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Relationships

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Teenage son saw me having sex and now won’t speak to me

378 replies

mortified48 · Today 05:55

Utterly mortified. Bit of background… been divorced for nearly two years after a horrendous marriage. Thanks to good friends helping me with an exit plan, I managed to get out and am now in my own lovely little home. Two DS, 11 and 14 who I share custody with my ex 50/50. Eldest son doesn’t always see eye to eye with his dad who lives about 20 mins walk away.

So yesterday was changeover day and as kids are on half term, they went back to their dad’s at lunchtime and I’m not due to get them back now until Weds (we use a 5 5 2 2 schedule). I was working Fri afternoon and suddenly my eldest appears in my house (he has a key) as he’d had a row with his dad and didn’t want to go back. DS and Ex have a decent relationship but they clash quite a bit and I’m very close to my son. I had a good talk with him and when my ex arrived to come get him, had a talk with him too, calmed the situation and they went back to my ex’s house.

Later that evening my boyfriend of one year came over for some food and a film. It’s worth mentioning here that my kids haven’t met him yet. They’ve bumped into him once, and I talk about him, but more as a close friend I guess. The reason for that is I’m not about to introduce them to someone unless I know they’re going to be sticking around. Ex got a new girlfriend straight after the split and has been with her for 22 months now. At the beginning the kids struggled a little with this, it was quite soon after the split; my ex did the same thing and didn’t introduce her to them straight away incase it didn’t work out. The kids were recently introduced to her properly, and seem ok with it, although it’s a little awkward for them as she’s a teacher at their school. Anyway.. I certainly wasn’t going to introduce my boyfriend to them when they were in the throes of adjusting to dad’s new girlfriend and going on holiday with her and her kids etc.. it’s a lot for them to take in still. So I’ve kept it as mentioning my boyfriends name quite a bit as a friend and then when im sure the relationship has a solid future, i figured this would make it easier to introduce him to the kids.

Back to last night.. boyfriend was round watching a movie, and at about 9pm we got frisky in my living room and then again in the bedroom and then made some food. My phone was in a different room charging. When I went to get it around 11:15pm , I saw a text from the ex at 11pm saying that (unknown to me), my eldest had had a row with him and had run to mine around 9pm, let himself in and saw me having sex 😣 and had got such a shock he ran back to his dads in his socks(!) and now isn’t wanting to speak to me because he feels lied to. I had NO idea he was even in the house and only found out when I went to get my phone from the other room at 11pm. Ex had also texted at 9pm to say DS had rowed with him and was running to mine but I hadn’t seen this. Ex didn’t appear to have tried to stop DS running to mine.
i immediately tried to get in touch with DS as I could see he was still online, but he said he didn’t want to talk and turned his phone off. He’s really upset. I think the “feeling lied to” is probably because I haven’t introduced my boyfriend to him yet and he feels kept in the dark (which he hated when it happened with my ex’s girlfriend at the beginning of their relationship).

Utterly mortified and need advice how to handle this. I’m so close to DS, and he’s never not wanted to talk before and is obviously very shocked and embarrassed and upset. Help!

OP posts:
Youhadrambledonfor18pages · Today 09:21

mortified48 · Today 06:13

He’s never done that before yesterday. My home was locked up but he has a key and was utterly silent, I didn’t hear him come in. I’m not sure how to have prevented it other than never have my boyfriend over

You could have kept the sex to the bedroom if you know your son has a key and has previously arrived without warning (even if earlier that day was first time).

All you can do is message him to say you’re sorry and you understand he’s shocked and might need some time before he’s ready to talk.

Then when you talk, firstly clearly say that you’re sorry. Say you now realise you made a mistake in not telling him you were in a relationship but that you thought you were doing the best for him in case they found it difficult getting to know someone new and that you weren’t yet sure whether the relationship would last. Ask if he has any questions or wants to know anything else and you’ll answer honestly.

So help him understand your reasons but also apologise for getting it wrong because you never wanted him to be upset.

