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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

Would you tell your husband that you cheated 10 years ago?

83 replies

NameChange784 · 13/12/2022 15:56

DH and I have been together for 15 years, since we were teenagers. We've been married 4 years. The first 4-5 years of our relationship were fairly typical for a teenage/early 20s relationship I'd say - quite a lot of drama, on-again off-again, lots of bickering, we'd split up for a week if we had a bad argument and get back together. Very immature. We grew up, matured and stayed together and for the past 10 or so years we've had a very stable, happy relationship (now marriage). We have two kids, a house, a dog and rarely argue, not about anything big anyway.

When I was 20 I cheated on DH with a school friend of both of ours, I'll call him Tim. DH doesn't know the full extent of this. What he does know is that during a summer where he and I were broken up for about 2 months, I hooked up a few times with Tim. He thinks this all happened when we were separated. What he doesn't know, is that about 6 months later, when we were back together, Tim and I kissed (plus some touching) while very drunk at a party. We had had sex several times while DH and I were apart, but on this occasion we didn't go any further, so there was no sex involved in the cheating. I didn't tell DH at the time and never have. So as far as he's aware, once we got back together, nothing further happened between me and John.

After I cheated, I intentionally cut Tim out of my life as much as possible. We have a lot of mutual friends and live in the same area so I've seen him in a group setting from time to time (DH often there too) but have tried to avoid being in a conversation with him, so we haven't had more interaction than occasional small talk since. I haven't seen him socially for years, but have bumped into him a couple of times over the past 5 or so years, been polite and left. For me it's very much a thing of the distant past and feels like something from my childhood - the hooking up when DH and I were separated was during the 2012 Olympics, which feels like a very long time ago!

But I do still feel guilty about it, and the fact that DH is oblivious to the cheating. What would the moral thing be to do here? Part of me wants to get it off my chest. I honestly don't think it'd be much more than a sad conversation at this point, I certainly don't think we'd break our marriage and family up over it. And clearing my conscience about it would feel like a weight off my mind. But would I just be hurting his feelings for no reason? What's the right thing to do at this point? Would you want to know if you were in his position?

Disclaimer - what I did was 100% wrong and I'm in no way trying to minimise it. I'm only trying to explain that how long ago it was and how young we were makes it feel like something that happened in another lifetime. DH and I and are relationship are completely different people to who we were back then, and I certainly didn't think I'd end up marrying my teenage boyfriend and bringing this baggage with me into adult life!

OP posts:
maryofthevirginkind · 13/12/2022 20:05

Just know if you do that it will change everything and maybe not in a good day. You need to forget it and concentrate on the here and now.

adriftabroad · 13/12/2022 20:07

Absolutely no.

carefulcalculator · 13/12/2022 20:10

Oh no, why on EARTH would you do this now? If you want to sabotage your relationship just leave him.

Go and see a counsellor and work out what is going on for you, your response to this very small misdemeanor when very young is not right IMO.

pursuedbyablackdog · 13/12/2022 20:16

So you and (now) dh split, you got with Tim. You and dh got back together as boyfriend girlfriend. Then a few months later whilst your relationship, with soon to be dh, was still in its infancy, you and Tim had a bit of a drunken fumble?
Na nothing to see here. Had you been engaged or married then that would be entirely different, but given you had just started out again, I'd not worry. I certainly wouldn't feel the need to bare my soul over this. But if it's gnawing away at you maybe look at going to confession (if catholic) or talking to your local vicar. Might make you feel better. But I can't see anything awful. I think you're just worrying where there is no need to worry? Are you fretting Tim might say something? Is that why is playing on your mind? This happened in 2012 and you got married in what 2017/8?
Seriously chill, you are beating yourself up for no good reason!

AnneLovesGilbert · 13/12/2022 20:17

Why didn’t you tell him before you married him?

NameChange784 · 13/12/2022 20:22

AnneLovesGilbert · 13/12/2022 20:17

Why didn’t you tell him before you married him?

Same reason I haven't told him now. By the time we were getting married it was still a long time ago. I didn't want to potentially ruin a very happy relationship. Too scared I guess - both of his reaction and of hurting him.

OP posts:
catandcoffee · 13/12/2022 20:25

Absolutely not.
For you it's the past.
If you told him it'd be his now.

carefulcalculator · 13/12/2022 20:25

NameChange784 · 13/12/2022 20:22

Same reason I haven't told him now. By the time we were getting married it was still a long time ago. I didn't want to potentially ruin a very happy relationship. Too scared I guess - both of his reaction and of hurting him.

I just can't see why you are obsessing over this. I really think you need to work out why you feel it matters.

You snogged someone, realised the error of your ways, committed, have never cheated since that commitment.

Honestly if my DH had done the same, I would be <shrug> about it.

NameChange784 · 13/12/2022 20:26

pursuedbyablackdog · 13/12/2022 20:16

So you and (now) dh split, you got with Tim. You and dh got back together as boyfriend girlfriend. Then a few months later whilst your relationship, with soon to be dh, was still in its infancy, you and Tim had a bit of a drunken fumble?
Na nothing to see here. Had you been engaged or married then that would be entirely different, but given you had just started out again, I'd not worry. I certainly wouldn't feel the need to bare my soul over this. But if it's gnawing away at you maybe look at going to confession (if catholic) or talking to your local vicar. Might make you feel better. But I can't see anything awful. I think you're just worrying where there is no need to worry? Are you fretting Tim might say something? Is that why is playing on your mind? This happened in 2012 and you got married in what 2017/8?
Seriously chill, you are beating yourself up for no good reason!

