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

571 replies

mortified48 · 30/05/2026 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:
MyCottageGarden · 30/05/2026 17:27

Those poor boys.. Haven’t they been through enough at the hands of their parents?

GreenCandleWax · 30/05/2026 17:29

HedgehogsOnTheWall · 30/05/2026 06:02

Ach let him stew. On the plus side maybe he'll think twice about storming out of his dad's in future!

That's really hard on the boy. He may be very sensitive and find it really disturbing.

Miyagi99 · 30/05/2026 17:31

SparklyLeader · 30/05/2026 14:48

He is truly traumatized. Not kidding. He needs a therapist or counselor that specializes in teenage boys to work through this. Do not leave him alone to work through this by himself or worse with the internet. Maybe a hypnotist to see if the images in his head can be scrubbed. You need to find outside professional help for him, RIGHT NOW.

You talking to him will NOT help him. When he looks at you all he sees is some guy railing you. How is he supposed to talk to you with that image on repeat? Stop dragging your feet, get him professional help. Your son is actually traumatized.

I’m wondering why you feel this way? And why you use such derogatory language that makes the woman seem like a passive object during sex? These two things are obviously connected psychologically for you.

Miyagi99 · 30/05/2026 17:33

This reply has been deleted

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

I remember but it didn’t traumatise me! I can also remember the first time I went on a steam train vividly and that was before I started primary school.

SlightlyTerrifiedButPolite · 30/05/2026 17:48

I’m sorry OP. Don’t chase him. Maybe send a holding message, something like “I know you’re upset. I’m so sorry you walked in on that. I had no idea you were in the house. I love you and I’m here whenever you want to talk.”

Theres two things here. There’s the mortifying shock of seeing your mum have sex, but then there’s the fact he feels blindsided about the status of the relationship maybe being more involved than he thought. You haven’t done anything wrong IMO in shielding him a bit from it and of course he was aware, but it was terrible timing for him to see that immediately after essentially fleeing his dad’s house. It’s probably quite destabilising feeling like he’s losing both parents.

when you next see him I would just own the embarrassment part. “I’m so sorry you had that shock”. Don’t say you feel like a terrible mother or anything like that, you haven’t done anything wrong. And then I wouldn’t challenge him on the “feeling lied to” part. Don’t say I told you about my boyfriend. I would just ask him “why does it feel like a lie”. Reassure him about his place in your life. Sex aside, he ran from his dad to you and found you emotionally occupied with someone else. That can feel devastating, the sex aside

Beenwhereyouareagain · 30/05/2026 18:05

SamClamsDisco · 30/05/2026 06:54

jesus christ. where is the reading comprehension.

THANK you!
It's bad enough to fail to comprehend the post, but to continue to argue with the OP?
Really?? 🙄😂

Tontostitis · 30/05/2026 18:07

DontShoutInMyEarholeTracey · 30/05/2026 06:27

Totally agree!

No need for this it's fine to have a new rel6abd this is actually on the dad for not sorting out his problems and letting the 14 year old stomp off. OO is fully entitled to a life and is probably both aware of her slip up and mortified enough already

Tontostitis · 30/05/2026 18:08

Miyagi99 · 30/05/2026 17:31

I’m wondering why you feel this way? And why you use such derogatory language that makes the woman seem like a passive object during sex? These two things are obviously connected psychologically for you.

Agree the internalised misogyny here is staggering

HoraceCope · 30/05/2026 21:25

ChristmasBaby2026 · 30/05/2026 09:10

Of course it’s her fault. She was doing it in the communal area of the home!

no she wasnt, just was frisky

Bones101 · Yesterday 00:50

He's a teenager. He's just uncomfortable. Sit down with him and have a good chat.

Sounds like you and ex are doing a great job and you're completely right taking your time to introduce the bf. X

NormasArse · Yesterday 01:01

ThejoyofNC · 30/05/2026 06:13

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

No it’s not. It just means he would need to knock, which would protect him from seeing his mum shagging… which she is more than entitled to do.

kkloo · Yesterday 01:44

Flowerpotman · 30/05/2026 08:09

I've read a few of these over the years and I find it interesting on a predominately woman's forum how many are so confidently blasé that hell get over it . I've been around locker room chat my entire life heard lots of hilarious tales of lads catching their dads with their new squeeze. Never heard a single one about catching their Mum! Its not a massive double standard its phycological.

It my not be PC but boys hearing or seeing their mums have sex cab be deeply disturbing. I know from experience, The difference here op is that it appears children are more open to talking about it now which is a good thing . I bottled it up (granted it was more than once) and it did greatly affect my relationship with my Mum who to this day doesn't know how it messed me up and is to late for me/us now.

