I'll admit, it seems like a red flag doesn't it. I'm struggling to understand how the hotel the rest of the company are booked in to, didn't have one single room left for DH to stay in. But on the other hand, DH doesn't have the money to book his own hotel (accommodation and travel has been paid for by his work), so I'm at a bit of a loss.

The one things that's playing on my mind though, is why did he bother telling me about the hotel situation? I'd have been none the wiser about which hotel he was 'supposed' to be staying in, so it seems odd that he felt the need to actively tell me that he's having to stay some place else. It's all very peculiar.

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 16/07/2022 15:58

Maybe it's so you don't challenge him for staying in some dodgy B&B and the reason he's told you he's staying in a B&B is either because he'll be at a private address that he'll claim is a B&B or because he can't afford a swanky hotel like you say so he's having to lump it

FartNRoses · 16/07/2022 16:03

⬆️ This @girlmom21

i feel for you OP. I truly hope I am wrong.
Hope you feel better soon.

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