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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

DH Affair. How do I cope with family holiday?

1000 replies

EmmaThompsonsTears · 01/06/2025 15:23

New account in case outing.

I’ve just found out in the last 24 hours that my husband has been having an affair for the last 9 months at least.
2 DCs - 4 & 18m.

He doesn’t know I know. I plan to keep it that way so I can see a solicitor and sort out finances. But we leave for a family holiday tomorrow, and I feel like I’m going to explode.

How can I get through this week? Hand hold needed. Any advice welcome.

I’ve been lurking on these threads for a while and felt in my gut I was a victim of The Script. Checked his phone while he was asleep and I was right. Please help.

OP posts:
StarCourt · 12/06/2025 21:01

NOPE! @EmmaThompsonsTears this is even worse now, he had tried to use these same tactics on you as OW, threatened suicide, shifted the onus on to you to sort his life out and then said if you don’t he will get nasty over custody.
Is that about right?

Sassybooklover · 12/06/2025 21:03

I took my ex back after he cheated (he had children, thankfully we had none together) and at first I desperately wanted to 'fix' our relationship and 'make it work' but I struggled massively with the betrayal. My taking him back only achieved one thing, him believing I would accept him treating me any how he wanted....and giving him the green light to cheat again (likely numerous times), after all I 'forgave' him the first time, so what was stopping him doing it again. I don't believe for one minute he hasn't had sex with her either, of course he has. Please don't put yourself through what I did - if I could go back in time, I'd have left him the first time. It's slowly destroys you inside, until you're a paranoid mess. I can guarantee if you take him back, he will cheat again, it may not be straight away but eventually. He's come crawling back because he's had a row with the OW, not because he's sorry or because he loves you.

Adviceplease2022 · 12/06/2025 21:04

EmmaThompsonsTears · 12/06/2025 20:52

Thank you all for knocking some sense into me. He’s on his way back now. Gameface on.

I know it isn’t easy. When you’ve been starved of love and treated the way you have (as I was), when they revert back to the person they used to be, it’s hard not to just be happy and take the affection. My ex did exactly the same when he thought he’d lost me.

But I know from bitter experience that all it does is show them you’re a doormat and they’ll eventually revert back to treating you like shit

Iamnotalemming · 12/06/2025 21:04

Wow what a lot for you to digest OP. I'm sorry to say that your 'D'H sounds deeply unpleasant and manipulative. You deserve more and better. I wish you all the very best Flowers

Adviceplease2022 · 12/06/2025 21:05

Sassybooklover · 12/06/2025 21:03

I took my ex back after he cheated (he had children, thankfully we had none together) and at first I desperately wanted to 'fix' our relationship and 'make it work' but I struggled massively with the betrayal. My taking him back only achieved one thing, him believing I would accept him treating me any how he wanted....and giving him the green light to cheat again (likely numerous times), after all I 'forgave' him the first time, so what was stopping him doing it again. I don't believe for one minute he hasn't had sex with her either, of course he has. Please don't put yourself through what I did - if I could go back in time, I'd have left him the first time. It's slowly destroys you inside, until you're a paranoid mess. I can guarantee if you take him back, he will cheat again, it may not be straight away but eventually. He's come crawling back because he's had a row with the OW, not because he's sorry or because he loves you.

This! The “slowly destroys you inside” is my experience.

It took me years to recover

Iamuhtredsonofuhtred · 12/06/2025 21:05

The mindfuck only has three channels OP

https://www.chumplady.com/mindfuck-three-channels/

Lookuptotheskies · 12/06/2025 21:05

Oh OP. 😔

Have you looked up "the script"?

All his phoney threats to harm himself, flipflopping back to her and you and so on, threatening you'll hardly see the kids, etc. It's all textbook!

He is such a DICK. 😡

ThankULord · 12/06/2025 21:07

OP i read your updates and I feel i have whiplash.
Reading he confessed and all the bla bla he was saying that followed, I was just waiting to hear that you .... well, not what you wrote.

I feel like it is so clear to anyone standing on the moon talk less of from where I am standing that he is not sincere and is just working on you because the OW is no longer an option.

