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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

Married...falling for best friend

14 replies

Fucked54321 · 16/08/2023 16:04

My head / life is a total mess. I'm married (3 years, together 5). Issues with sex from the start but everything else good and I'd had a string of fun relationships so I think I chose with my head rather than heart. I hoped the sex would improve over time, it hasn't. He's a wonderful person and dad to our son (3 years old) but we haven't had sex for 2.5 years now and even before having our son I'd say we were incompatible sexually. I've tried very hard to make it work...my husband just doesn't seem interested in connecting / spending time together or having sex. It used to be him that wasn't in the mood since our son was born but now I don't want to have sex (with him) either.

I've spoken to him about it and said I really didnt want to split up but told him honestly at the moment it's only because I don't want to hurt our son / split the family up and that I don't feel we have a romantic relationship at all. Husband says he's burnt out from parenting and has no sexual desire (for anyone). He's in therapy which helped with him being angry / grumpy but no improvement in sexual desire and it's been over 6 months. After our son goes to bed he just wants to be alone doing his hobbies and if we do even watch tv together he acts like it's a massive chore. Last time we did try to have sex he got tired halfway through and couldn't be bothered to carry on so I feel a total lack of desire and that in turn has made me shut down and not want sex at all (with him). Husband agrees we have no romance but doesn't want to split up because of our child and he thinks once son is older and we get more opportunity for dates things will improve. I don't feel optimistic as we had issues before. There are other issues such as I feel he's very negative and critical towards me although this has improved with therapy I just don't feel very highly regarded by him

I have a best male friend of 15 years or so. Obviously because we're friends we have lots in common, similar personalities and know each other very well. There's never really been anything between us..he tried to kiss me once when we first met / within the first year but I wasn't interested and he agreed it was a mistake / he was drunk. Out of the blue he has started acting differently towards me and expressed feelings for me ...I've also started to feel the same and feel very intense sexual attraction to him which I can't understand as we've always been very platonic. I'm guessing it's probably more to do with the lack of intimacy in my marriage...but I feel so confused. I told him I would never cheat and he said he also wouldn't do that and respects I wanted to try and make the marriage work for my son.

However I can't stop thinking about him and feel our friendship is now doomed as I feel I have to avoid him now. I saw him recently and even eye contact is giving me butterflies and his arm touching mine sitting next to me which is ridiculous as I've never felt like this with him before. My friend is pretty much the polar opposite of my husband which has good and bad points..I just don't know what to do.

Has anyone else been in this situation? I've also gone out with a friend before when much younger and it destroyed the friendship ...I honestly don't know what I'd do without him so terrified of this even if I wasn't with husband.

OP posts:
Fiddleyflop · 16/08/2023 16:09

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Fiddleyflop · 16/08/2023 16:11

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Fucked54321 · 16/08/2023 16:15

@Fiddleyflop he's not in a relationship no.

He's not asking me to be unfaithful but he knows I'm unhappy in the marriage I guess as I'd told him as friends. He does say these feelings are new for him though, he said he felt attraction when we first met but then it moved onto a friendship. He says just recently he's seen me in a new light but we're both pretty different to when we met I guess

OP posts:
Fucked54321 · 16/08/2023 16:17

I agree the lack of sex / intimacy in my marriage may be blurring things. That's what I'm worried about / maybe it's just nice to feel desired and I'm flattered as he knows everything about me...the good, the bad, the ugly! He knows more of my dirt than my husband as we've known each other longer. But I do feel I really fancy him but this also could be because I've been celibate...god knows.

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Fiddleyflop · 16/08/2023 16:19

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queentim · 16/08/2023 16:50

Did you guys get married because you got pregnant?

I'm just wondering because sexual incompatibility seems a big thing to look past for a long term committed relationship.

Is your husband on antidepressants or other medications? Those could affect sex drive.

If your husband doesn't want to make an effort or make it work, I'd suggest opening up the marriage or leaving. He may be a great person and parent, but he's not great for you. Sticking it out for the children is a false hope. They do better with 2 happy parents. Successful co-parenting is possible.

WarmButteryCrumpets · 16/08/2023 16:50

It sounds like you definitely need to end your marriage. If neither of you wants sex, that's unlikely to change. Better to make a clean break now rather than limp along getting more and more miserable for more years.

Once you're free I think the relationship with your friends sounds pretty promising....

ManchesterGirl2 · 16/08/2023 16:58

Of course you're getting butterflies, it's all exciting and forbidden. Comparing new relationship excitement to a long term relationship with childrearing pressure is not fair. You can't necessarily rely on things working out with the friend long term. I also think the intimate conversations you're having are not fair on your partner.

Reduce contact with the friend to a minimum for now and properly work out what you and your husband want for yourselves. If you no longer want a long term future together, make a clean break.

momonpurpose · 16/08/2023 17:17

WarmButteryCrumpets · 16/08/2023 16:50

It sounds like you definitely need to end your marriage. If neither of you wants sex, that's unlikely to change. Better to make a clean break now rather than limp along getting more and more miserable for more years.

Once you're free I think the relationship with your friends sounds pretty promising....

I agree with this OP

H112 · 16/08/2023 18:47

End it with husband. This is no way to live. After that's done then explore friendship

cannaecookrisotto · 16/08/2023 19:37

Divorce your crappy husband and bonk your best mate.

Fucked54321 · 16/08/2023 20:48

Yeah I definitely wouldn’t have an affair and my friend wouldn’t be up for that either, he’s a decent person. I guess I did want to have a go at saving the marriage / but worried I’m going to end it prematurely as I’ve got all the excited butterfly feelings with someone else but that might not be realistic. However I do know my friend extremely well so it’s not the same butterfly’s as with someone totally new / I’m already aware of his faults etc

if we didn’t have a child I would 100% have left ages ago of course / regardless of friend

its further complicated by the fact my friend has asd and I know there would be some challenges there but I find him extremely empathetic and intuitive, with me and other close friends at least.

i guess it’s two separate issues and I need to end marriage first then maybe let the dust settle to see how I feel about my friend.

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