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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

Husbands ex has started working with him..do I have anything to be worried about?

126 replies

mrchandlerbong · 11/10/2022 12:38

My husband and I have been together 2 years in December.
We got married in June this year.
He is 41 and I'm 35.
When we met 2 years ago he told me upfront he previously had been a bit of a player.
He told me about a woman he was "kind of seeing" and how she wanted more but at the time he wanted to sleep around.
He showed me her on Facebook (when drunk and early dating)
He told me they had spoken for a year and been out together/slept together etc but at the time they weren't exclusive.
He said she ended up going a bit crazy and he stopped meeting up as "he wouldn't be able to stop himself sleeping with her as he really fancied her"
Hmmm
Anyway that was nearly 2 years ago and we are married now.
She has just got a job with him (same building )
They haven't spoken in 2 years -so I'm assuming won't speak if they see each other as too awkward but with all that history should I be worried ?
Do you think I'm worrying for nothing?

OP posts:
Tsort · 12/10/2022 13:52

mrchandlerbong · 12/10/2022 13:35

Do you think our relationship has been too rushed ?

Of course it’s rushed. You got married to someone you’d only known for 18 months. And, to top it off, much of that time was spent in lockdown, so you had no long term picture of how he behaved/operated in ‘normal times’.

And, on top of that, he sounds like a bit of a dick (sorry, I know you love him) and you don’t trust him. It’s not a great situation, so I’m sorry you’re dealing with it. I hope things work out.

Rubiconmango · 12/10/2022 16:24

Oh dear OP! My heart goes out to you. I never follow up with threads, but for some reason have with yours... I just get the feeling of 'want to save you' after reading the developments! Warning! Long post!

I am so sorry to have to say what I am about to say (and I sincerely pray to God I am so terribly wrong on this one!)... [I will refrain from swearing because I don't want that to hurt your feelings or deter from the seriousness of my comment].

It STRONGLY SEEMS you have married a condescending, chauvinistic casanova i.e a man who has no regard or respect for women. Someone who sees women as a commodity for his own pleasure and use -_- I'm sorry!

Considering your age difference (not that age matters) in the sense of maturity... your husband straight up sounds like someone many sound minded independent and secure women would stay well away from!

As others have commented and I think you have also insinuated... had it not been for lockdown, you two probably wouldn't have been together. So it's not that your marriage was rushed, it's that you didn't actually form a bond and test your relationship it seems in the actual reality of life. He hit jackpot by scoring you as someone to warm his bed full time [marriage].

I'm sorry honey, but this man does not seem to have 'changed'. A changed man would not be talking so boyishly about a lost flame he couldn't resist! The details of what he has shared with you, blatantly screams where this man-child is at - charming the pants off women [quite literally] with ZERO heart for the damage he is causing! He sounds like your typical charmer [probably good looking too], going about letting his dick lead the way! In no way marriage material!

I doubt he even has any real value for marriage! He's 40! Not really stud muffin age! When a charmer does not embrace age, his level of appeal to secure women, drops lower than his balls! Nothing more cringe than older people trying to act like reckless 20 year olds!

I'm sorry OP, your questions you have asked in which you are clearly hoping someone say what you want to hear [that you've nothing to worry about and that he's a good husband], show, you know in your gut who you have married? You probably have that 'I can't trust him bottom-line', feeling in the pit of your gut?!

Girl! Only you know this man and why you married him. Were/are you secure in yourself? Were/are you happy as a person on your own? [And I don't mean happy being single, I mean, content with most of yourself] were/are you independent? Do/did you have loving family and friends around you? If you have answered no to any of those... I think you know how this marriage came about - you 'needed' him and settled for far less respect than you deserve?

This woman aside, there's a bigger underlying insecurity here it seems. You can't trust him in your gut around any remotely attractive woman. He has created that insecurity [happily it seems]. This woman appearing has just brought those pushed down feelings to the surface?

No one gets married to get divorced. I would not say you divorce him. That's not my place to say.