I genuinely felt sad on reading your update. I felt bad for your DC because he is going to mess you all up again.
Have you forgotten the kind of things he was saying to the children when things like them accidentally tripping would happen?
You love him, OP, but he showed you his true colours. Please, don't let him play you like a fool because you miss how he once was with you.

Hayley1256 · 12/06/2025 21:08

OP when someone shows you they truly are- you need to LISTEN!

Aimtodobetter · 12/06/2025 21:12

EmmaThompsonsTears · 11/06/2025 11:50

Ok so I’ve just spoken to option 3 and feeling pretty torn.

she was very upfront about cost, clearly a good egg and an experienced solicitor with 30 years under her belt. She told me she won’t just tell me what I want to hear - she’s tough love. Which is great.

option 3 is the only firm where I actually got to speak to who I’ll be working with. But also the only firm who weren’t quite as sympathetic. I’m not looking for a pity party but if the person has my back on an emotional level, and are on board with why I’m divorcing him, they might work harder to get what me and the kids need.

But that might just be the difference between talking to an experienced solicitor who’s heard much worse before, and a relatively new paralegal.

option 2 charges £400+ for an initial consultation with a senior solicitor at the firm.

what would you do?

I’d pick the option 3 - you don’t need sympathy from your lawyer, you need effective high quality advice and they bothered to get on the phone with you directly.

AnonAnonmystery · 12/06/2025 21:13

Please don’t roll over … it may feel like the power is all on your hands right now but he is playing you.

ThejoyofNC · 12/06/2025 21:14

OP the thought of you staying with this man is heartbreaking. Please don't let him fool you. He's already fooled you once, don't let him do it twice. He's a monster.

Noshowlomo · 12/06/2025 21:14

@EmmaThompsonsTears HE AINT GOT NO BACKBONE
His OW found out he’s married or I bet she’s preggas or something and he’s shitting himself

AnonAnonmystery · 12/06/2025 21:15

StarCourt · 12/06/2025 21:01

NOPE! @EmmaThompsonsTears this is even worse now, he had tried to use these same tactics on you as OW, threatened suicide, shifted the onus on to you to sort his life out and then said if you don’t he will get nasty over custody.
Is that about right?

Agree with this … nasty piece of work beneath the crocodile tears.

Lifeislove · 12/06/2025 21:17

Iamuhtredsonofuhtred · 12/06/2025 21:05

The mindfuck only has three channels OP

https://www.chumplady.com/mindfuck-three-channels/

ThIs.

I also recommend reading some Chump Lady posts ( and her book) as I wished she had existed when mine first cheated in year 5.
I divorced him after 37 years as he had learnt I would put family first etc. I would eat the shit sandwich etc.
Except the last time I was done.

And the post script is he cheated on the AP too. And now double dating 🙄( we now live in small town).

They don't change. They want cake.
Please read this https://www.chumplady.com/the-cheater-tactic-of-cake-eating/The Cheater Tactic of Cake-Eating - ChumpLady.com

The Cheater Tactic of Cake-Eating

The cheater tactic of cake eating is when the cheater has the affair and the partner and tries to maintain the power of having them both.

https://www.chumplady.com/the-cheater-tactic-of-cake-eating/

EdnaTheWitch · 12/06/2025 21:17

Oh I had one of those ex’s who was going to kill himself. Spoiler alert, he was not AT ALL. Ever. In a million years ever.
It’s up to you OP, ultimately. But things will never be the same again. The damage is done and the trust is broken.
If I were in your shoes, I’d still divorce. But I’m old and lost all tolerance for such things a long time ago.
Good luck, whatever happens x

FairyMaclary · 12/06/2025 21:17

This op is why I believe cheating is abusive. The lies, the mind fuck, the manipulation, the control (and behaviour used to remain in control), the blowing hot and cold, gaslighting and withholding affection.

It’s not Romeo and Juliet - it’s two selfish saddos.

Op he’s following the script. I do believe a few couples can reconcile successfully. I promise you he is not currently reconciliation material. He may pull his head out of his arse. But at the moment he’s playing you both in order to not end up alone.

Aimtodobetter · 12/06/2025 21:17

EmmaThompsonsTears · 12/06/2025 20:01

UPDATE: he’s confessed

Just when I was about to instruct Option 3 solicitor and start filling out the online form ready to file next week…I come home and he’s GREY.

