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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

Husband had emotional affair when I was pregnant/had 2nd baby

10 replies

inlovewithmybabygirl · 29/07/2022 18:08

My husband had an emotional affair when I was pregnant/had my 2nd baby. He called me at 4am once off his face and told me all his friends said he was cheating on me but he doesn’t think he was. I was so tired and in new mum hell at the time I just thought wtf, fo. Tbh it was just one other thing in a long line of awfulness,,, not coming home until 8am, drug habit, not coming home when I asked after work (maybe only 3 times I did ask) when I was unwell, never helping with the kids, blaming me for everything etc etc, I could go on. All this went on for years and altho I wanted to change the locks at the time (multiple times) the thought of splitting and therefore not seeing my babies for even one night a month say, killed me, so I didn’t. I parked it to deal with another time. That other time started to surface last year and since then I’ve been trying to ‘figure things out.’ I’ve blamed myself this whole time really about how I can’t just get over it all and move forward but recently through solo therapy I have been having more compassion for myself and can clearly see that all of this may have been quite upsetting so how I feel is valid. My husband and I are at a place where I don’t feel I can get over things. Something has changed for me and I don’t see him the way I used to. It pains me to think of carrying on with the marriage because I am a loving person and can’t not love someone for the rest of my life (I’m 38). He says he can get over it all and carry on.
recently I’ve started to think of the whole period of awfulness as a kind of betrayal from him. Like I can’t trust him anymore, even tho he wasn’t ‘unfaithful.’ But literally this week I’ve been coming back to this emotional affair and wonder how much this has played into this feeling of betrayal I have. We have spoken about it before, he said he was lonely, he found it hard, had a breakdown etc etc,, also blaming me,, I pushed him away, he felt left out when the kids were born etc 🙄. He said the affair was never physical, they worked together and only went for lunches and out in the eve with other work people etc. but he said she listened to him, and ‘no one has before.’ Anyway she got a new job somewhere else through him and he never heard from her again haha. So now I feel I want to delve deeper into this affair and ask him questions. I wonder if I should just ask him? Or should I say things to try and catch him out? Like I’ve spoken to her and she told me you did have sex. Should I actually speak to her? I just want to know the truth. He totally switched off during that period and would literally only smile at home when he received messaged from ‘work’ people.
has anyone been in this sitch before and have any advice on what I should do or how to go about getting more info?
Sorry it’s been long, thanks for reading of you got this far!

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 29/07/2022 18:37

I don’t think it matters whether they had sex or not, does it? He’s a shit husband, it doesn’t sound like you love him anymore and he clearly doesn’t respect you. The best thing you can do for your DC is not model this kind of pointless, dead relationship to them as their model for the future. Appreciate this comes across as blunt, but you’re dancing around the wrong subject with wanting to try to trick him into admitting they fucked.

seaUrchinOne · 29/07/2022 19:44

He sounds like a shit husband whether it went further or not, he's never going to admit cheating on you.
You don't need to find out the nitty gritty to make him leave, sounds like he's put you through enough already.

inlovewithmybabygirl · 29/07/2022 19:46

Yeah you are right there. I’m finding it hard to take responsibility and end it for some reason. Should have done it at the time! I’m looking for a scape goat so I can blame him I guess and shirk the responsibility. Why I’m not too sure. What is wrong with me?!

OP posts:
seaUrchinOne · 29/07/2022 19:53

Don't be so hard on yourself, now the fog of bringing up a newborn has passed, you can remember who you are, it's not easy ending a situation without solid proof but you don't need to put up with his behaviour, however long ago.

I wish I ended a similar situation years ago, instead it dragged out for years before he ended up divorcing me because I was so resentful towards him.

inlovewithmybabygirl · 29/07/2022 20:16

Yes to be fair I feel this will just happen anyway because I don’t think how I feel will change regardless of any counselling etc.
mum sorry you had a similar situation and went through all of that.

OP posts:
inlovewithmybabygirl · 30/07/2022 12:12

We spoke last night about separating and he said I am being harsh. So hard

OP posts:
wellhelloitsme · 30/07/2022 13:52

It seems like some people think that it's only right to split if someone cheats on you.

Someone being horrible to you, selfish, having a drug habit and never helping with the kids is just as good (if not more) of a reason to break up with someone.

You say you can't bear the thought of not seeing your kids for 1 day a month but that would still mean they had 29 days in a healthy, happy, secure environment with you.

Versus 0 days in a genuinely healthy and happy environment now.

It's not the right thing for you to stay together and in doing so teach your kids that this is what a relationship is supposed to look like. That makes it likely they will replicate the dynamic themselves as adults.

Is that what you want to have to see when they're older?

wellhelloitsme · 30/07/2022 13:53

inlovewithmybabygirl · 30/07/2022 12:12

We spoke last night about separating and he said I am being harsh. So hard

And he doesn't need to agree with it. It's not a joint decision, you can end a relationship at any time for any reason.

ImRunningUpThatHill · 30/07/2022 14:22

OP I completely understand how confused you are - I am in the same boat and have been told I’m harsh and why can’t I just get over it. I know my feelings have completely changed for my husband and that I can’t live like this, but still, the confusion (or gaslighting) continues for me, even after separation. I have now filed for divorce and feel guilty for splitting up a family even though I know it’s through his bad behaviour.

Rather than look for clues and evidence of ‘enough bad behaviour’ to end a marriage, it’s time to listen to your feelings. So sorry you are going through this.

EightyNine · 16/08/2022 14:02

i don’t think you need to concentrate on what you’re both referring to as an emotional affair. This seems to me like potentially a friendship. Meeting for lunch, getting on with someone and seeing each other on work nights out is something friends do. Was he interpreting this as something it wasn’t?
He maybe doesn’t realise the stress you’re under and how much you do, so he comes home and expects you to ask him how he is and make some time for him, but you don’t have any time because he’s not pulling his weight. Is this what’s happening?
maybe give some thought into whether you would genuinely be better off without him? maybe make a pros and cons list, make your own mind up, and then discuss with him what you think.
maybe tell him if he’d help with a b c etc then you’d be able to sit down at the end of the day and have a chat about how his days been? Like he felt able to with his work friend.
I would have thought if he was just going out for lunch with someone and on a few work nights out but then coming home and doing his fair share around the house and being kind to you then that friendship wouldn’t be a problem for either of you.
Is there any chance he was describing it as an emotional affair because he thought it might make you feel jealous or something?

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