BUT as others have advised, protect your life and become self sufficient as you would being a single person, for at least a year to see if he trips, and in that year, see how he is around women in general. A player is usually overinflated in their own mind. They're usually not at all appealing to real humans! They prey on girls/women who are simply vulnerable, insecure and troubled.

Nonetheless, he in all his glory as he appears to be to many of us in this thread... will not be able to resist temptation, and when he goes there... YOU NEED TO GO OUT! I pray I am so terribly wrong! But in no circumstances should anyone be with a cheater! And for anyone who defends that; they are just lying to themselves.

mrchandlerbong · 12/10/2022 19:53

We met on pof in October 2020 and then texted for a while,then on obviously lockdown happened so for the first 5 months we just went to each other's houses
Then may /June I moved in ,engaged November and married 7 months later.
It's our 2 year anniversary together next month.
It does always make me wonder was it circumstance that brought us together.
Once his daughter went to uni was he scared to end up alone so settled -my mind worries every time.

OP posts:
mrchandlerbong · 12/10/2022 19:54

It's been 2 and a bit years tho since all of that with her ...surely the attraction will of worn off by now?
Out of sight out of mind ?
I mean I see my ex's and think no chance

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 12/10/2022 20:21

It was a bit strange of him to tell you he stopped meeting with her because he wouldn’t be able to help sleeping with her. That’s probably where your anxiety comes from now. In your shoes I’d tell him you’re feeling anxious about her coming to work at his place because of what he said before - see what he comes back with (ideally he should earnestly and honesty say he’s completely changed since he met you and he’d never look at anyone else now). If your relationship is worth it’s salt you ought to be able to talk this through.

You might have got together in strange times, and things might have moved along quickly, but you’ve nearly two years of water under the bridge now. It’s obviously working. We’ve been out of lockdown for a good while now.

5128gap · 12/10/2022 20:40

mrchandlerbong · 12/10/2022 19:54

It's been 2 and a bit years tho since all of that with her ...surely the attraction will of worn off by now?
Out of sight out of mind ?
I mean I see my ex's and think no chance

If he thinks she was so attractive he couldn't resist having sex with her, unless her looks have sharply declined, why would that have worn off? It's familiarity that typically leads to people losing that feeling of lust, not absence. She probably was out of mind when out of sight. But she's not out of sight now.
But, in all honesty, it shouldn't matter, as he should be committed to you and so be able to control himself. You can't spend your life with a man whose faithfulness is dependent only on him not finding another woman attractive.

Fearneyox · 12/10/2022 21:37

Nah I’d hate this and I’m sure a lot of others would too, whether they’re ready to admit it or not. Especially as it sounds as though they had unfinished business… not cool.

Herejustforthisone · 12/10/2022 22:06

I’d be worried, yeah. You got married awfully quickly and he described himself as a ‘player’. 😬

Tsort · 12/10/2022 22:20

mrchandlerbong · 12/10/2022 19:53

We met on pof in October 2020 and then texted for a while,then on obviously lockdown happened so for the first 5 months we just went to each other's houses
Then may /June I moved in ,engaged November and married 7 months later.
It's our 2 year anniversary together next month.
It does always make me wonder was it circumstance that brought us together.
Once his daughter went to uni was he scared to end up alone so settled -my mind worries every time.

You’re 35 years old. Surely, you realise that the timescales you’ve just described are a bit mad?

MsDogLady · 12/10/2022 23:22

@mrchandlerbong, you married a man who, until pandemic restrictions, thrived on being a sexually incontinent player. It sounds like he dangled and used this woman who loved him, as he couldn’t resist her or the others in his harem who validated him.

This could prove to be a tricky situation. I would mention my valid concerns and ask how he would handle the various scenarios that could arise with her, both personally and professionally.

It’s wise for couples to have conversations about how to safeguard their marriages/partnerships in the face of temptation. While it’s natural to be attracted to flattery, ego boosts, and nostalgia, we in monogamous relationships must be conscious of maintaining strong boundaries.

