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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

Finally confronted DH about the 'other woman'

389 replies

missmama · 11/05/2010 11:25

I dont know where to start really. I think I have over reacted, but this has really upset and hurt me.

Its shitty crappy facebook.

DH has a friend who he has 'fallen in love' with. She lives on the other side of the world so their is no chance of them meeting so I do not have to worry about the physical side of things.
He spends all his time on the computer talking to her, discussing their feelings, writing her poetry.
They text each other all the time and send photos to each others phones.
He just doesnt have any time left for me. We have been together 22 years and have 3 DC's 12 9 and 16 months.
I have known about her for months but it has escalated since Christmas.
He sent her an expensive gold bracelet for valentines day, and then gave me an identical one for my birthday last month. He doesnt know I know about hers.

Because of the time difference they text a lot at night when he thinks I am asleep.
He lies in the bed next to me texting her and her texting back.
Saturday night I had had enough and half way through him doing this I got up out of bed and told him that I would sleep on the sofa as I was obviously in the way there.
He said he had no idea what I was talking about and as I went down the stairs I said that texting her from my bed was really not fair at all.
He stayed in bed for 10 mins and then came down and asked if I wanted a cup of tea!!!!!
I sent him back to bed and told him that I couldnt even look at him at the moment.
But after half an hour I went back up and woke him! to talk.
I asked him 2 questions and told him I didnt want him to answer them now but to think about it carefully.
I asked him to put himself in my position. How would he feel if it was me that was doing what he was doing. My words were, doing what you are doing or not doing, doing what I think you might be doing and then whatever it is that you are really doing.
I then asked him what it was that he wanted. What did he want to happen, what did he want me to do.
Then I left the room.

I slept on the sofa, he woke early but did not get up and facebooked with her for a while then got up about 11.
He came down and said sorry. But I dont know what for
We spoke later their were lots of tears on both sides and he asked me what I wanted. I said that I loved him very much and all I want is for him to be happy. Which is what I have been saying for months, but that I cannot carry on like this and he has to make a decision on what he wants. What I want is for him to love only me. He said that he didnt want to hurt me and that it had upset him thinking about the questions that I had asked, but he wasnt going to stop talking to this woman. But he would try harder to spend time and talk with me and the kids and try to be a nicer person.

So I am left in limbo. I dont want to leave him I do love him very much. Have I over reacted? is it just a fantasy for him?
I feel as though I am in the middle of throwing away my mariage for nothing.

OP posts:
missmama · 11/05/2010 18:18

Shiney
he writes her poetry and send her song lyrics

OP posts:
RumourOfAHurricane · 11/05/2010 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Tortington · 11/05/2010 18:37

if someone said to me ; ooh custy hers your cake you can have it and eat it too,with absolutley no consequences' i would

your behaviour is allowing all this to continue - you dont want to upset him? are you fucking shitting me.

pack him some bags lock the door leave a note on the door telling him to fuck right off.

he cho se a woman on the internet over his children ffs

his children

he chose an woman over the internet over his wife

his wife

his life.

and yourletting him get away with it

if a child did something wrong, would you say - thats ok darling, there is no consequences for your bad behaviour.

no thought not.

if you dont stand up for yourself now - you will have years of misery, he will come to hate you

missmama · 11/05/2010 18:38

Scan or not it's the best poetry I have heard in a while

OP posts:
Tortington · 11/05/2010 18:39

think this is being way over analysed.

he chose another woman

tell him to fuck off he's shit his luck, hes now a macdonalds dad with an EX wife.

bet the fucker begs

RumourOfAHurricane · 11/05/2010 18:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

AnyFucker · 11/05/2010 18:51

McDonald's dad

yup, them's the breaks when you shit on your wife from a great height

unfortunately, the children get hurt too

but that is his fault, not yours, MM

I think on balance, the children would be better with this pathetic twonk out of their full-time lives

what a sad example he sets, eh ?

mankymummymoo · 11/05/2010 18:57

Havent read the entire thread but...

Why is him leaving the last thing on earth you want?

Does she know about you?

Is she a real person?

She's probably some 40 stone hairy bald bloke for god sake.

TheCrackFox · 11/05/2010 19:00

Mentally he has already left and living with his fantasy woman

Good grief, he is 44 and behaving like a 15 yr old. Make him go - pack his bags for him.

He will come snivelling back in about 6 weeks time when he works out that "fantasy woman" was just that - a fantasy.

It will be then up to you whether you forgive him or not.

blinks · 11/05/2010 19:01

while this is going on your relationship is over.

you're both in denial of this fact.

i feel deeply sorry for you but you must put yourself first here. don't risk your mental health so that he can continue having a pretend relationship with someone else.

panic attacks are a clear sign that your mind and body are out of sync. you're not acknowledging to yourself the gravity of the situation so your body is trying to alert you that something is up. don't ignore it and try to push it down or it could turn into a full blown breakdown. physical signs of severe stress like hair falling out shouldn't be ignored... could you go to your GP and ask for a referral to get some therapy? that might straighten your head out and give you the strength to assert yourself.

this is all very hushed up just now- not alot of actual talking going on between anyone other than him and bitchface writing sonnets for each other... blow it open! it'll change everything and although it'll be upsetting, you'll be much better off in the longterm if you vent some of that anger that you're turning in on yourself.

