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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

What can I do?

18 replies

Petal890 · 06/06/2024 13:00

Husband has been having affair with another married woman at work. They love each other and want to blend families etc. He has never loved me, I don’t make him happy. He cares for me like a friend. Wished he’d left me before we had our three beautiful children who are all primary aged. The other woman has two young children as well.
This has come as such a shock. I thought we had a good and strong marriage. Husband proposed, we travelled the world, settled down, careers and children. I feel
he doesn’t enjoy family life. Spends a lot of time golfing etc. The OW asks him about his golfing life whereas I’m too busy just being a mum. His words?
What do I do next?
I found out as they have been sending inappropriate emails using work emails and we share a laptop.
Husband is unsure whether he wants to divorce but surely we must if he doesn’t love me?!
I am very lost!

OP posts:
LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 06/06/2024 13:04

What do you want to do? Ignore what he's telling you he wants. Focus on yourself. Take time before you make any decisions but I would recommend contacting a lawyer to find out your options. I'm sorry that he's behaving so badly and you are naturally in shock. He doesn't get to say he doesn't want a divorce if you do. Ducks in a row time. Sympathy and solidarity

LadyMuckRake · 06/06/2024 13:09

Oh boy, he is cheating, he doesn't love you but yet, he wants you to be the one who calls time of death on the marriage!
My sympathies. That is an extremely tough situation. I would spend a week or two digesting this paradox.

Xx

Pawtree · 06/06/2024 13:13

Fuck what he wants. Sounds like everything is about what he wants. What do you want?

I know your first answer will probably be that you want this not to have happened, and for him to still love you like he did. 💐 You need to remember that it can’t be undone now.

Beware of him trying to make you do the pick me dance, or rewriting history.

Get copies of all relevant documents, bank accounts, pensions and investments. Mortgage and equity etc. Check you have enough money if he decides to clean out joint accounts. Maybe do some sums on various scenarios and what you could afford: buying him out of the house, selling and moving etc. I know that all sounds clinical, but focusing on something tangible helps stop the panic and feeling adrift.

Much sympathy.

StrawberryWater · 06/06/2024 13:19

Well I'd keep hold of those messages using the work email that's for sure and I'd kick him out.

Who cares what he wants. He can go do his soul searching on his own. At the moment he's waiting for his other woman to leave her partner to shack up with but is holding back in case she doesn't so he still has somewhere to stick his dick at your place. No. Get rid of him.

PashaMinaMio · 06/06/2024 13:20

Deep breaths! This is devastating for you.

He’s shown you what he thinks of you and your marriage so let him go. Whatever you do, don’t try the “pick me” dance. Give him enough rope to hang himself.

Gather all your/his paperwork together: pension stuff, bank account stuff, passports, life insurance etc. Photocopy what you need to prove entitlements. Take a chunk out of any joint accounts and transfer to your personal account(s).

Ring around some solicitors and ask about their free consultation process. Most will give you half an hour of time for free. Knowledge is power.

This is what Mumsnetters call “Getting your ducks in a row.” 🦆🦆🦆

Husband is hedging his bets about divorce. Not being sure etc. What the hell does he think you are going to do, waiting around, whilst he shags her and makes up his mind? He’s thinking if it doesn’t work out with OW he’ll come back to you. They often do come crawling back so be prepared for that.

Meanwhile if he sees or senses you taking some control (whether you feel it or not) he’ll get a big surprise won’t he? He probably thinks you’re a push over!

In my personal experience I watched my DH’s jaw drop when I hit him with the legal facts of what a divorce would mean. A powerful moment.

Others will come along soon with more/better advice but meanwhile here’s a handhold to keep you going. Show him what you’re made of. Chin up OP.

Brace yourself for a storm but eventually you’ll dance in the rain. Stay strong.

J0S · 06/06/2024 13:20

You get your paperwork tougher and see a lawyer next week.

You book some counselling for yourself.

You tell your closest trusted friends and family - only those you know will be on your side and will Be supportive of what YOU want.

You discuss NOTHING about this with your husband. You need Time and space to work out what YOU want, not your head filled with his nonsense. Do you have a spare room you can move into ? Go grey rock with him.

You start getting him to do as much as possible in the house and with the kids. This is good prep for you all. Do not do the Pick Me dance . No more golf days unless you get equal child free time to do your hobbies.

If you don’t already work full time, try to increase your hours / look for a new Ft job. You are going to need that money.

Dadjoke007 · 06/06/2024 13:25

It's clear it's over - having a fling and being caught and being sorry is one thing, saying he loves her etc.. is it. Not the same scenario but this worked for me.

Focus on getting the divorce. I drove this for a few reasons:

  • It put me back in some form of control of my life (it was her decision to leave)
  • It gave me something to focus on - getting everything in place and being the driving force in the split, getting house sorted etc took my mind off the pain
  • You know what you want and you start shaping the future.
Hoosemover · 06/06/2024 13:27

Tell him if want to end the marriage that you will let him have the kids EVERY weekend and you will taken him for as much child support as you can get.

Let’s see how much time and money he got for golf .