You took a big risk in marrying a 40 year old man with a history of self-serving entitlement with women. I hope he proves to be a safe partner.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 13/10/2022 07:43

Yeah I’d be worried

as realistically he will probably still have sexual feelings for her

however
will she have moved on (hope so !)
has he grown and matured (hope so !)

I think you have to really honestly communicate quite how much this concerns you and let him speak and take the lead

you have every right to flag this issue and be honest abiut how worried you are

monsteramunch · 13/10/2022 10:29

He basically said they were dating for a year (texting,meeting up etc ) she wanted commitment but he couldn't trust himself when he went out so didn't commit. Then after sleeping together she would get jealous when he slept with someone and would send crazy messages.

He didn't want to commit because he knew he'd cheat when he went out. He told her that yet knowing she wanted more he continued to shag her. And told her he was shagging other people. Multiple times.

He sounds like a right prick OP.

You say lockdown bonded you as everything was shut but it also meant that he didn't have the opportunity to 'not trust himself' and shag around like he usually would.

Nothing intrinsically wrong with shagging around if both parties consent. Lots wrong IMO with continuing to shag someone knowing that they want more than just shagging. It's just a dick move even if they're aware. Her choice to have continued shagging him, absolutely. But only arseholes shag people knowing they want more and only massive arseholes.

Here's a tip for him when he's single again - if a woman you're shagging sends you 'crazy messages' when you shag other people... stop shagging that woman. Problem solved. Continuing to shag her was selfish and stupid. He didn't think her messages were crazy enough to block her and move on, did he?

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 10:56

I'm under no illusion that his past behaviour towards women wasn't the best.
From what I gather he was changing goal posts with this woman,I don't believe she was crazy tbh ..as someone who's been treated crappy I kind of understand
I just don't understand why he spoke to her for so long when he could of went it weekly and just slept around.
He dug a hole for himself
Tbh I'm jealous of her cos she is attractive and I'm not one of these women who slag off other women my husband is dated because it's ridiculous
I'm not blind I know she's more attractive
She's slim,pretty and dresses nice (yes I've been fb stalking )
She likes to go out ,go to gigs,travel etc etc
I just feel a bit meh
Why did she have to work there

OP posts:
monsteramunch · 13/10/2022 11:01

From what I gather he was changing goal posts with this woman,I don't believe she was crazy tbh

He called her messages crazy though. And you know she wasn't crazy. He just treated her like a disposable shag repeatedly and didn't care about her feelings enough so he kept shagging her regardless.

I just don't understand why he spoke to her for so long when he could of went it weekly and just slept around.

Yes you do. It was because he didn't care about her feelings and wanted to keep shagging her regardless.

He dug a hole for himself

No he didn't, he just didn't care about her feelings and wanted to keep shagging her regardless.

ComtesseDeSpair · 13/10/2022 11:05

So she’s good looking, has a good social life, is successful and ambitious. Frankly there’s every chance that in the intervening three years since she last saw him she’s realised that he was a creep who she had a bit of a fling with when she was a few years younger and less wise and will think you’re welcome to him.

bettyfretty · 13/10/2022 11:06

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 10:56

I'm under no illusion that his past behaviour towards women wasn't the best.
From what I gather he was changing goal posts with this woman,I don't believe she was crazy tbh ..as someone who's been treated crappy I kind of understand
I just don't understand why he spoke to her for so long when he could of went it weekly and just slept around.
He dug a hole for himself
Tbh I'm jealous of her cos she is attractive and I'm not one of these women who slag off other women my husband is dated because it's ridiculous
I'm not blind I know she's more attractive
She's slim,pretty and dresses nice (yes I've been fb stalking )
She likes to go out ,go to gigs,travel etc etc
I just feel a bit meh
Why did she have to work there

To be honest op, you weren't going to be able to avoid his past forever. The fact she's working there is only highlighting the insecurities in your marriage that have been hidden but clearly always there.

If this circumstance happened in a fully trusting marriage with no insecurity then I doubt either husband or wife would really bat an eyelid - I mean there may be some un nerving feeling but not to this extent.