5128gap · Today 09:22

Talk to him as soon as possible. 'Space' isn't always a good thing if it allows thoughts to take root.
Tell him that you haven't lied, you just chose not to share something private with him until a point when you felt he should know. That point would have been when you knew if this man would be a part of his life, as well as yours.
Tell him that even though you're his mum first and foremost, you are an adult who has a personal life. Just as he has and will have things personal to him.
That what has happened is that's he's accidentally seen something private he shouldn't have, which is no one's fault, but embarrassing and upsetting, and that it can't be undone, so needs to be got past.
That you're happy to answer questions about the situation in as far as it impacts him
Express regret he saw it, but don't apologise for your right to have an adult relationship and privacy. The aim is for him to accept the last two as normal.

Notmyreality · Today 09:22

ChristmasBaby2026 · Today 09:19

It’s because she was recklessly doing it in the living room.

And even if she was doing it in her bedroom with the door closed instead it would be the same situation. Son let himself in, wondered where mum was, heard lots of moaning and sex noises from the bedroom and runs a mile. He would be no less affected even if he didn’t see it directly.

ohdelay · Today 09:23

It's fine, he's freaked out he's seen you naked having sex with a bloke. It's unfortunate, but nothing to blow out of proportion. Mums have sex too, you get to have a private life and it's actually nice you keep him out of it.

Dollysleftnip · Today 09:23

ChalkOutlines · Today 09:20

So you think the kid coming home to an empty house would’ve been better? Maybe once mum was home she could’ve also lied that she was at knitting group?

Better than seeing some random man’s penis inside his mother yes I do think that would’ve been better yes absolutely

Youhadrambledonfor18pages · Today 09:23

TheseWordsAreMine · Today 09:14

No ones mentioned the boyfriends feelings, I bet he hates her ex husband now.

Maybe because his feelings are the least important in this situation.

PeeledOranges · Today 09:23

I honestly can't believe the amount of grief the OP is getting here!
It's perfectly normal for adults to have sex in their home. Was isn't normal is a 14 year old constantly falling out with a parent and running to the other one to sort it out. As a parent I wouldn't be happy about my teenager running away whenever he can't get his own way and the parent just thinking that's okay. It's really not imo.

I've been in both situations here as the teenager and as the adult. It will be okay. It's really not the end of the world and maybe ds needs to learn he's not the centre of the universe.

CaesarAugusta · Today 09:23

FaceForRadioIII · Today 07:42

I think that your DCs need to understand that they cannot move freely between their parents' houses.

Where would you rather the lad went if he was in need then? Batshit imo. As a single parent post divorce I would rather the encounter the OP's son had than him feel that he couldn't come home. It is his home f g s, or are you suggesting that children from divorced parents don't have the right to call somewhere home.

I think the point is that he shouldn't really get into the mindset that he's going to to running off to the other parent's house every time something bothers him. If his parents were together, he wouldn't have that facility and would learn to handle his feelings one way or another.

TheYorkshirePudding · Today 09:24

You have children. One has a key. One randomly comes home sometimes. At the risk of sounding boring, have sex in your bedroom with the door closed.

dewne · Today 09:25

It's a very long story just to say, you were seen having sex

MeltyMomenrs · Today 09:25

Misnofitness · Today 09:20

She really did!

Cancel the cheque

Notmyreality · Today 09:26

PeeledOranges · Today 09:23

I honestly can't believe the amount of grief the OP is getting here!
It's perfectly normal for adults to have sex in their home. Was isn't normal is a 14 year old constantly falling out with a parent and running to the other one to sort it out. As a parent I wouldn't be happy about my teenager running away whenever he can't get his own way and the parent just thinking that's okay. It's really not imo.

I've been in both situations here as the teenager and as the adult. It will be okay. It's really not the end of the world and maybe ds needs to learn he's not the centre of the universe.

“I honestly can't believe the amount of grief the OP is getting here”

I can, it’s MN. Thread has gone exactly as expected.

SweatySpider321 · Today 09:26

Costatesco · Today 05:56

Your poor boy

I’m sure he will survive 🙄. That’s what happens when you flounce off from your Dad’s house and sneak into your mums house

ChalkOutlines · Today 09:26

ChamonixMountainBum · Today 09:21

Yep, sex should be only in the bedroom, missionary position with the lights off while humming God save the king.

