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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

Why am I so sad for my friends partner

33 replies

mylittleredmug · 04/11/2023 11:11

My close friend of twenty years has a partner. The irony in this is that she doesn't like me and sees me as a threat. I am twenty years his senior, happily married with kids . Dowdy and spent. No threat. No feelings and zero attraction to each other.
Our friendship has suffered but we work together so we still manage our friendship but I think she is unaware and f the level of our closeness. They are together a few years. They are extremely happy and she is due her first baby soon. I've always known him to be asexual as he describes. Not an issue , just something he struggles with for many years as women would always leave him in the end.
He didn't want kids as he thought he wouldn't be able to have them and loves the singke life.
The baby is a huge shock to him as they are rarely intimate by his own words. He never wanted a family and despite saying she did, changed her mind to say she didn't either so told him she was on a fertility app and as they were mostly sexless, chances were nil.
It has been awful for her dignity as he describes it. Dressing up for him etc etc thinking it would change his libido and desire.
She will stay at all costs. I know this as at times, in my view, he has treated her appallingly.Most would run a mile.
I've lost respect for him. He maintains that now that there's a baby coming into the mix, that he seems accepting of now, that's the end of sex for him forever .she is thrilled and beyond excited about the baby.
I feel sick for her( as a married woman). Sick that she has this awful frustrating and demeaning life ahead of her.
Maybe it's because I'm married so long and sex and intimacy has been the glue that has held us together through the rough.
Why do I even feel like this? It's not even my business but he talks to me. We have fallen out before due to the way he has treated her.
I have this awful feeling that it's all going to fall apart and perhaps feel like a parent than a friend.

OP posts:
PierceMorgansChin · 04/11/2023 11:21

As you said yourself, this is none of your businesses. You say you feel sorry for his partner but sound fake and condescending. If I found out my partners friend was so involved in my sex life, fertility and so on I wouldn't like her either. You sound like a freak tbh

Aylestone · 04/11/2023 11:25

Have you posted about this before? This is a very strange friendship and I find your thought process bizarre, but I’m sure I’ve read something pretty identical on here a few months ago, minus the baby bit. Stop obsessing over your friends sex life

VerrryNice · 04/11/2023 11:29

My first thoughts are he shouldn’t be telling you such intimate details about his relationship out of respect for her and also, maybe they do have a lot more sex than he makes out as he suddenly has a baby on the way which doesn’t fit in with him being asexual and in a ‘sexless’ relationship.

SweetBirdsong · 04/11/2023 11:32

I have had many male friends, a few very close, and they have never EVER told me such personal intimate details of their sex life with their partner. How bizarre. Confused You need to distance yourself from this friend @mylittleredmug This is a very strange scenario.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 04/11/2023 11:33

Him telling you all about how she dresses up for him... poor woman!

I hope she leaves him when the baby is a bit bigger and find someone who is attracted to her!

mylittleredmug · 04/11/2023 11:33

Condescending ! The reason I posted is that I know from him that she is being set up for a life of misery and I feel torn and shit knowing that. She doesn't
Know that.
Regarding a previous post, I've never posted about their situation before.
Maybe there is more than one future faker around, who has spoken to their friend.

OP posts:
stormyslippers · 04/11/2023 11:37

This sounds like you're in an emotional affair with a colleague.

I feel sorry that her DH is emotionally involved with you. She won't have a physical, sexual or emotional connection with him at all. Awful!

OP you are potentially adding to the issue so please be careful

mylittleredmug · 04/11/2023 11:39

@stormyslippers I've pulled away from him hugely .I think it's the respect thats gone so I just do office chit chat now. I despise what he has done to her.

OP posts:
LylaLee · 04/11/2023 11:40

stormyslippers · 04/11/2023 11:37

This sounds like you're in an emotional affair with a colleague.

I feel sorry that her DH is emotionally involved with you. She won't have a physical, sexual or emotional connection with him at all. Awful!

OP you are potentially adding to the issue so please be careful

This.

You're too involved in how and why and when they fuck or don't fuck.

rwalker · 04/11/2023 11:42

You never really know what goes on but none of this must be a surprise to her
and for all we know the happy accident was planned

PaintedEgg · 04/11/2023 11:43

he should keep his mouth shut and you should keep your nose out of other people's sex life...no wonder she does not like you

CarlosDisagrees · 04/11/2023 11:48

I think you sound weirdly pleased with yourself to know so much about their relationship. Quite smug but pretending to be concerned. 🙄

mylittleredmug · 04/11/2023 11:56

@CarlosDisagrees think your statement says more about you than it does about me.

OP posts:
Notmetoo · 04/11/2023 12:00

Aylestone · 04/11/2023 11:25

Have you posted about this before? This is a very strange friendship and I find your thought process bizarre, but I’m sure I’ve read something pretty identical on here a few months ago, minus the baby bit. Stop obsessing over your friends sex life

I have read something like this before too, that time I think OP was feeling sorry for her friend not his partner. I think it's exactly the same story though.

Universalsnail · 04/11/2023 12:14

It's a choice she is making though because she could leave instead of living a life of misery.

RubyBoozeDay · 04/11/2023 12:20

How strange to be so involved with a friend, to the extent you know all about his intimate and personal life with his partner.

I find that very creepy and intrusive. I don't think you have either your friend or his partner's best interests at heart.

They have a relationship that works and they are having a child together.
Is it out of spite? Jealousy? Why are you so concerned?

CarlosDisagrees · 04/11/2023 12:25

think your statement says more about you than it does about me.

I don’t think so, a lot of posters are picking up a strange vibe from you. 🤔

pictoosh · 04/11/2023 12:27

Why are you so sad? Because you're overinvested in his narrative, your 'closeness' and being his confidante.
You're only getting one side of the story. I'm sure hers would paint a different picture.
It's nothing to do with you. Stop romanticising their relationship into a tragedy for you to decipher.

SweetBirdsong · 04/11/2023 12:28

100% agree with the posts by @CarlosDisagrees and @RubyBoozeDay and @PaintedEgg

I think you sound weirdly pleased with yourself to know so much about their relationship. Quite smug but pretending to be concerned. 🙄

How strange to be so involved with a friend, to the extent you know all about his intimate and personal life with his partner.

I find that very creepy and intrusive. I don't think you have either your friend or his partner's best interests at heart.

They have a relationship that works and they are having a child together.
Is it out of spite? Jealousy? Why are you so concerned?

he should keep his mouth shut and you should keep your nose out of other people's sex life...no wonder she does not like you

MrsRachelDanvers · 04/11/2023 12:35

I think you’re over invested in your friend’s partner’s feelings tbh. You have no idea what her reasons are for being in this relationship and are projecting your own sensibilities. If you don’t like the way your friend is behaving because you think it’s immoral, then distance yourself and don’t be his confidante. Find healthier friendships.

HappyMavis · 04/11/2023 12:55

Yeah that's the one. Must try harder OP!

StaunchMomma · 04/11/2023 13:12

I don't want to know if any of my friends have sex. Ever.

I couldn't give a sit if they're at it like rabbits or not bothering at all.

I can see why she sees you as a threat. You are woefully overly-involved.

Epidote · 04/11/2023 13:15

Maybe you feel sorry for her because deep down you know that your close male friend and regardless of him describing himself as asexual, he is not a good person.
Asexuality has nothing to do with treating people like crap.

VerrryNice · 04/11/2023 14:14

Going by your other thread as well where apparently you are worried about him not her, I think you are still in shock/denial that what your friend has been telling you might not be true (asexuality) or that you are a bit jealous because of how ‘close’ you are to him and you thought he would not be marrying and having a child.