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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

Suspicions about DH - am I being paranoid?

463 replies

winterrabbit · 12/01/2024 12:04

DH and I have been together for 12 years, married for 7 and have 1 child together and 2 older kids each from previous marriages. We've had ups and downs but overall we have a fairly passionate relationship (sex a few times a week) and I think love each other. DH has a very flexible teaching (at university) job, however, nearly every Friday morning he claims he has a meeting and disappears from around 9.30 to 2pm when he resurfaces. It could be completely innocent but he never checks his phone during that time (I can see from whatsapp) and goes every week even out of term time when there are no lectures. He's always quite vague when I ask him where he is doing and says it's a meeting to do with his research group (which I know exists) but I am still suspicious as it's always Friday mornings and he is always completely offline. By way of background, DH's had a long affair with another woman during his last marriage who was a student (a mature student) at his uni which is raising my suspicions. I did try to pin him down about the meetings once but he got angry that I was suspicious and said I had no reason to be. What do I do? Let is go?

OP posts:
Disturbia81 · 29/01/2025 13:57

Grim

GCAcademic · 29/01/2025 14:01

I work in an office, have a lot of meetings, conferences etc and I can guarantee you that everyone will do a quick check of their phone in a long meeting to check no disasters with kids, schools, whatever. The way life is now everyone is connected.

I'm an academic and I barely touch my phone when I'm in work. If I'm teaching or in a meeting, I don't look at it. If I'm doing research, I need to completely disengage from distractions such as phones, email and Mumsnet otherwise I can't focus properly.

MILTOBE · 29/01/2025 14:03

I remember this thread from last year and it's horrible to see his behaviour is continuing. Your update about him staring at attractive women was horrible - ffs why would he do that when you're sitting right next to him!

You say you could ask him to move out. Are you married? Did he move into your home?

MILTOBE · 29/01/2025 14:04

I know you called him DH but I wanted to double check re marriage.

Rowen32 · 29/01/2025 15:28

Have you asked him outright? Told him your concerns?
I honestly wouldn't read into him being offline..
Has his past behaviour gotten into your head (in the kindest way) or is this warranted?

PinkEasterbunny · 29/01/2025 18:14

I’m not convinced the online/offline stuff is evidence, but he’s clearly behaving oddly and there’s no wonder you’re unsettled. Although I would want to know for sure, I would be having him followed.

emilysgoldskirt · 29/01/2025 18:37

Oh crikey OP. It does sound suspicious. What I can’t understand is why he doesn’t just sit down with you and really clearly tell you what he’s doing that day— if it’s innocent.

NotNowGertrude · 29/01/2025 22:44

I remember reading this thread & can't believe this is still going on. I can't imagine the mental torture you're going through, it must be awful for you. Surely this can't go on. Can you have some space away from him to clear your head so you can see things more clearly?

Quitelikeit · 29/01/2025 22:48

Go into his contacts on his phone look up your name and select share my location

then on Friday go onto your phone click on his name in your phone book and you will see the option to look at his location

problem solved

Lighteningstrikes · 29/01/2025 23:54

Somethings unsettling you and often our senses are right.
You need to do some digging.
@Quitelikeit suggestion is a brilliant start.

Windowsand · 30/01/2025 00:07

Good lord OP, he sounds like an awful sleaze and creep.
Trust your gut, it's screaming at you.
I am so sorry.

PinkEasterbunny · 30/01/2025 10:54

Quitelikeit · 29/01/2025 22:48

Go into his contacts on his phone look up your name and select share my location

then on Friday go onto your phone click on his name in your phone book and you will see the option to look at his location

problem solved

Very good idea!

Totemoneru · 30/01/2025 19:06

I'm sorry that this is tormenting you for so long.
I think if he were innocent he should be trying to show you that he is. Not getting angry at you for suspecting him. Unfortunately his past means that anyone he forms a relationship with may have doubts around suspicious behaviour and part of his mistake would be having to deal with that in the future. He's not dealing well with you wanting to have a discussion about this.
Yes you could do things to figure out the truth like follow him, check his phone, hire a PI etc but honestly if he is innocent he should be doing this.
If he is guilty then he would be trying to hide things and brushing you off.

Have you told him clearly that you are worried he is having an affair and that he risks losing your relationship if he doesn't talk to you?

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