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unfaithful son in law

(134 Posts)
grandmaagain Sun 04-Dec-11 15:43:49

Oh how my smugness has come back to bite me!
just found out that my darling son in law who I loved with all my heart is an unfaithful wretch who has broken my dear daughters heart 4 months after their son was born. she had a hellish pregnancy, birth and complications after and all the time he supported her and we loved him for it. They have been together for 11 years and gave the impression they were blisfully happy now we find out this was not the case at all and he has been unfaithful before this final incident and she had forgiven him and said nothing.
Dh and I have cried ourselves sick now we must do all we can to support her and our dear grandson we will not let this wicked man bring her down.
I have been very complacent in my posts on here thinking we were the lucky ones with no problems but if you can forgive me I would love some support!

supernana Wed 07-Dec-11 16:13:57

grandmaagain A broken family and a broken heart. The wretched pain that you must be suffering, won't last forever...I promise. All that you can do, is be strong for your daughter - whose distress must seem almost unbearable. Offer her a listening, non-judgemental ear, and as much support as you can muster for the sake of your little grandchild. Sadly, bad things happen to good people. I'm sending you a comforting virtual hug. xx

grandmaagain Wed 07-Dec-11 19:51:06

just had both my lovely daughters here for tea after younger DD went home with the baby big sis broke down in tears apparently last week they had a special photo taken of all 6 of them for our christmas present this year. she just cannot believe the depths of her BIL betrayal she is heartbroken and her DH is just baffled at losing his chum. I can't bear it I don't know what to do with myself my DH is so quiet I think he thinks if he does'nt say anything it will all go away

nanachrissy Wed 07-Dec-11 19:55:48

Oh Grandmaagain this is so heartbreaking, I want to give you all a big hug. Your poor husband is keeping it all inside, probably thinking it would make it worse for you if he broke down. xxxx (((HUGS))) sad

jogginggirl Wed 07-Dec-11 22:09:27

Oh Grandmaagain - I'm so sad for you all - your poor husband trying to remain strong but in pieces really. In this situation the whole family is affected and it must feel such a sad and heavy weight for you.
I can only send hugs and hope, that with time, the pain eases. xx

grandmaagain Wed 07-Dec-11 22:32:11

I just can't see any end, big sis's DH is determined to see his pal and talk it out,. little sis does not want this.she wants them to accept it is over they are all in pieces,. it is their pain I can't bear and I can't DO ANY THING ABOUT ANYTHING it would be so much easier if we had'nt all loved him so much .I don't understand how it could have all gone so spectacullaly wrong before we knew. I wish she had told us sooner. she is such a strong, fiesty, sassy lady and very private hates any interference she has kept us all in the dark about his other infidelities now our world has collapsed.

gracesmum Wed 07-Dec-11 22:59:04

Perhaps your other SIL can shed some light on what has gone wrong in this marriage, ot even bring SIL to his senses - or is it too late?
Good to have a bridge though as he will still be in contact with the family with access to the baby I assume.I wish there was some crumb of comfort we could offer thanks

Annobel Wed 07-Dec-11 23:07:03

I can't see any point in your other SiL trying to speak to the unfaithful one. He won't get anywhere though it may make him feel better to express what the family is feeling. Meanwhile you are going through one of our worst nightmares - not being able to heal your child's hurt. It's a terrible cliché, and no comfort to you, but only time can do this. Time, and your little, precious GS.

grandmaagain Wed 07-Dec-11 23:08:06

there is no chance of reconcilliation she has made him take everything from their home, moved the furniture around and is determined he has had all the chances he was ever going to have. big sis is shocked to the core they are very, very close and even she knew nothing seeing her tears have just finished me I was coping just until today now i am broken

grannyactivist Thu 08-Dec-11 00:43:44

grandmaagain you are hurting and sad, but I think you will discover that you are not broken; although right now you're bowed under the weight of all the sadness and pain you're going through, you're an amazingly strong character who is going to find depths within yourself that you didn't know were there. I know that, because that's what we do as parents, there doesn't seem to be a viable alternative; we just keep going and doing the best we can and one day I'm convinced that you will realise that you and your lovely family have come through this tragedy. Until that day you need lots of support and comfort from wherever you can find it. There's plenty on here, so keep coming back and feel free to say whatever's foremost in your mind, it's a safe place for you. ((((hugs))))

