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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

The almost interesting saga of the almost-OM update

369 replies

HesterPrynne · 08/02/2010 17:42

Sorry, I had hoped to come back before the original thread disappeared off the first page, but then... nada.

As you may remember I had emailed a local counsellor, but H persuaded me not to make an appointment, but to save, money and neuroses, for Relate, which he absolutely promised to arrange.

So far nothing's happened... "I've been too busy, will do it tomorrow." "They're not answering the phone/email" "They said I had to confirm the date (poss this Wed) with you, now they're not answering again," are a selection of the excuses I have been given.

Now even asking about it causes snappiness and sulks.

I'm really tempted to say, if we're not in a conversation with a third party by Wednesday night, then that's it - you'll have confirmed our marriage is not your priority.

Can't decide if that's a fair ultimatum or not.

Still trying hard to keep almost-OM at more than arms length, but its so difficult when things are so tense at home.

And although I haven't come completely clean, I have told H that my vows are under considerable strain, but my intention is to make our marriage work if he'll work with me. No real sign of that yet, though

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 18:25

You there?

Bumping...

HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 18:30

How dare you be out all day.

Sorry to sound so melodramatic. I'm OK, just feeling really teary today and wanted to wallow a bit. But because you weren't where you're supposed to me, I succumbed and emailed AOM instead (That's a joke, I really don't blame you at all, honestly)

And I was doing so well, now I feel even worse

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 18:30

Bumping again...worried about you.

bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 18:32

Oops, cross post!

It'll happen.

You'll mail him, feel great, then feel shit.

Have been there, done that.

Don't beat yourself up. I could tell you some stories...

HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 18:32

xpost. Don't be worried.

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HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 18:39

Can I ask, did your AOM know of your feelings and reciprocate? Don't answer if you don't want to, I'm just trying to make some sense of what happened today.

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 18:42

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 18:58

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HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 19:04

I'm sorry. I don't think I can imagine having the strength to walk away, no.

So I suppose I should consider myself lucky that that's not my situation. If I had any sort of backbone I would walk away. Even if I was free, there is very little recommend my attachment to him.

I realised today that I'm scared to let go of him, because without him there is little to feed the me that's still there, deep inside the mum. Even though it's empty and vacuous, with nothing nutritious in it at all, I feel like it's keeping me going

No I'm resorting to shit analagies, things must be worse than I thought

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HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 19:10

NOW I'm resorting...

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 19:12

You are being very, very hard on yourself.

Does he reciprocate your feelings?

bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 19:17

And I think "deep inside the mum" is an excellent analogy fwiw.

HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 19:27

I don't think so. The lust was undoubtedly there, but he's happy in his relationship and I think he genuinely wants to just help me stay in my marriage.

He's actually very insistent on it, had me in tears today basically saying my kids' happiness trumped mine. That's not quite what he said, but that seemed to be the implication and although I don't necessarily disagree with him, I really wanted to hear someone firmly on my side iyswim.

Ffs why am doing this to myself. I can't even get an affair right - isn't it supposed to be a romantic, happy oasis, at least while I'm with/chatting with him?

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 19:31

You can't get an affair right because you are too nice and not selfish enough, which is no bad thing. Your AOM sounds pretty similar - he could so easily take advantage of a miserable and vulnerable woman in order to get his end away. Plenty would. You don't attract bastards, because you're nice.

Is another session at Relate on the cards any time soon?

HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 19:38

Thank you.

No not heard from Relate yet. Wish they'd hurry up though, H seems to have settled back into his, things-will-be-fine mode, and I haven't got the energy to keep reminding him that things are not right.

So were knocking about together reasonably well, like well-behaved, friendly housemates, and I spend most my day just wanting to shout "this is not what a marriage should be, this is not what I signed up to", drinking too much and finding any excuse not to leave the house

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 19:41

Oh, and I doubt he is happy in his relationship.

I don't subscribe to the theory that people who are happy in their relationships look elsewhere.

I know it's not trendy, but I really think that affairs are a symptom of unmet needs.

bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 19:43

Well, I'm on my fourth glass, so don't feel too bad.

Have had a pretty shitty day myself today, even though dh and I are getting on okay...it's not the same.

Perhaps a private couples counsellor? I know it's expensive, but your marriage is a hell of an investment...

bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 19:44

Hell, you can't do affairs, I can't do italics...

what a pair, eh?

HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 19:51

Just refilled my glass, so just one behind now

Sorry you've had a rough day, anything you want to share, so I don't feel like I'm hogging all the sympathy?

Doesn't sound like you were too hot on the affairs front either btw. And I can do italics.

Not sure about a private counsellor, I'm still to be convinced it would be a good investment and not just throwing money away.

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 19:57

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HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 20:07

Clarity scares me though. It makes me think of DD1 who got her first pair glasses a few months ago, cos I'm such a rubbish mother as well as wife, I hadn't noticed that she needed a minus-2 prescription for each lens .

Anyway, when she started wearing the glasses they made her feel woosy and very disorientated. She said she preferred things fuzzy around the edges. That's how I'm comfortable with life - fuzzy round the edges. I'm scared what A1 vision will throw up that I have never noticed before.

I'm also frightened of telling AOM that our coffee and pub breaks are over: what if he shrugs and says ok, like they don't mean anything to him anyway?

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bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 20:24

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BelleDameSansMerci · 23/02/2010 20:41

I am still here ladies... I stopped posting because you have so much in common and I felt like my thoughts might not be relevant.

Buuuuut, affairs I do know about!

But, I want to hear what Hester wants more than I want to tell you about how actual OM (although he wasn't, I was OW) from 10 years ago is still in touch and wanted to meet for coffee tomorrow as we will both be in London (he lives in Sussex, I live in West Yorkshire). We're not meeting up now but I'll still be wearing the new work outfit I bought to ensure I looked fabulous even though I don't want him any more and vice versa!!!!

bobbiewickham · 23/02/2010 21:00

Ooh, hi Belle!

Welcome back - we missed you!

I think it's vitally important to look utterly fab at all times, just to let them kick themselves a bit if we happen upon them. Have no idea what purpose that serves, and am sure it's Not Nice...but it is human.

And your thoughts are always relevant.

Oh, it's so good to talk to you again!

HesterPrynne · 23/02/2010 21:05

Welcome back Belle, can't speak for Bobbie despite being her younger-by-far in wisdom years twin, but I'm pleased to see you.

I don't know what the adult Hester wants, she just wants to stop feeling this pathetic and sad. Is she allowed to feel loved too or is that just child Hester?

She wants to feel as though she's back in control of her life, that her life has a point and a meaning.

She has a half-marriage, a smidgen of a career and a huge gap that needs filling but she doesn't know how, apart from more of the other two.

And now she's feeling very sorry for herself, indeed and angry at this level of self-indulgence.

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