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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

Could my (male) DP be having an emotional affair with a lesbian?

14 replies

MusingMouser · 04/08/2023 15:52

DP and I have had some relationship issues over the years and it’s been especially tough recently.

We live in South Africa (my home country) but he comes from a non-English speaking European country. Recently he met a (lesbian) woman from his country through work who just moved here. They don’t work together very much but they talk to each other outside of work a LOT, at least an hour on the phone each week, sometimes 50 WhatsApp messages a day, they’re friends on Facebook and instagram etc. He has shown me their WhatsApp conversations but it’s all in their language so it’s hard for me to understand. She definitely tells him a lot about her emotional state especially about her recent divorce and he told her that our DD was unplanned and that we broke up and DD was conceived straight after we got back together again. I think they’re too close and that he should not be talking to another woman about this.

I’ve met her socially several times in a group when her office has come to our town. She has babysat DD for us a couple of times too, which DP and I were both really pleased with because DD is bilingual English and his language but it’s hard for us to find other people who speak his language for her to talk to. Once she stayed in our guest room for the night because she was working here for 2 days. She was generally thoughtful, but she does not speak much English and I do not speak their language very well so it was awkward. She talked to my DD and DP but she didn’t talk to me. DP sat outside smoking and drinking and talking to her in their language until really late in the night while I was inside with DD. She is not entirely to blame for that. He does not smoke in the house, so it’s not unusual for him to sit outside smoking, drinking beer and on his phone for hours in the evening. But DP and I talked about it and agreed that she won’t be staying over again.

DP says that they’re just friends and that there is nothing more between them. I have talked to some of my (female) friends about the circumstances of my pregnancy so he can’t understand why I don’t want him telling her these details. He thinks his friendship with her is no more a threat to our relationship than if he was friends with a man. He says he likes having the chance to speak his native language and that he does not have many friends here. But he knows I’d be happy to move to his country, at least for a few years, but he is adamant he doesn’t want to go back so I don’t understand why he is so keen to have a friend from home. And just because she is a lesbian doesn’t mean he couldn’t have a crush on her. She is young and pretty.

It feels like DP talks to her more than he talks to me. She gets to best of my DP (the nice conversations, inside jokes and thoughtful offers to help with things like the paperwork for emigrating here) while I’m left with just the conversations about the boring daily life stresses. Her project here ends in December so she is moving back to their country soon. Should I just put up with it for a few more months? I’m so frustrated but I don’t want to sound like I’ve gone crazy with jealousy.

OP posts:
Takoneko · 04/08/2023 16:03

It does sound quite full on but I don’t think it’s an “affair”.
I also wouldn’t underestimate the importance of the language thing. People who speak multiple languages can’t always express themselves fully in a second language. Some people even talk about having a different personality in their first language vs their acquired language(s). It sounds like he’s really enjoying having someone to talk to on his native language. It seems unlikely that they are planning to run off into the sunset together.

Having said all of that, I think you should tell him that you need more of his focus to be on you and your family. 50 messages a day every day is a lot of contact, I don’t talk to anyone that much. 😂😂

binkie163 · 04/08/2023 17:19

My husband had a very close lesbian friend, I didn't have a problem at all with it until they fell out. I received a really spiteful bunch of emails from her. My husband had clearly talked to her about everything, including very intimate stuff about me, that only he could have told her. The emails were intended to cause me a great deal of hurt.
You shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable, it is rude to talk in their native tongue excluding you from the conversation. You discussing your really personal stuff with your friends is not the same as him talking to her about your personal stuff. He is probably flattered at the attention he is getting from a young pretty girl. She may not be at all interested in him sexually but she is demanding his attention and she is getting it.

SgtBilko · 04/08/2023 18:46

Your DP needs someone to talk to about his emotional stuff as much as anyone. It’s not just yours to decide who to discuss with. It’s good he’s got someone he can communicate well with in his own language and if she’s a lesbian there is not going to be an affair. 50 Whatsapp messages in a day aren’t a huge amount. I’ve sent about 30 to a friend trying to agree something just this afternoon and then several to some other friends. He’s showing you the messages and being open about them so I think you should chill and be glad he’s got a friend who is supportive. Have you told him you are jealous? Maybe you should.

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 04/08/2023 18:57

It sounds like they are friends? It's probably nice for him to be able to talk to someone in his own language for a change.

You say that she's getting the best of him, but isn't that what happens with most friends? I go down the pub and we have long conversations about the world, and films and travel etc, and then I come home and talk to DP about how we need to paint the shed and that the dishwasher is about to kick the bucket. Because I already know DPs opinions on politics and her favourite movies and what her dream holiday would be, we've been together 15 years.