Said he’s really messed up at work, he’s over promised something to someone (OW) and she’s really pissed off.

or in other words, they’ve had a massive row, so he’s crawling back. I had to really push him to get him to confess, but he did eventually. Insisted they never slept together IRL (they would’ve only had one opportunity due to the distance, but I’m still not sure I believe him) but admitted the emotional affair / wanking and that he’d got far too close to her. Absolutely shat himself when I told him I’d been seeing solicitors, and started crying and begging and saying he had nothing left and was going to kill himself.

Naturally I have wanted him dead multiple times in the last few days but I don’t ACTUALLY want him dead, so talking him off that metaphorical cliff has rather distracted me in the last 24 hours.

It’s weird though. I can’t remember if I said it here or not, but it was like a switch flipped last autumn (after he first crossed the line with OW) and he became this cold, distant, liar. It flipped back yesterday. We laughed together, gallows humour, for the first time in ages. He said kind, loving things. He properly cuddled me, something I’ve been starving for all year. But I’m very wary that it could all just be another manipulation because OW has dropped him. And actually, I made him show me his messages - he was trying to crawl back into her good books after I told him we’d be divorcing. He even told her HE’D sorted it, and he wanted to fight for her - which is exactly what he said to me.

he was panicking and the walls were caving in. But he’s begging me for a chance to reconcile.

i can’t help but think he only wants that for the kids, not for me.

hitting pause on filing plans temporarily. But this won’t be the last of it. If he reverts back to type and I find myself on eggshells at any point again, we’re done.

and he’s admitted he’d get nasty to fight for custody.

I'm so sorry for how hard this all is but please get perspective. He told you he regretted it but was trying to get back with her? He told you he’d get nasty to fight for custody and you think that means he’s a good guy to stay with?

PeapodMcgee · 12/06/2025 21:18

He still wants the other woman, he would use his children as weapons against you, and he emotionally manipulated you into feeling for him.. And you WANT him, a slap on the wrist, cuddle the upset wife and "don't do it again, naughty boy"??!

FFS.

He is an abuser.

TheFlakyAquaSloth · 12/06/2025 21:19

I don’t believe him for a second. You are so starved of affection and emotional connection that it’s like a drug - you want it back. It will do this again. Look at the messages he sent again and again.

PorpoiseWithPurpose · 12/06/2025 21:19

I made him show me his messages - he was trying to crawl back into her good books after I told him we’d be divorcing. He even told her HE’D sorted it, and he wanted to fight for her - which is exactly what he said to me.

Im very confused. When did you tell him you’d be divorcing? Was that sometime
earlier this week?

SoMauveMonty · 12/06/2025 21:19

If i had a pound for every post i've seen on here from women scared into submission because the useless lump they're married to has threatened to get custody of the children, only for said useless lump to drop the idea like a hot potato once the reality of 50/50 child care hits them, i'd be a rich woman.
Don't be bullied OP.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 12/06/2025 21:20

I’m obviously confused, @EmmaThompsonsTears - you say in your update about his confession: "he was trying to crawl back into her good books after I told him we’d be divorcing”. My understanding was that you were choosing a SHL (Option 3 agreed to be the best) and hitting him with divorce papers as a surprise. I didn’t realize from your posts that you had already told him you were seeking a divorce.
Anyway, I agree with all the posters who have responded to your update about his confession that you need to carry on divorcing him as he is a manipulative, gaslighting, Very Nasty Man.

Cillaere · 12/06/2025 21:20

BoundaryGirl3939 · 12/06/2025 20:20

He sensed you knew.

I agree. Please don't fall for the old 'I'll kill myself' routine - so many of us have heard that pile of shite from manipulative men. Very unpleasant too, threatening to turn nasty if you divorce him. Be careful, OP.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 12/06/2025 21:21

PorpoiseWithPurpose · 12/06/2025 21:19

I made him show me his messages - he was trying to crawl back into her good books after I told him we’d be divorcing. He even told her HE’D sorted it, and he wanted to fight for her - which is exactly what he said to me.

Im very confused. When did you tell him you’d be divorcing? Was that sometime
earlier this week?

Oh, so I’m not the only confused one! (Cross-post.)

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