Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Advice on previous cheating please

17 replies

Triaj07 · 21/05/2025 15:47

I'm so sorry this is such a long post but I have no one I can ask for advice as I don't want my friends and family giving me advice.
I have been with my DH 24 years married for 17. We have 4 children aged between 22 and 12.
He's always been a big drinker.
15 or so years ago I caught him inappropriately mesging a Co worker, he blamed being drunk. I forgave him and he moved to a different department.
Fast forward another 5 years and during a work night out when I was his lift from the party I turned up to see him and another coworker kissing, again he blamed the drink. I fled and came home.
I confronted him and again I forgave him and he moved again to a different place of work.
You guessed it fast forward again another few years I caught him sexting another co worker, he again blamed the drink, this time Iost it and chucked him out and we separated for almost a year, he blamed the drink and got help and reduced his drinking massively and again moved jobs. I began to enjoy socialising and drinking with him again, and we gave it another go.

Fast forward to Monday he was out on a works night out in another town, he left at 12 midday and arrived at the pub of starting around 1.30pm.
He was to get the train home and I was collecting him from the train station.
He agreed he'd get the 9 or 10 pm train to be home for 10pm or 11pm because I was at work for 7am he didn't take a key because I was picking him up.
We didn't msg much throughout the day, he was socialising and I was at work.
I msged asking if he knew what train he'd be getting back at 9.30pm so I knew for getting him. He replied soon and they he'd text when on the train.
I had no reply at all, I tried calling over the next hour or so and whatsapping him as the last train home was 11pm.
I heard nothing from him so at 11.30 I called again and got no answer so I decided to drive over to the train station for the last train at midnight thinking he was on it and drunk.
The train came and went without him.
Worried something had happened I tried calling a few times and he eventually picked up the phone but didn't say hello.... So I listened as he'd accidentally picked up the phone. I could hear a male colleague ask what time I was expecting him home and he replied "dunno fck her" he then mumbled that I had been calling to which a female coworker said "don't answer, fck her get another drink."
I was so upset and fuming.
He eventually rolled in just after 2. I left him to go to bed.
Spent all night stewing.
Last night I expressed my feelings to which he apologised lots and said it wasn't like that and it was banter. And I was reading too much into it, she's the same age as our son.

Now I want to belive him but it's stirred up all the old feelings again and I feel sick and worried that history will repeat itself. I love him very much and for the most we are happy as far as I know. And I want to belive him and I want to not feel uneasy but I just can't shake the feeling.

Any advice please x
I know most will say leave but it's not as easy as that I can't afford my home on my own and have nothing saved to start me again, I work from home so losing my home would be losing my job, a job I love very much and have spent years building.

Thank you x

OP posts:
Ting20161987 · 21/05/2025 15:58

Blunt and easy answer. Leave. He does not respect you and it will continue

wantmorenow · 21/05/2025 16:00

Better rebuild your life now than in another wasted years. Rip the plaster off and rediscover your worth please. He is not going to change.

something2say · 21/05/2025 16:02

If you can't leave, live separately but together.

There is no way in a million years I would stand for this. 'Fuck her?' Fuck HIM!

DiscontinuedModelHusband · 21/05/2025 16:16

so 2 times you managed to discover "one-off" drink-fuelled inappropriate messaging? seems like a very big coincidence.

then even when he knew you were picking him up, he was kissing a co-worker?

and then finally, was aware enough to know you were calling, was aware enough to decide "fuck her", and also felt comfortable enough to articulate this to co-workers?

where's your line OP?

will it be when you actually walk in on him having sex with someone else?

anyone who is capable of doing these things, cannot be so drunk they're oblivious to doing it. he absolutely knows what he's doing.

each time you let him explain it away, he's just learning that your boundaries are easily moved, and that given a bit of time and persistence, he can talk you round.

Lostinmyself · 21/05/2025 16:21

This man is so disrespectful. I’m sorry. I hope you are ok.

he clearly can’t control himself when it comes to drink. Even if nothing happened with current female colleague, he has previous and of course you are going to worry.

can you live your life like this?

S0j0urn4r · 21/05/2025 16:25

He has no respect for you because you consistently allow him to treat you like a doormat. This is the model of a marriage your children are growing up with.
If he spoke about you positively to his colleagues they would not have said those things. They are following his lead.
The only advice is to leave.
Before you dismiss this get legal advice and get the true picture of what your situation would be. You may be better off than you think.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 21/05/2025 16:27

He has no respect for you and you don't trust him (rightly).

Why do you want to be in a relationship with him?

AdoraBell · 21/05/2025 16:27

Him say it’s just banter I would say - off you go cunt - as telling him to leave. When he responds I’d say “it’s just banter “ and then shut the door.

Seriously though, get rid, but legal advice first and don’t tell him until to ready to divorce him. He has no respect for you and demonstrating to the children how to treat a spouse and parent- lie, keep lying, gaslight them and generally treat them like shit on your shoes.