Dadjoke007 · 06/06/2024 13:30

Hoosemover · 06/06/2024 13:27

Tell him if want to end the marriage that you will let him have the kids EVERY weekend and you will taken him for as much child support as you can get.

Let’s see how much time and money he got for golf .

Petty and not in the childs best interests.

I am glad my ex and I rose above all that and agreed a fair 50/50 split between us for ours and the kids sake. Using them as pawns is not acceptable.

Opentooffers · 06/06/2024 13:42

Its common to re-write history when cheating. So, although he's claiming he never loved you, it's highly unlikely that it's true. It's just a way that people justify the affair, so that they feel less bad. Unfortunately, for the other person it makes them feel like their life has been a lie, which causes lots of added stress and confusion. It's all a lie, though he might not admit it even to himself, he will come to realise at some point.
First step I think, would be to ask him to stay elsewhere for now. Say you need time away from him to process it all. It's a reasonable request, though he may decline. He's more likely to be faced with reality when not living at the family home, instead of being in La La dreamlove Land, which has clouded his judgement.
You might find he's not been golfing as much as claimed, which will be how he got to see OW. Otherwise, she's just being polite, however, I'd not be asking about such dull things either.
However it all pans out, rest assured, their bubble has now burst and they are in for a rocky time, even, and especially if they end up together. The notion of having a 'blended' family if that is his idea of a future is laughable. At best it would blend EOW, but how is that going to impact his golf? If you split, he will end up having to be far more present and active for his DC's and will have to do it himself- unless EOW, his OW has 5 DC's to care for while he goes to golf - lol, love flies out the window. He's a fool.

Hoosemover · 06/06/2024 13:45

Dadjoke007 · 06/06/2024 13:30

Petty and not in the childs best interests.

I am glad my ex and I rose above all that and agreed a fair 50/50 split between us for ours and the kids sake. Using them as pawns is not acceptable.

50/50. he would have the kids even more. Even better.

OP has said that he’s already checked out of family life. He should not be able to walk away from his duties as father.

It great that you and your ex have got things workout.

Summeratlast24 · 06/06/2024 13:45

If they set up home together I wonder if she’ll find the time to ask him about his golf while she is looking after five kids. Wonder how much interest she will have then.

Does her husband know yet?

Dadjoke007 · 06/06/2024 13:55

Opentooffers · 06/06/2024 13:42

Its common to re-write history when cheating. So, although he's claiming he never loved you, it's highly unlikely that it's true. It's just a way that people justify the affair, so that they feel less bad. Unfortunately, for the other person it makes them feel like their life has been a lie, which causes lots of added stress and confusion. It's all a lie, though he might not admit it even to himself, he will come to realise at some point.
First step I think, would be to ask him to stay elsewhere for now. Say you need time away from him to process it all. It's a reasonable request, though he may decline. He's more likely to be faced with reality when not living at the family home, instead of being in La La dreamlove Land, which has clouded his judgement.
You might find he's not been golfing as much as claimed, which will be how he got to see OW. Otherwise, she's just being polite, however, I'd not be asking about such dull things either.
However it all pans out, rest assured, their bubble has now burst and they are in for a rocky time, even, and especially if they end up together. The notion of having a 'blended' family if that is his idea of a future is laughable. At best it would blend EOW, but how is that going to impact his golf? If you split, he will end up having to be far more present and active for his DC's and will have to do it himself- unless EOW, his OW has 5 DC's to care for while he goes to golf - lol, love flies out the window. He's a fool.

He would be a fool to move out - advice is neither party should move out (unless serious risk etc).

And yes, for a while I was saying to myself I never loved my wife and that was all part of the grieving process. Of course we did, it just went wrong!!

snuckle · 06/06/2024 13:58

He's not sure only because she hasn't left her husband? that's too bad, kick him out

Dadjoke007 · 06/06/2024 13:58

Hoosemover · 06/06/2024 13:45

50/50. he would have the kids even more. Even better.

OP has said that he’s already checked out of family life. He should not be able to walk away from his duties as father.

It great that you and your ex have got things workout.

Never understood dads that don't fight for that (50/50) - but each to their own.

We have, the good thing is that when we totally hated each other this time last year (finances, blaming each other) AND we ended up being really nasty to each other and blocking direct WA chats with each other, when it was about kids everything else was paused. Sort that out, back onto argue mode!

Thankfully now, we are getting on well, saw each other face to face and all nice, and supporting each other with the kids, swapping days etc... So my 2p is whatever crap has gone on and how much you may hate each other, always have kids best interests at heart. Am proud with both of us for that.

Hoosemover · 06/06/2024 14:14

@Dadjoke007 TMI

I wasn’t asking for your divorce story

Epidote · 06/06/2024 14:21

What do you want OP? Think about it and made your decision.
He can say and want whatever. Gain control and be you the one that will decide for your future.
About the golf, don't worry, that is the shinny honey moon period. She will be eventually feed up of asking as well.

Aberdeencat · 06/06/2024 14:31

You can’t do anything about him not loving you. Don’t do the pick me dance. He has told you he loves someone else and they are planning a future together…listen to him. You CAN start divorce proceedings and the process of moving on from this awful marriage

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