Carol Thu 08-Dec-11 08:10:23

I couldn't have put it any better grannyactivist. I feel the same. It is terrible to read the harrowing description of how you are feeling grandmaagain and the place you are in at the moment is one that is tearing at you constantly. Please do take a step back and give yourself a breather, so you can carry on supporting your daughter, otherwise you're going to find they are looking after you. Let things unfold gradually and if your SIL decides he would like to talk to his pal, maybe something that helps you understand it more will come of that meeting.

supernana Thu 08-Dec-11 13:44:30

grandmaagain More (((hugs))) from me. Be strong. You will get over this but for now, try to be kind to yourself. grannyactivist has put into words the feelings that other GN have as you face this awful episode in your family life. X

Annobel Thu 08-Dec-11 15:02:09

grandmaagain, you sound exhausted and I'm not surprised. Have you had a decent night's sleep in the last week? If you are seriously tired, it becomes more and more difficult to re-establish a sleeping pattern. You might find it beneficial to talk to your GP and get some help - there is no shame in that. You and your entire family are casualties of the situation - suffering from shock in a big way -and you owe it to yourselves to treat yourselves as such.

gow1 Thu 08-Dec-11 15:54:25

GMA I do hope words on a page help just a little bit. you are going through a terrible time, we know your daughter and husband are too but this is a place for you and I hope you continue to use it to help you through this awful situation. make sure you have time to concentrate on your wellbeing not just so you can help your family through this but also because one day you, your daughter and your family will recover ( I know this becuase I have had some very good advice from people on here who have similar stories) and you need to be able to pick up the pieces of your life. that cliche about time healing is true but it's also true that the shock of betrayal is huge. sending you strength to get through the next day, and the neaxt and so on for as long as it takes. x

greenmossgiel Thu 08-Dec-11 16:11:12

grandmaagain, stay strong, my dear. This has all been a terrible shock to you, but you will all come through the other side of it. You're trying to be strong for everybody, and perhaps you need a wee bit of support to be able to carry on and to look after yourself properly. As Annobel says, there's no shame in asking for help from your GP. Rest assured that the warm arms of GN are here for you. xx

Seventimesfive Thu 08-Dec-11 16:59:39

grandmaagain so heart rending to hear what you are all going through. It sounds to me that your daughter has made up her mind not to give him another chance and in the long run this is probably better than getting into a situation where she is forgiving him and taking him back, only for him to do it again. She is taking back control of her life which is a good sign. Do take care of yourself in which ever way seems most helpful to you. In dreadful situations I have veered from long walks to vigorously cleaning the stairs! The best of all is to talk to those you know will be sympathetic and supportive and we are all here for you. Your emotions will be all over the place I guess, so just give vent to them where and when it seems right. This will pass and the future will be bright. Really.

grandmaagain Thu 08-Dec-11 18:07:27

I think she is right to make a clean break she cannot go on forgiving him.The shock is what is killing us because we truly had NO idea there was,or ever had been anything wrong and we loved him as a son warmly and dearly,I can't believe I will never see him again the grief is unbearable.

Carol Thu 08-Dec-11 18:20:23

Hi grandmaagain. Would you not be likely to bump into your SIL in the future as your grandchhild grows up and you all come together for occasions like christenings, infant school events or suchlike? I have two children with ex-spouses and still do see them on occasion, maybe two or three times a year. Their partings were acrimonious, but things settled down with time, and I have been able to remember what I liked about them, even though they made my children very unhappy at the time. All parties have moved on and found new partners they are happy with, so it's not for me to harbour resentment when they have made an effort to communicate because they have children. Please do open your mind to the notion that events will unfold and people around you will come to terms with what has happened, and move on. Take care x

Pennysue Thu 08-Dec-11 18:40:12

Believe me - I have been in the same position - in time you will be able to deal with the split. The pain does get less and, when a child is involved, you are bound to see SIL in the future.