Missionary? You hussy!! It’s all from the side , with pants still on, just out of the way, not having to look at each other and the covers on, for the proper ladies!

WitchesCauldron · Today 09:26

Dollysleftnip · Today 09:17

How many random men have your children seen you fucking on the sofa?

Where to even start with this....

Dollysleftnip · Today 09:27

WitchesCauldron · Today 09:26

Where to even start with this....

That many ? Gosh.

StarlightLady · Today 09:28

lCircleYou · Today 08:43

When you have children who have a key to the house and could come home at any point, it’s not acceptable to have sex in your living room because they are shared areas. You do it in a private space and teach them to knock on the door and wait before coming in.

But he was not expected. It is not a shared area when he is not there.

Yes, he should have knocked but he didn’t; this is not down to the OP.

ChamonixMountainBum · Today 09:30

Dollysleftnip · Today 09:17

How many random men have your children seen you fucking on the sofa?

Well this has escalated quickly!

rainbowstardrops · Today 09:30

You’ve done nothing wrong and your son will come round in good time.
Maybe he needs to understand that it’s not ok to run out of his dad’s house when things don’t go his way, not least because I wouldn’t want my 14 year old out at night when in a vulnerable state.

WitchesCauldron · Today 09:31

ChamonixMountainBum · Today 09:30

Well this has escalated quickly!

Quite ! lol

Papster · Today 09:31

mortified48 · Today 06:09

the ex tried to play it down with ds, explained that mum deserves to have a relationship and be happy etc… obviously ds wasn’t meant to be at mine last night, hence why my boyfriend was round. I don’t live in the family home, that was sold last year, got my own place now not far from dads own place

He’s being helpful. (I know he’s got a gf quickly but still..)
If you’re on good terms you can separately address this before rushing off to psychologist
DS will be more careful in future.

Boomer55 · Today 09:33

jackstini · Today 06:10

Firstly, this is not your fault - you had no idea he was there - although note to leave key in lock/put chain on!

You felt you were doing the right thing not introducing yet, but should have let kids know he was a boyfriend

DS will be in shock, and maybe presume it was a 1 night stand

He was also not in a great mood anyway or he wouldn’t have come running to yours

He needs some time to process this and might not want to face you for a bit if embarrassed

Just let him know by text you’re sorry he walked in on that, you will answer any questions he has when he’s ready or equally not talk about it until he wants to. And you love him

This. No need to make it into a massive drama. All teenagers hate the thought of their parents having sex.

Branleuse · Today 09:34

Least said, soonest mended.

I don't think a conversation about this will help.
I'd just avoid the situation and if really pushed I'd say that in hindsight you probably shouldn't have got carried away on the sofa, but you thought you had an empty house. That it's obviously not something anyone wants to see of a parent, but you just want to make it clear that you don't have anything to be ashamed of and while you will be more careful in future, you ARE an adult and entitled to a private life, and this was bad timing bc he was already upset, but you need to be clear that you won't be made to feel ashamed either. I'd suggest you all just pretend it didn't happen and try and move on

Raizin · Today 09:36

ThejoyofNC · Today 06:13

You want her to lock him out of the home where he goes to feel safe? That is absolutely terrible advice.

She'd obviously open the door!! It just gives her a heads up if he turns up unexpectedly!

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · Today 09:37

Honestly I heard my mum having sex with my step dad (of over ten years) when I was about 21 and it made me feel gross as fuck and I didn’t want to talk to her. I can imagine it’s 10x worse for your son.

You’re not in the wrong, you were a bit silly and you’ll probably get crucified on mumsnet as the whore of Babylon - but in a few years your son will see it as a cringe memory. If it makes you feel better, I know a lot of my mates have walked in on their parents and had their parents walk in on them. It happens. None of them are deranged by it and none of them never spoke to the parent again.

Please give your son some time, he will talk to you when he’s ready. I don’t think he should knock when he enters his own home necessarily but generally when you come in unannounced it’s good practice to give a courtesy shout to let others know you’re home.