He has seen what he has seen and been brave enough to to tell you and his dad. He is a better man than me and I think that it being out in the open immediately is so much better. He has a lot to deal with and you sound caring and genuinely sorry. You will hopefully both work it out good luck x

There is definitely other things at play if this has a life long effect on a person.

kkloo · Yesterday 01:45

DaffodilLill · 30/05/2026 11:08

Keeping a key in the door does not always mean another key can't be used. I know of a family member who, when even they put a key in the lock, it can still be opened from the outside- I've done it there myself.

More important is a lock on the bedroom door.

It's unwise to lock someone out if they need to get in if it's an emergency otherwise they need to phone and may be unable to.

Yes mine has an internal lock on it, it can't be locked with a key on the inside, so it's not possible to keep someone from getting in if they have a key.

kkloo · Yesterday 01:49

SparklyLeader · 30/05/2026 14:48

He is truly traumatized. Not kidding. He needs a therapist or counselor that specializes in teenage boys to work through this. Do not leave him alone to work through this by himself or worse with the internet. Maybe a hypnotist to see if the images in his head can be scrubbed. You need to find outside professional help for him, RIGHT NOW.

You talking to him will NOT help him. When he looks at you all he sees is some guy railing you. How is he supposed to talk to you with that image on repeat? Stop dragging your feet, get him professional help. Your son is actually traumatized.

Don't be so ridiculous. It only happened a couple of days ago.

Ifallelsefails · Yesterday 05:42

kkloo · Yesterday 01:44

There is definitely other things at play if this has a life long effect on a person.

Everyone has different experiences and traumas, what affects one person doesn't necessarily affect others the same. There is no right and wrong way to feel about anything, and we don't all beat to the same drum, if only everything was that simple.

Ricequark · Yesterday 05:54

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

And a few hours later you had sex in the living room? You must enjoy the thrill of being caught. By your own teen son though?

CaesarAugusta · Yesterday 10:14

Flowerpotman · 30/05/2026 10:04

If it were sofa sex, then it is not too much of a stretch to think may not have been missionary?

Christian-friendly Sex Positions

He still wouldn't see anyone's genitalia.

CaesarAugusta · Yesterday 10:22

Ricequark · Yesterday 05:54

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

And a few hours later you had sex in the living room? You must enjoy the thrill of being caught. By your own teen son though?

Edited

That's quite a leap, given that OP's son had never come back to the house before when he was supposed to be with his dad.

Ricequark · Yesterday 11:39

CaesarAugusta · Yesterday 10:22

That's quite a leap, given that OP's son had never come back to the house before when he was supposed to be with his dad.

How have I made a leap.

i quoted the op directly. Hours before he’d shown up unannounced.
Hours later the op thought it sensible to shag on the sofa
are you saying that it is a leap to say that that was quite a knowing risk the op took there?

Flowerpotman · Yesterday 12:06

CaesarAugusta · Yesterday 10:14

He still wouldn't see anyone's genitalia.

Was trying not to be specific, but reverse cowgirl is a very good sofa position and leaves nothing to the imagination from the front,

SockPlant · Yesterday 12:11

mortified48 · 30/05/2026 07:02

I really did! I said my ex texted me to tell me DS had seen me

for important things? ex needs to call you.

how are things now? Sounds like (apart from texting rather than calling) your ex is handling it well

MeltyMomenrs · Yesterday 13:49

Ricequark · Yesterday 05:54

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

And a few hours later you had sex in the living room? You must enjoy the thrill of being caught. By your own teen son though?

Edited

Don't be vile

yes, he came home in the afternoon, he was spoken to and taken/sent back to his Dads. It was the first time he'd done it.

presumably having spoken to him, she didn't expect him to do it again, particularly the very same day & at night.

naive maybe, but not fucking perverted.

behave yourself.

Nogimachi · Yesterday 14:33

Gosh, how awful. That’s certainly something you can’t unsee. It sounds like your ex has been quite helpful and said the right things.

Give him time, apologise, tell him you love him and get a lock on the bedroom door!!

Ricequark · Yesterday 14:36

MeltyMomenrs · Yesterday 13:49

Don't be vile

yes, he came home in the afternoon, he was spoken to and taken/sent back to his Dads. It was the first time he'd done it.

presumably having spoken to him, she didn't expect him to do it again, particularly the very same day & at night.

naive maybe, but not fucking perverted.

behave yourself.

Way too much of a risk in my opinion

Hours before he’s rocked up unannounced 🤷‍♀️

MeltyMomenrs · Yesterday 14:56

Ricequark · Yesterday 14:36

Way too much of a risk in my opinion

Hours before he’s rocked up unannounced 🤷‍♀️

possibly quite a risk depending on what was said earlier in the day.. but your accusation of

You must enjoy the thrill of being caught. By your own teen son though?

was disgusting & completely uncalled for.