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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

Husband messaging my friend

12 replies

BumbleJane58 · 24/07/2024 12:03

Hi everyone I’m in my late 50’s so is my husband. I found out by accident last week that my husband has been messaging with a woman I’m friendly with, she’s early 60’s and I would say attractive (she’s not a close friend but a friendly acquaintance I would say) who he got to know through me. They have been messaging back and forth for 5 months. I have read the messages and the main bullet points are that after she joined us at the pub a couple of times he’s messaged the next day each time to say how lovely it is when she’s there. He’s sent quite innocent pictures for example of his polished motorbikes or himself holding teabags he’s brought on her recommendation but then he’s followed that up with shame the timing is off or we could of met for a cuppa in town, he’s also offered to pop over to hers twice with some herbal thing he swears by for her sick husband to try but both times she wasn’t there so he didn’t go. The thing I’m most upset about is the secrecy on both sides as I see her every week and she had never mentioned that he texts her (me and her barely ever text by the way) and also I had told him that I find her overly flirtatious and also rates herself very highly which she does and that she told me she had messaged a friends husband to see how he was after a depression but it was about midnight when she did it and now neither the husband or wife talk to her (which is a red flag) also that sometimes she is a bit disrespectful towards me but I try to ignore it, so he knew all that but was continually texting with her. He’s told me all about it now and I’ve read all the messages but what really then offended me was when I next saw her she said hope you didn’t mind me messaging your husband about changing the locks (that was how I found out they had been messaging as she had asked him to do this so I said how come she messaged you, do you and her message and he admitted they did) anyway when she asked me if I minded I said well why would I mind as you both message each other regularly anyway, she looked astonished but I carried on and made it very clear I knew about all the messages but implied I always had, she then said well you’ve nothing to worry about with me, so I looked her straight in the eye and said do you honestly think I’d be this friendly towards you if I thought I had anything to worry about. Having done all that though and acting strong I am so hurt that my husband was doing this and trying to instigate meeting up etc and all in secret. We have been going through a rough patch but he basically said he likes her and it’s good to feel someone has an interest in him although we have been having couples counselling and been really working through stuff because it’s not just me it’s him too. I have told him that if he continues to message her it’s a deal breaker for me. 15 years together and nearly 7 married. Am I wrong to be so hurt?

OP posts:
TipsyJoker · 24/07/2024 13:27

This is an emotional affair and I would demand that be cuts all contact with her or he can leave. Both of them are being disrespectful and she’s actively trying to rub it in your face. She sounds like a right scarlet woman. Let him have her and see how much he regrets it when she does the same to him with some other poor woman’s husband.

UKposter · 24/07/2024 13:29

You are not wrong to feel so hurt. Big hugs 💐

TipsyJoker · 24/07/2024 13:36

“he basically said he likes her and it’s good to feel someone has an interest in him”

This is unacceptable. He’s flat out told you he’s enjoying her flirting with him. He should not be getting attention from any women other than you, his wife. I would be bringing this up in your counselling sessions immediately. If you’re planning on keeping him about, he needs to see how wrong this is. Ask him how he would feel if you told him you were enjoying the interest another man was giving you that you were contacting behind his back. I bet it wouldn’t fly.

SamW98 · 24/07/2024 13:37

Agree with a PP it’s an emotional affair and imo that’s cheating.

You’re being very reasonable telling him to stop messaging her and personally I’d cut her out of our lives. She’s a shady cow and no friend.

And obviously he’s completely in the wrong before I get jumped on for ‘blaming the woman’ but she’s facilitating it and realistically it’s far easier to cut her off and decide if you want to repair your marriage.

BobbyBiscuits · 24/07/2024 13:44

Of course you're not wrong to be hurt. It seems like he keeps trying to meet with her but she isn't interested? You say she acts flirty, but it feels from the messages it's all from his side.

The fact she looked shocked when you pretended you knew all along they were texting is weird though.
Surely the only innocent reason someone would message half of a couple or vice versa was if they assumed their partner knew and was fine with casual friendly messages.