You deserve more.

SamDeanCas · 21/05/2025 16:33

How many chances are you going to give him?. So many that he now thinks he can do what he wants and you’ll forgive him. Seems the mean time between his fuck ups is getting shorter too, another example of just how little respect he has for you.

Dump him and learn to love yourself

Wednesdayisme · 21/05/2025 16:35

Like pp have said he has zero respect for you.
You know you deserve better than this but if you stay with him this will continue probably until he leaves you.

You definitely need legal advice. I'd contact citizens advice they will guide you.

category12 · 21/05/2025 16:36

He's doing this a lot, isn't he?

Once, twice, three times etc - how many times are you going to put up with it?

ChristmasFluff · 21/05/2025 16:40

He's a cheater, so he's going to cheat - however happy your relationship is. Your only options are to end the relationship, or to accept his cheating as the price you pay for staying in your home. And hope that he doesn't decide to leave you for another woman whenever he fancies it.

The option to turn him into a man who loves and respects you enough to not cheat is not one that is available,

sameshizz · 21/05/2025 16:48

don’t believe for a second that the only times he’s cheated were the times he was caught out
not a chance
he’s doing it every opportunity
i couldn’t live like this

superplumb · 21/05/2025 20:10

Triaj07 · 21/05/2025 15:47

I'm so sorry this is such a long post but I have no one I can ask for advice as I don't want my friends and family giving me advice.
I have been with my DH 24 years married for 17. We have 4 children aged between 22 and 12.
He's always been a big drinker.
15 or so years ago I caught him inappropriately mesging a Co worker, he blamed being drunk. I forgave him and he moved to a different department.
Fast forward another 5 years and during a work night out when I was his lift from the party I turned up to see him and another coworker kissing, again he blamed the drink. I fled and came home.
I confronted him and again I forgave him and he moved again to a different place of work.
You guessed it fast forward again another few years I caught him sexting another co worker, he again blamed the drink, this time Iost it and chucked him out and we separated for almost a year, he blamed the drink and got help and reduced his drinking massively and again moved jobs. I began to enjoy socialising and drinking with him again, and we gave it another go.

Fast forward to Monday he was out on a works night out in another town, he left at 12 midday and arrived at the pub of starting around 1.30pm.
He was to get the train home and I was collecting him from the train station.
He agreed he'd get the 9 or 10 pm train to be home for 10pm or 11pm because I was at work for 7am he didn't take a key because I was picking him up.
We didn't msg much throughout the day, he was socialising and I was at work.
I msged asking if he knew what train he'd be getting back at 9.30pm so I knew for getting him. He replied soon and they he'd text when on the train.
I had no reply at all, I tried calling over the next hour or so and whatsapping him as the last train home was 11pm.
I heard nothing from him so at 11.30 I called again and got no answer so I decided to drive over to the train station for the last train at midnight thinking he was on it and drunk.
The train came and went without him.
Worried something had happened I tried calling a few times and he eventually picked up the phone but didn't say hello.... So I listened as he'd accidentally picked up the phone. I could hear a male colleague ask what time I was expecting him home and he replied "dunno fck her" he then mumbled that I had been calling to which a female coworker said "don't answer, fck her get another drink."
I was so upset and fuming.
He eventually rolled in just after 2. I left him to go to bed.
Spent all night stewing.
Last night I expressed my feelings to which he apologised lots and said it wasn't like that and it was banter. And I was reading too much into it, she's the same age as our son.

Now I want to belive him but it's stirred up all the old feelings again and I feel sick and worried that history will repeat itself. I love him very much and for the most we are happy as far as I know. And I want to belive him and I want to not feel uneasy but I just can't shake the feeling.

Any advice please x
I know most will say leave but it's not as easy as that I can't afford my home on my own and have nothing saved to start me again, I work from home so losing my home would be losing my job, a job I love very much and have spent years building.

Thank you x

Omg you have to leave him. It's hard but he's taking the piss and laughing at you forgiving him.
Read leave a cheater gain a life.

Loubelou71 · 21/05/2025 20:46

You're worth better. I hope you eventually see this and find happiness elsewhere. What's the saying....Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.

OchreRaven · 22/05/2025 22:16

I’m not sure what advice you want if you don’t want to leave him? The first time you forgave him it should have been on the stipulation that he stopped drinking completely and only went on necessary work events. No late night drinking with colleagues. If this was too much of an inconvenience to save your relationship then he was never really sorry.

Knowing you were waiting to collect him and he was so disrespectful after the way he has treated you all these years is unforgivable. He had a year away from his family for his behaviour and it wasn’t enough to change him. Nothing will. But if you are happier with him, and accept the behaviour that is your choice to make.

fraughtcouture · 22/05/2025 22:41

The only good advice is to leave. But you won’t, so, good luck living with a disrespectful cheater I guess. Hope the house is worth it!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page