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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

Confused over husband.

8 replies

Mumof3lions · 23/02/2023 20:42

Hey!
So I had issues with my husband having girl friends from work who he was regularly texting.
He's blocked my access to his messages as he says I'm controlling.
He puts me down saying I'm too sensitive to be involved. That my work /study is less important than his and when I'm unwell he says its all in my head (I was vomiting).
He's still messaging one of the women from work regularly. Apparently purely friendship but has recently divulged that until she got married /settled down he had a huge crush on her (but not now apparently). I outright asked what she gives him that I don't which he couldn't answer. I outright asked him to show me their messages but he wouldn't because I'm too sensitive.

This hurts deeply.

We have kids I just feel so confused and don't know what to do.
He says he loves me and that I'm everything to him but I just don't feel it.

OP posts:
RoomOnTheBrooms · 23/02/2023 20:45

You know he's cheating and he's gaslit you into believing what he is doing is okay. Leave the POS.

frozendaisy · 23/02/2023 20:47

Tell him you aren't going to compete with his phone.

You shouldn't have access to his messages OP.

Either you are his queen or you aren't.

lovemypuppa · 23/02/2023 20:49

My personal mantra has always been this..
"I shall never fight for you. If I feel I'm competing with someone else, you can fuck off and you're welcome to her".

MsDogLady · 24/02/2023 00:29

@Mumof3lions, I assume this is the female colleague you referenced in January, the one he is having an emotional affair with.

Although he claimed otherwise, it was clear that your H and OW are building an illicit intimate relationship. He has now admitted that he previously had a crush on her. His denial that he is currently infatuated is a lie, as is his faux claim that she’d never be interested in him.

He is investing much more emotional energy, time and attention in OW instead of in you and your 3 young children. He gives her his rare free time, and is constantly messaging, advising, and helping this married woman. He has joined her running group, even though he initially said he wanted to share that activity with you. They also may be swimming together.

When you previously expressed discomfort with OW’s attitude and their ‘OTT banter,’ he denigrated you by telling her that you called her a bully.

@Mumof3lions, he’s making a mockery of you and your children. I find it outrageous that he dismisses your feelings, calls you controlling, and
blame-shifts his blocked transparency to your ‘sensitivity.’ I hope you realize that these are manipulative tactics used to hide his infidelity. This devaluation of you is par for the course, as he enjoys putting down your work/study and accusing you of faking illness when you’re vomiting.

He doesn’t behave like you’re ‘his everything,’ He has placed OW on a pedestal, puts her first, and treats you like trash. This is untenable. I wouldn’t tolerate his faithless behavior, and would show him the door so he’d clearly understand what losing you and his family feels like. I’d also visit a solicitor to learn my options. Flowers

Nelly10 · 24/02/2023 00:42

MsDogLady · 24/02/2023 00:29

@Mumof3lions, I assume this is the female colleague you referenced in January, the one he is having an emotional affair with.

Although he claimed otherwise, it was clear that your H and OW are building an illicit intimate relationship. He has now admitted that he previously had a crush on her. His denial that he is currently infatuated is a lie, as is his faux claim that she’d never be interested in him.

He is investing much more emotional energy, time and attention in OW instead of in you and your 3 young children. He gives her his rare free time, and is constantly messaging, advising, and helping this married woman. He has joined her running group, even though he initially said he wanted to share that activity with you. They also may be swimming together.

When you previously expressed discomfort with OW’s attitude and their ‘OTT banter,’ he denigrated you by telling her that you called her a bully.

@Mumof3lions, he’s making a mockery of you and your children. I find it outrageous that he dismisses your feelings, calls you controlling, and
blame-shifts his blocked transparency to your ‘sensitivity.’ I hope you realize that these are manipulative tactics used to hide his infidelity. This devaluation of you is par for the course, as he enjoys putting down your work/study and accusing you of faking illness when you’re vomiting.

He doesn’t behave like you’re ‘his everything,’ He has placed OW on a pedestal, puts her first, and treats you like trash. This is untenable. I wouldn’t tolerate his faithless behavior, and would show him the door so he’d clearly understand what losing you and his family feels like. I’d also visit a solicitor to learn my options. Flowers

This with bells on!

MsDogLady · 24/02/2023 06:18

The thing is, your H isn’t going to agree that their relationship is inappropriate, although he’d go ballistic if you did the same. He’s determined to build this bond with OW while keeping you in your lane, so he can eat cake.

You have your boundaries, which he is choosing to trample. He feels entitled and is justifying it. If this were my H, I would inform him that I’m not interested in a 3 person marriage…that I’m not prepared to be devalued and treated with contempt…that he is welcome to continue pursuing validation via OW, but not while married to me. And I would proceed accordingly with the consequences of his infidelity and disloyalty.

Crazypaving22 · 24/02/2023 06:42

He is cheating, lying and gaslighting.

Everything MsDogLady says is spot on.

None of this is your fault, he’s utterly devoid of empathy and compassion for you. You must be in absolutely turmoil, heightened anxiety, that is no way to live. The red flags are waving.

The longer you stay tethered to this nasty man the longer you will be damaged. It really is that simple. It’s time to be your own best friend.

You and your children so much deserve better.

perfectcolourfound · 24/02/2023 07:38

You say

He says he loves me and that I'm everything to him but I just don't feel it.

His words don't match his actions. It's ever so easy to say nice things (to shut someone up for example) but words are utterly meaningless if they aren't matched by actions. And his actions show you he doesn't respect you, he lies to, he gaslights you, he cares more about keeping in touch with this other woman than your feelings.

So much of what you said causes alarm bells. Read your post again..... is this the relationship you imagined when you were younger? Someone who lies to you, keeps things from you, pursues other women, critisises you, tells you that you aren't ill when you are, tells you things are in your head, that you're not as important as him, too sensitive, yuor job doesn't matter.

It's alarming just how little care or respect he has for you. And you deserve 1000 times better than him. so do your children.

By the way - telling you you're imaging being ill - that's just another way of him undermining your needs and feelings, and a get-out clause for him looking after you (she's making up feeling ill so I don't have to look after you or the children or step up and look after the household for a few days).

He is lazy and selfish and an appalling husband and father. You deserve so much more.

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