NonnoMum · 11/05/2010 19:08

This is emotional adultery, if not physical adultery.

But am laughing at manky's comment that it might be a big fat hairy bloke...

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 11/05/2010 19:14

Actually Shiny, I think the OP's knowledge of gaslighting is entirely relevant here, if that's what you mean by over-analysing. It is about seeing what this behaviour is doing to you OP - and it is this I want you to focus on. You started this thread wondering whether you were over-reacting and you've now seen that your H is enacting an abusive behaviour that has a name to it. That must be quite a shock.

Have you told your parents?

kittyonthebeam · 11/05/2010 19:18

custy says it loud and clear and I echo blinks who says you are in denial about the state of your relationship.

You are blinkered hanging onto him for now. Tell him to pack his bags and shake him to the core. If you put up with everything he won't take you seriously and he will not love you back. No one loves a doormat. Be assertive, I know you are hurt but show him you are human, you have feelings and dignity. Do not take this lying down, paint the future for him: "McDonald's Dad, hardly seeing the kids, losing his home, taking the plunge with OW who will inevitably turn out to be unsuitable' and consider him used goods.

He will come back begging. By then you might not want him anymore. Just as he doesn't want you now. You are hanging onto him out of habit, let him go and make him think. Give him breathing space to miss you. If you hang on now he will kick you off anyway.

Be wise, let him miss you. Play the long game!!

bathbuns · 11/05/2010 19:22

You might really not want your marriage to end. But think about what would happen if you don't act.

This will carry on.

Do you want to be feeling like this, and be in the same situation in 6 months, one year, two years time. Because that is what will happen. It might be scary, but you know what you need to do here. You deserve so much more than this.

AnyFucker · 11/05/2010 19:48

just to add a little bit more to what kitty said about his future...make sure that in any of these conversations that he is aware you will be seeing other men at some point

and sleeping with them

in his old bed

and indulging in all sorts of fun things...

< stops as feels has set the scene quite adequately >

kittyonthebeam · 11/05/2010 19:51

Nods empathetically at AF's last post.

OP, you may not imagine this right now but rest assured that every cloud has a fat silver lining!!

AnyFucker · 11/05/2010 19:54

oh yes indeedy, and you will be having fun times with new men while he looks after the kids in some grotty bedsit

undercovamutha · 11/05/2010 20:12

OP - I really feel for you, and I totally understand that you don't want your marriage to end.

However you need to realise that as long as you continue to tolerate this behaviour, then it will only get worse. Your health is suffering, you are in a terrible state, and it will only get worse and worse and worse.

By allowing him to get away with this, you are not keeping a happy marriage, and happy kids. You are delaying the inevitable.

Sorry to be so blunt, but I really want you to put you and the kids first. Your H does not deserve you, you do not deserve all this shit, and your kids deserve a healthy mum, with self-respect and potential for a happy future.

LoveMyGirls · 11/05/2010 20:26

Has he noticed this about you???

" I threw up when I saw. I had a panic attack. I haven't had one of those for years. I am getting nose bleeds from the stress and my hair is falling out. I cant sleep."

If the answer is no then what the fuck use is he anyway?

LoveMyGirls · 11/05/2010 20:32

Oh and if the answer is yes he has noticed but he's still carrying on then he is even more of a bastard surely?

ZZZenAgain · 11/05/2010 20:38

"He called me stupid and paranoid the last time I tried to bring this up and really had a go. It really had me questioning myself and for a while I believed him that it was all in my mind. Until he did more. "

It is not in your mind that he sent her a bracelet for Valentine's Day. This is not just something that people do who interact on mafia games etc. That he lies in bed next to you texting her is horrible.

I don't know where things went wrong and if he is too entrenched in this fantasy world to find his way back out but you must not continue as you are. This is not a healthy set up for you

Unlikelyamazonian · 11/05/2010 21:01

"he writes her poetry and send her song lyrics"

you are just taking the piss now. go away

ZZZenAgain · 11/05/2010 21:08

if you believe he sent her a bracelet for valentine's day, why wouldn't you believe that he sends her poetry or song lyrics amazonian?

ScaredOfCows · 11/05/2010 21:10

UA - whilst, like any other MN'er on here, I feel for you for what you have been through, I really think that you are being cruel and thoughtless to the OP on this thread.
YOU DON'T KNOW if what she says is true or not, but if you seriously doubt her, then report the thread and leave it at that. Please don't potentially add to what must be a hugely distressing time for her.

AnyFucker · 11/05/2010 21:23

Am hoping UA is ok

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