It's like she hoped/wanted him to have kept it secret. Or he'd told her he was keeping it secret.

So overall it's not looking great. I'd not want much to do with either of them at this moment in time.

Knuckledeep · 24/07/2024 14:51

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

TemuSpecialBuy · 24/07/2024 14:55

Jesus
soooo disrespectful

This would be a no from me.

he cuts her lose or he moves out.
and isld have no problem telling her to get her jollies elsewhere either.

BumbleJane58 · 24/07/2024 18:04

Thankyou so much everyone, I feel I’m not in the wrong for feeling so hurt but he’s one of these people that would and does say why is it any different than texting a male friend which to me it is. I’m relieved to know I’m not overreacting

OP posts:
Cinai · 24/07/2024 18:08

I’d feel hurt too! It sounds like you handled the conversation with this woman very well 👏

Opentooffers · 24/07/2024 18:16

If this woman is more an aquantance to you, than a good friend, I'd be enclied to let the friendship fizzle out. The rough patch is probably directly linked to his emotional affair. He's probably been lapping up and giving attention to her, while distancing himself from you.
It looks like so far she's stopped short of progressing it further, by ensuring she's out when he's suggested going round. He's been doing some chasing and has told you he likes her. Totally inappropriate. It's no accident that it's coincided with your 'rough patch'.

UKposter · 24/07/2024 18:31

BumbleJane58 · 24/07/2024 18:04

Thankyou so much everyone, I feel I’m not in the wrong for feeling so hurt but he’s one of these people that would and does say why is it any different than texting a male friend which to me it is. I’m relieved to know I’m not overreacting

My argument to that would be that it’s weird that he’s never mentioned it.
It’s the secrecy that makes it worse AND that he likes a woman taking an interest in him. That’s different to just texting a friend.

Londonismyjam · 29/01/2025 12:09

BumbleJane58 · 24/07/2024 12:03

Hi everyone I’m in my late 50’s so is my husband. I found out by accident last week that my husband has been messaging with a woman I’m friendly with, she’s early 60’s and I would say attractive (she’s not a close friend but a friendly acquaintance I would say) who he got to know through me. They have been messaging back and forth for 5 months. I have read the messages and the main bullet points are that after she joined us at the pub a couple of times he’s messaged the next day each time to say how lovely it is when she’s there. He’s sent quite innocent pictures for example of his polished motorbikes or himself holding teabags he’s brought on her recommendation but then he’s followed that up with shame the timing is off or we could of met for a cuppa in town, he’s also offered to pop over to hers twice with some herbal thing he swears by for her sick husband to try but both times she wasn’t there so he didn’t go. The thing I’m most upset about is the secrecy on both sides as I see her every week and she had never mentioned that he texts her (me and her barely ever text by the way) and also I had told him that I find her overly flirtatious and also rates herself very highly which she does and that she told me she had messaged a friends husband to see how he was after a depression but it was about midnight when she did it and now neither the husband or wife talk to her (which is a red flag) also that sometimes she is a bit disrespectful towards me but I try to ignore it, so he knew all that but was continually texting with her. He’s told me all about it now and I’ve read all the messages but what really then offended me was when I next saw her she said hope you didn’t mind me messaging your husband about changing the locks (that was how I found out they had been messaging as she had asked him to do this so I said how come she messaged you, do you and her message and he admitted they did) anyway when she asked me if I minded I said well why would I mind as you both message each other regularly anyway, she looked astonished but I carried on and made it very clear I knew about all the messages but implied I always had, she then said well you’ve nothing to worry about with me, so I looked her straight in the eye and said do you honestly think I’d be this friendly towards you if I thought I had anything to worry about. Having done all that though and acting strong I am so hurt that my husband was doing this and trying to instigate meeting up etc and all in secret. We have been going through a rough patch but he basically said he likes her and it’s good to feel someone has an interest in him although we have been having couples counselling and been really working through stuff because it’s not just me it’s him too. I have told him that if he continues to message her it’s a deal breaker for me. 15 years together and nearly 7 married. Am I wrong to be so hurt?

How are things BumbleJane? Hope you’re ok

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