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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

Messages on phone

51 replies

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 08:58

I need some advice as to whether im overreacting?

Been with partner 8 months, known him a lot longer as he’s a family friend. His wife left 2 years ago after she’d had an affair. We are both nearly 50.

he’s loving and caring and I love him so much. We currently live 50 miles apart but once his divorce gone thru we a want to relocate to where I live, which is where he he’s up.

yesterday I was doing an update on his phone (at his request as he is a bit of a technophobe) and I noticed messages between him and a woman who he’s friends with on social media. When we first started dating he’d mentioned her as apparently they’d been messaging and her said he’d been out on a date etc and she’d stopped messaging him. So there was talk of does she have feelings for him? On his birthday every year she leaves public messages with the tag ‘LULT’ (love you long time?). I’ve never really asked him if they were ever ‘involved’ and he was married for 23 years so if so they were very young. She also lives on a different continent now!!! Anyway, we both are open with our phones and when he went for a shower I ashamedly snooped. Only briefly as I didn’t want to get caught and it not me normally. He’d contacted her a few months ago asking how things were, kids etc. no kisses on the message. He’s never told me he’s messaged her. She’d replied with a selfie of herself in uniform (think she’s police?). And one line caught my eye ‘I’m missing you’ ….. then a huge text from my partner about his divorce etc but I didn’t see anything mentioned about me? Again no kisses on the message.

at I being paranoid it really upset me? I was really off with him and he got upset asking what was wrong. He tells me daily how much he loves me, he has custody of his children and they are obviously moving with us when he sells up so it’s not like he’s not 100% committed to me. How do I bring it up without telling him I snooped? Or do I leave it and think it’s a message between two old friends??

OP posts:
UserError012345 · 17/09/2022 09:06

Agghh so much about your post is wrong.

Yes you've known him longer than 8 months but how much do you really know about him?

Far too soon to be talking about moving in AND having each other's codes for phones?!?!

You clearly don't trust him. Not sure if with good reason.

Slow. It. Down.

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:11

@UserError012345 thanks for replying. Like I say he's a family friend so known him 20 plus years but yes only been involved 8 months. He's never given me any reason not to trust him and the phones issue is just how we like to be I don't like secrets and I certainly would never hide anything.

I just don't know if I'm reading too much into these messages?

OP posts:
hotmess19 · 17/09/2022 09:12

I don’t think he’s done anything incriminating to be honest.
He messaged an old friend, a life update, she misses him. You can miss someone without being madly in love with them, especially if you live far away, let alone on a different continent!! He doesn’t have to tell you about everyone he messages, and kisses on a message is neither here nor there.
If you’re that insecure then leave him because an old friend will always be there.

ScorpioTwinkle1 · 17/09/2022 09:17

It doesn't sound like he did anything wrong. She said she missed him but he didn't reciprocate that, which is a good sign I think. He doesn't need to tell you of everyone he messages and sometimes people forget who they talk to.

NighghtmareNeighbour · 17/09/2022 09:19

But the messages were months ago. If there are no recent ones/ones declaring undying love or lust what’s the issue? It must have been very early on in your relationship, or even before. Maybe as she’s continents away he saw her as someone slightly removed from his life that he could spill out his thoughts too when he needed it.

Anotherpubber · 17/09/2022 09:19

We’re you hurt in your previous relationship as to be honest I can’t see anything wrong with the messages and you shouldn’t be snooping.

rarge · 17/09/2022 09:19

I think some of you are misunderstanding. Am I getting this right op, you're not upset about the kisses she sent or them talking- you are bothered that he didn't mention you when catching up.

And that he's not taking you serious? And maybe somewhere in the background that he could be keeping his options open?

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:20

@hotmess19 thank you I think this is what I need to hear? I am very insecure due to being hurt in the past and I want to feel that I’m over reacting? I just don’t know why he never told me he’d messaged her? He tells me about other friends in fact he showed me a lovely exchange he’d had with a friend whereby he told him all about us and our plans etc. this just feels like he’s almost keeping it secret?

OP posts:
Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:22

@rarge there were NO kisses on the messages.

OP posts:
Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:24

Maybe I just need to get over it and put it down to me being paranoid? I just needed some clarity?

OP posts:
Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:24

And I KNOW I shouldn’t have snooped, my god I know that it’s not me at all.

OP posts:
Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:26

@NighghtmareNeighbour the first exchange I saw was months ago the recent one where he was telling her all about his divorce was 2 days ago.

OP posts:
Ithinkiwanttobealone · 17/09/2022 09:36

Hmmmm yeah I'd be upset too and have been about similar.

Years ago living with my now ex, I came across messages between him an old friend where he told her all about his breakup and life since with no mention of me. I was very upset.

I've no advice really as he himself was toxic so I find it hard on reflection to deduce if individual situations were my fault or his.

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:46

Do I mention it or let it go?

OP posts:
hewouldwouldnthe · 17/09/2022 09:51

He did nothing wrong, and you were wrong to snoop. It's yourself you need to question, not him. He's allowed to have friends. His friend seems to feel more for him than the other way around. It's disgraceful you were 'off' with him for nothing. Look at your own behaviour not his.

hewouldwouldnthe · 17/09/2022 09:52

Say nothing, but learn from your lesson.

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 09:54

@hewouldwouldnthe thank you. It really helps someone telling me this, I’m menopausal and tearful a lot if the time so do feel like I overreact to a lot of things.

OP posts:
Ryder68 · 17/09/2022 09:59

The fact you get no mention at all suggests he is presenting as single to her, for whatever reason.

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 10:03

@Ryder68 he told her early on in our relationship about us plus his profile picture is of both of us.

OP posts:
Ryder68 · 17/09/2022 10:06

Oh right. I wouldnt worry then!

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 10:09

@Ryder68 i think I’m worried as I’m menopausal (say no more!!), been cheated on so much in the past, don’t feel like I want secrets between us, I have lots of male friends and always mention when I’ve messaged them as it’s always innocent. My partner is very keen to move on and for us to have a life together and I find it strange that’s he’s been messaging this woman and not even casually mentioned it?

OP posts:
Ryder68 · 17/09/2022 10:15

Maybe he is worried about your reaction because of your cheated on past, if he knows about it.

Boatinggirl27 · 17/09/2022 10:16

@Ryder68 i don’t know? He was cheated on too and is always telling me he’d never cheat or hurt me?

OP posts:
Ryder68 · 17/09/2022 10:20

Thinking about it, I would not like the secret, or at least not mentioning, messaging either and I am well past the meno!

ladydoris · 17/09/2022 10:33

I think he is catching up and nothing else. You can miss a friend, it's not always romantic. I have very very old friends, and sometimes they need long catch ups. Life happens. I would stop snooping on the phone and start talking with him about his life his friends and what they mean to him. This is were the info lies. IMHO.