If you feel like you only get drudgery, then talk to your DP about that, but don't stop him seeing his friend because you're finding your relationship boring.

astora · 04/08/2023 19:46

binkie163 · 04/08/2023 17:19

My husband had a very close lesbian friend, I didn't have a problem at all with it until they fell out. I received a really spiteful bunch of emails from her. My husband had clearly talked to her about everything, including very intimate stuff about me, that only he could have told her. The emails were intended to cause me a great deal of hurt.
You shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable, it is rude to talk in their native tongue excluding you from the conversation. You discussing your really personal stuff with your friends is not the same as him talking to her about your personal stuff. He is probably flattered at the attention he is getting from a young pretty girl. She may not be at all interested in him sexually but she is demanding his attention and she is getting it.

I don't see what her sending spiteful emails has to do with her being a lesbian. That could just as easily have happened if she was straight, or a man.

You shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable, it is rude to talk in their native tongue excluding you from the conversation.
But she doesn't speak very much English, and it sounds like most of the conversation isn't happening when OP is I the room.

You discussing your really personal stuff with your friends is not the same as him talking to her about your personal stuff.

Why?

MusingMouser · 04/08/2023 20:07

@binkie163 That's exactly it! I dont think he should be sharing the details of our relationship with anyone. We've actually argued about exactly this before because he told his brother enough that his brother was really awful to me when I was pregnant. I don't know exactly what DP told his brother, but DP's brother accused me of "intentionally" getting pregnant the day we got back together to "trap" DP and try to force him to marry me and get me a visa for their country. He told me DP had never even planned to get back together with me and that he only slept with me that day because we'd had a few beers. I obviously could not control getting pregnant that day and I have never wanted to live in Europe. DP will not talk about it at all and we just haven't seen his brother since, but I know they still talk sometimes. I am certain DP knows I do not want him talking to people about this because it's really private and sensitive.

OP posts:
BadNomad · 04/08/2023 20:17

There it is. A lot of time the problem isn't actually the problem, but rather a symptom of something bigger. You don't trust your DP. He has allowed other people to disrespect you (his brother), which shows he doesn't respect you either, and you're seeing more evidence of that with this woman now.

The man you get is the real man. It's the one he thinks you deserve. You need to decide if that man is good enough for you.

DaveWatts · 04/08/2023 20:22

My dh has two very close friends who are lesbians - one younger, one much older. I don't have an issue with him sharing stuff with them, they're just his close mates and sometimes he needs to offload. No, I'll admit I'm not 100% comfortable with the amount he shares but that is hypocritical of me as I share to an equal amount with my friends. I don't think it's realistic or good for a relationship to never be able to talk issues over with your friends. Of course sharing can go too far though and even if someone is same sex attracted that might not stop your dh having a crush on them. In your case it sounds like for the sake of a few months it might not be that big a deal but trust your gut, do you really think there's something going on for your dh or do you just feel a bit excluded and defensive?

Boomboom22 · 04/08/2023 20:31

Ah, that's the issue. So his brother and maybe even him think I was a ploy to get married, which it wasn't but it does look a bit like that. How can your dp talk to you about it without accusing you? He can't so he won't. Is your relationship strong now you did get married?

JustaChristian · 04/08/2023 20:36

It does not matter is she a lesbian and from his home country. He should have boundaries and support you and listen to your concerns and acts accordingly.

MusingMouser · 04/08/2023 21:09

Boomboom22 · 04/08/2023 20:31

Ah, that's the issue. So his brother and maybe even him think I was a ploy to get married, which it wasn't but it does look a bit like that. How can your dp talk to you about it without accusing you? He can't so he won't. Is your relationship strong now you did get married?

We are not married but our relationship did stabalise. Covid was actually really good for us. We spent a lot of time together and reconnected. He wanted to have another DC but pregnancy was so awful I don't want another. While we were talking about the possibility of DC2 we did a lot of research into trying to concieve and he knows getting pregnant with DD was not something I could have done intentionally. I don't know how much he communicated that to his brother and wider family though. I've only met them once.

OP posts:
EpidermalLayer · 04/08/2023 21:12

I don't think he's been having an emotional affair, but some things should be private.
If you need to offload, keep a journal or pay a therapist, but don't talk to friends about it!

SgtBilko · 04/08/2023 22:03

EpidermalLayer · 04/08/2023 21:12

I don't think he's been having an emotional affair, but some things should be private.
If you need to offload, keep a journal or pay a therapist, but don't talk to friends about it!

Good lord! That’s a shortcut to isolation. I get so much support and good advice from my friends and I’d like to think I reciprocate.

EpidermalLayer · 05/08/2023 18:52

SgtBilko · 04/08/2023 22:03

Good lord! That’s a shortcut to isolation. I get so much support and good advice from my friends and I’d like to think I reciprocate.

'Shortcut to isolation'? Only if you have zero respect for your spouse or their feelings.
I'm not saying not to discuss your spouse at all, but being married to them doesn't automatically mean that all their confidences are yours too. If you RTFT pregnancy is a sensitive topic for the OP and she doesn't want her spouse discussing it with all and sundry.
It's her body, her medical information, her choice. Not his.

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