She is not the problem here, the problem is your marriage and trust issues because of his past - and rightly so. He sounds like a right knob head.

Who knows what will happen but all this has done is shown how vulnerable your marriage is on your part. You can't live life hoping and praying nothing will ever crop up to give you no reason to trust him. That's a life of misery and anxiety.

You should be able to trust him no matter what but you don't.

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 11:37

So do you think he will always have that wandering eye in him?
Can he really change at 40 after years like that ?

OP posts:
monsteramunch · 13/10/2022 11:42

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 11:37

So do you think he will always have that wandering eye in him?
Can he really change at 40 after years like that ?

Calling it a wandering eye is a rather romanticised term for someone who shags women he knows want more and also says he 'can't help himself' in relation to anything to do with sex.

If you're really honest with yourself OP, do you not think that he might at least just be a bit of a prick?

PaperOwl · 13/10/2022 11:53

Something so odd about this thread. How on earth do we know if you rushed your marriage? How do we know if he's changed? How do we know what he will do?

It's almost like it's not real or something. And I'm almost musing out loud with that, not troll hunting

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 11:55

@monsteramunch he's been honest -he told me they were kind of dating and he was his "half girlfriend "
Then from reading between the lines he went out slept with someone then told this woman they weren't a couple (which I think he said so he wasn't a cheat )
And then they had a weird thing going on
Most of the women he slept with he just slept with and that was it ,didn't give number etc
It was just this one woman - that's why I'm feeling insecure
Because I'm worried it could of potentially been more and worried he did like her
I'm more bothered about her than the many others that was just 1 might with

OP posts:
monsteramunch · 13/10/2022 12:37

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 11:55

@monsteramunch he's been honest -he told me they were kind of dating and he was his "half girlfriend "
Then from reading between the lines he went out slept with someone then told this woman they weren't a couple (which I think he said so he wasn't a cheat )
And then they had a weird thing going on
Most of the women he slept with he just slept with and that was it ,didn't give number etc
It was just this one woman - that's why I'm feeling insecure
Because I'm worried it could of potentially been more and worried he did like her
I'm more bothered about her than the many others that was just 1 might with

'Kind of dating'
'Half girlfriend'

How old are you all? This all sounds like how teenage boys excuse treating girls poorly. And then call them mental like he did this woman.

I'll ask again as I think it's really important - if you're really honest with yourself OP, do you not think that he might at least just be a bit of a prick?

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 12:51

@monsteramunch I think he was a prick yes,I'm just hoping his grew up and won't be tempted (which I know isn't a great way to live )

OP posts:
totallyoutnumbered · 13/10/2022 12:56

It feels like you don't actually know him. Perhaps the lockdown intensified and sped things up but it does sound like you're not entirely sure who you're actually married to. You can't future proof anything by worrying about it though. I think all you can do is know exactly what your own boundaries are and stick to them. Sure discuss your concerns with him but in my experience if someone is going to do something they're going to do it. I've had my fair share of heartache and wish I could tell my younger self to respect my own boundaries and listen to my gut, which was never wrong

monsteramunch · 13/10/2022 13:05

mrchandlerbong · 13/10/2022 12:51

@monsteramunch I think he was a prick yes,I'm just hoping his grew up and won't be tempted (which I know isn't a great way to live )

Was he very young when he was seeing her? Or was he still behaving this way in his 30s?

How does he speak about her and the situation now? Does he still say she sent crazy messages? Does he say he feels really bad for having carried on shagging her when she wanted more?

monsteramunch · 13/10/2022 13:15

Just saw he was late 30s when still behaving this way with women(!). I haven't personally known men still like that at that age to change at any point in the future. Either eternal bachelors or cheated on their partners. But of course there are always outliers. You know though I think that it's highly unlikely he's now a changed man.

How does he speak about her and the situation now? Does he still say she sent crazy messages? Does he say he feels really bad for having carried on shagging her when she wanted more?