I am in the position of having ex.DILs - met up with one yesterday for lunch and speak to her often. I am also still friends with another DIL whose son by second marriage calls us Nana & Grandad! (he has no live grandparents)

Meanwhile take care of yourself and stop "beating" yourself up. How were you meant to know what was going on in your ADULT child's life?

greenmossgiel Thu 08-Dec-11 18:49:47

grandmaagain, try to keep in your mind that although this young man is no longer in your life as a relative as such, he is still the father of your little grandchild. In his role as parent, you will probably see him as time goes by, and by then you'll feel differently about things. He's hurt your girl so much. And you didn't know. No wonder you feel so terrible - you've not been able to come to terms with any of it in a gradual way. Give yourself time. Your daughter is dealing with it all in an orderly manner. She was perhaps waiting for this moment, expecting it to happen and now that it has, she's attending to it. She'll be hurting no end, but by getting cracking and moving stuff out of and around the house she's clearing the stuff of her own emotions. Be kind to yourself. This will pass. thanks

grandmaagain Thu 08-Dec-11 19:38:20

At the moment I never want to see him again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but I love him! I would not be responsible for my actions he has hurt so very many people with his selfish behaviour.have seen my eldest DD again today and she is pale and shaking with grief her husband has decided not to see his BIL and show complete solidarity with my DD so that has defused what could have been an awkward situation. now the hard part is telling our friends and extended family

JessM Thu 08-Dec-11 19:42:51

grandmaagain I am worried about you being so distraught.
I agree with pennysue - time, maybe, to try to stop telling yourself things like "we'll never see him again" and start regrouping a bit so that you can support your daughter. I know it is terribly upsetting but you don't know how things will turn out.
In reality they may get back together again. My friend had a similar situation, but in her case her son was the one messing around with other women. After some counselling they decided to give it another go and, a year later, are back together.

grandmaagain Thu 08-Dec-11 19:50:55

I can hold it together when I am with youngest DD, she is strong, but so hurt and my grief is nothing to hers, so my practical side holds sway and of course there is darling grandson, it is just at home that the pain and reality of the situation is unbearable and so unspeakably sad he was such a huge part of our lives we trusted him completly thought they were so very happy I feel guilty that I never suspected anything and yes I know that is irrational but the situation is so surreal I am lost

Carol Thu 08-Dec-11 20:18:55

grandmaagain you have a little grandson who will very likely be able to maintain a relationship with his daddy if that is encouraged within your family. Your grandson needs not to be exposed to the level of grief and distress that you are describing, to enable him not to be alienated from his father. Having just spent a horrible few months witnessing a vengeful mother vent her rage and anger against my son, I have seen how badly wrong things can go when adults are so overtaken with strong, negative emotions that have distorted the relationship between parent and child. Please don't let this happen in your family - the long term consequences are equally damaging but would be inflicted on a child who has no need to make a judgement about his father whilst he is an infant. This young man has been unfaithful to his wife, but I have not read anything about him stopping loving his child. Please do take a step back and check out what is making you feel unable to bear this pain, as it might be something that you have to address yourself. Why should you feel guilty about something you knew nothing about? Your daughter knew, and she has made a series of judgements, deciding eventually to end the relationship. She has held back from involving you partly to spare your feelings but also, perhaps, because she anticipated your likely reaction and needed to be able to hold things together without having to manage your grief as well. I do hope you will take better care of yourself - your daughter will recover and be the stronger for it if you allow her that space. Take care thanks

grandmaagain Thu 08-Dec-11 20:27:16

I have not cried in front of her nor would I! as I said I can hold it togther when I am with her and GS. we thought our family was happy we were proud of them and how close they all were to think that that was all based on lies is what is so unbearable.

Annobel Thu 08-Dec-11 20:34:09

I am full of admiration for your DD who is clearly a strong and self-sufficient woman. I doubt if she would ever be able to trust this man again and suspect she knows this. There is nothing for you to feel guilty about. How were you supposed to know he was playing away? They can be very crafty at covering their tracks. Clearly your daughter didn't want you to know and your very personal reaction shows that she understood you well. I know that if my mother had been alive when my marriage broke up, I would have had her distress to cope with as well as my own, so I think I can see where she is coming from. Now... try to get a good night's sleep. Accept that there is nothing much you can do at the moment except be there.