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AIBU

Friends condoning affair.

(118 Posts)
Cossy Mon 17-Mar-25 10:29:42

Iam64

Sago - no you are not being unreasonable. That’s dreadful behaviour from both these people. The potential real pain and distress can’t be over estimated.
What a shoddy way to treat your wife and family. I’d be surprised if this is the first time he’s betrayed his wife and family

flowers

Cossy Mon 17-Mar-25 10:27:41

Lathyrus3

Well now, I posted a few days ago about being disturbed when I overheard a conversation between two men about one of them lying to his wife about what he was doing.

The overwhelming opinion of the many replies was that it was ok for him to that, if telling her the truth was going to cause trouble and that most marriages involved deception of some kind.

So it’s quite interesting to see people now posting how wrong it is in this case.

Completely different circumstances. A lie is not great, but committed adulteration (time & time again) is just completely different and such a betrayal.

Iam64 Mon 17-Mar-25 10:26:27

A friend took a phone call when in her 60’s. The caller told her about a long affair her husband had with the caller’s wife that ended 20 years ago. It caused huge distress amongst adult and grandchildren. The wife started divorce proceedings, feeling what she’d seen as their happy marriage was a sham.
Dreadful thing to do to anyone

Cossy Mon 17-Mar-25 10:24:58

It’s very sad (for his wife and family) and very selfish of both of them!

It won’t end well for anyone and innocents will be hurt along the way!

eazybee Mon 17-Mar-25 10:23:01

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
The same could be said of marriages.Unfair to condemn when you do not know the participants.

I am always astonished when I hear about the betrayed spouse in a long-standing marriage who claims to have no idea the partner was involved in an affair. As the ex-wife of a serial adulterer I always knew, fought it until finally I gave up.

But there are all sorts of marriages. I knew a group of women where the main topic of conversation was running their husbands down and how they were 'not putting up with that any more, I'd rather have a cup of tea and my bed to myself', (always the master bedroom I noticed) The husbands all seemed decent, kindly men who provided well for their non-working wives and their dogs and their horses and cars and never appeared to seek consolation elsewhere.
Only one wife separated, devastating her husband and children, then discovered unmarried life was, and is, very lonely.

So perhaps there is a reason for this particular man's infidelity; perhaps his wife does know, but doesn't care.

Babs03 Mon 17-Mar-25 10:10:46

Lathyrus3

Well now, I posted a few days ago about being disturbed when I overheard a conversation between two men about one of them lying to his wife about what he was doing.

The overwhelming opinion of the many replies was that it was ok for him to that, if telling her the truth was going to cause trouble and that most marriages involved deception of some kind.

So it’s quite interesting to see people now posting how wrong it is in this case.

I took part in that thread and I did say many married couples tell little white lies. And the post you mention was about a husband lying about playing bowls so he could watch a match without his wife giving him a hard time.
There is a world of difference between that and actually cheating on your wife.
If it was my husband lying about playing bowls I would give him an earful though in all honesty is just good to get him out of the house sometimes so this wouldn’t happen.
But if my husband had an affair I would have to tell him to pack his bags and go.
Sago you are totally reasonable to not find this ok.

Lathyrus3 Mon 17-Mar-25 09:59:11

Well now, I posted a few days ago about being disturbed when I overheard a conversation between two men about one of them lying to his wife about what he was doing.

The overwhelming opinion of the many replies was that it was ok for him to that, if telling her the truth was going to cause trouble and that most marriages involved deception of some kind.

So it’s quite interesting to see people now posting how wrong it is in this case.

theworriedwell Mon 17-Mar-25 09:47:54

Esmay

I also feel acutely sorry for his wife and hope that she doesn't find out .
No doubt he's said that their marriage was over years ago .
Last time ,a guy said that to me I asked him who laundered his immaculately starched and ironed shirt .
And did he go home to a nice clean house with his supper waiting ?

My husband could iron his own shirts beautifully before he was disabled. As a training sergeant he taught many a young recruit how to do the same.

Esmay Mon 17-Mar-25 09:00:26

I also feel acutely sorry for his wife and hope that she doesn't find out .
No doubt he's said that their marriage was over years ago .
Last time ,a guy said that to me I asked him who laundered his immaculately starched and ironed shirt .
And did he go home to a nice clean house with his supper waiting ?

Sallyforth Mon 17-Mar-25 08:33:17

I wouldn't wish the pain and anguish of the discovery of an affair on my worst enemy. I hope this affair ends before his wife has to suffer that. Mind you, discovery after the affair ended wouldn't be easy to come to terms with either.

It would affect my friendship with someone who thinks it's OK to behave like that.

theworriedwell Mon 17-Mar-25 08:30:38

BlueBelle

He’s a cheat whether he’s 20 or 70 and your friends a fool
My cousins wife met her new husband sitting in the hospital with their respective dying spouses Maybe they didn’t do anything till they died, maybe they did but they married very soon after, and I felt it was very disrespectful to my cousin and could never really feel any nice feelings towards her
It’s one thing if it’s an open marriage or both are cheating but for one to be left at home thinking they have a strong marriage is just nasty

Do you think your cousin would have wanted his wife to be happy? Maybe he wouldn't find it disrespectful at all. His wife and her new husband were obviously there for their partners when they needed them and they've found someone who can understand what they've been through. I hope they are happy.

Macadia Mon 17-Mar-25 08:27:21

A woman taking an active part in ruining a family is never okay. Its selfish, cruel and beyond words. In addiition, a man like that is disgusting.

Iam64 Mon 17-Mar-25 08:15:14

I’m in the 3rd year since my husband died. He remains the one I love and always will.

Iam64 Mon 17-Mar-25 08:14:07

Sago - no you are not being unreasonable. That’s dreadful behaviour from both these people. The potential real pain and distress can’t be over estimated.
What a shoddy way to treat your wife and family. I’d be surprised if this is the first time he’s betrayed his wife and family

BlueBelle Mon 17-Mar-25 08:12:56

He’s a cheat whether he’s 20 or 70 and your friends a fool
My cousins wife met her new husband sitting in the hospital with their respective dying spouses Maybe they didn’t do anything till they died, maybe they did but they married very soon after, and I felt it was very disrespectful to my cousin and could never really feel any nice feelings towards her
It’s one thing if it’s an open marriage or both are cheating but for one to be left at home thinking they have a strong marriage is just nasty

MayBee70 Mon 17-Mar-25 08:12:00

As someone that knows what it’s like to be the wife of someone having an affair no, it isn’t. When I was in a singles group after my divorce, we often used to say to each other that we couldn’t understand how a man could fall in love with someone that was prepared to have an affair with someone who had a wife and children sad.

Marydoll Mon 17-Mar-25 08:09:55

Sago, you are not being unreasonable and right to feel sorry for his wife and family.
What kind of man betrays like that? As for my opinion of the mutal friend, my words are unprintable.

Sago Mon 17-Mar-25 08:06:12

Two of my friends have a mutual friend, I have met her but she is not in my circle.
She was widowed last year, I asked after her, my friends told me she was doing really well as she had a man in her life, it is someone from her past.
They met up again before her husband died and embarked on the affair.
This man has been married for nearly 50 years and has AC and grandchildren.
His wife is not aware.
My friends think this is totally fine and thought I was being a killjoy when I said I felt sad for his wife and family.
AIBU?