No, I highly, highly doubt he'll say anything as he hasn't in the last 10 years. It's not even like we're all still friends. He'd have to be a bit of a monster to come out of the blue and contact DH just to tell him and risk breaking up a family. He's a nice guy (his part in all of this aside) and is also 10 years older and more mature now. There was no bitterness or resentment between us afterwards.

OP posts:
billy1966 · 13/12/2022 20:50

catandcoffee · 13/12/2022 20:25

Absolutely not.
For you it's the past.
If you told him it'd be his now.

This.

Absolutely not.

Nothing to be gained.

Get counselling and spill your guts at a therapist and move on.

Don't blow up your life for something so meaningless.

JamSandle · 13/12/2022 20:52

No I wouldn't. I would decide if you want to stay together and make a vow in yourself to be faithful.

sarahh96 · 13/12/2022 20:59

Having been in a similar situation and confessed all I can guarantee it will not make you feel better. The potential hurt you may cause will just compound the guilt you already feel. I thought if I confessed I'd feel better and be able to talk it through with my partner, get it out the way then carry on as normal. (I was young and naive). It didn't happen and I ended up feeling just as guilty over hurting him.

NameChange784 · 13/12/2022 21:03

JamSandle · 13/12/2022 20:52

No I wouldn't. I would decide if you want to stay together and make a vow in yourself to be faithful.

I decided that and made that vow a long time ago, not least in my wedding vows.

OP posts:
rosemarysalter · 13/12/2022 21:18

Nooooo

It was a drunken kiss

JamSandle · 13/12/2022 21:48

NameChange784 · 13/12/2022 21:03

I decided that and made that vow a long time ago, not least in my wedding vows.

I would just go forward and be the best partner you can be now. Leave the past be if you can x

hban · 13/12/2022 21:59

No. You have kids. It’s not worth the risk.

OldFan · 13/12/2022 22:08

Noooooooo.

It'd be stirring things up for no reason. If you want to confess then see a Priest instead.

mswales · 13/12/2022 22:09

Really bemused that you are stressing about a drunk kiss ten years ago... and that others agree this is something you should feel guilty about. Do you really think your DH would be upset if he knew? How would you feel if it was the other way around? I would definitely just forget about it, it is a non-issue.

LadyLolaRuben · 13/12/2022 22:13

No No No. Leave it in the past. It was nothing and meant nothing. You're married now and have stayed loyal to your wedding vows. You've confessed on here and you're forgiven if thats what you need. Move on OP x

WorriedHullg1992 · 13/12/2022 22:23

I think you need to be kinder to yourself OP. And 20 is really young, perhaps you have lost perspective in what your relationship was with DH back then?The relationship you have now is not the one you had back then so just forgive yourself and move on, it seems like you are looking for something to worry about. It’s up to you now to make a decision and just draw a line and stop revisiting it.

themanwho · 15/12/2022 23:01

I don’t see what you have to feel ashamed about. It happened years ago, it was a snog, and it lead to you realising how much you loved you husband.

i think go and see a therapist and get a more nuanced opinion on it.. after 10 years of marriage when you’ve been so committed together this is nothing.

Wear no guilt. Carry no shame. What you did it’s completely fine and normal. It was a bit naughty, and you were young. That’s all

LuluLehman · 03/03/2023 12:36

Don't tell him. It would open up a hurt that doesn't need to be opened, doing more harm than good. You are a lucky person who has a good relationship. Don't spoil it.

You are being so hard on yourself. You need to forgive yourself and let it go. You have nothing to feel guilty about.

If you have been feeling guilty for all this time consider this: a life sentence for someone who has committed a serious crime is ten years. You kissed this guy ten years ago. You've done more than your time and created a nice life for yourself. Put the past behind you and enjoy your lives together.

AllOfThemWitches · 03/03/2023 12:37

Absolutely not

billy1966 · 03/03/2023 12:48

Absolutely not.

See a therapist, spill your guts there, but keep your mouth shut at home.

Unless of course you want to totally blow up your life, relationship and family for some misguided guilt that you feel needs lancing.

You will bitterly bitterly regret the shit storm you will bring on yourself if you do this.

Get a grip, cop on, and move forward.

Honestly in your husbands shoes, I would be so pissed off at being told and such completely unnecessary drama being lobbed into our lives.

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 03/03/2023 15:19

I'm usually very much in the side that if you cheat, then you should tell your partner so they have the information available to them in order to decide whether to split or not.

But this was 10 years ago. There is absolutely no benefit to anyone in this information coming out. It sounds like what was initially quite messy relationship has matured into something adult, steady and loving.

I think telling your husband at this point would be quite a selfish thing to do, the only reason to do it would be to assuage your guilt, and in doing so you'll hurt your husband, and may hurt your kids if he decided to split.

The only reason I can see to tell him is if Tim was likely to spill the beans and as you said, after 10 years why would he? Even if he did, your partner already knows your slept together, you can simply say he got the timings wrong.

So no, don't tell him. You did a crappy thing, your punishment is that you still feel crappy about it 10 years later. Embrace the karma and move on with your life.