Healthy Relationships Support Group
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joleneLS
Here is a bit of background. I grew up in a small town and when most the people I grew up with became adults they all moved into the small city right beside the town. My best friend, Dee, is married to a man named Scott. My spouse, Joey, is Scott's cousin. We have a pair of mutual friends, Sam and Jon. I run a day home and care for Sam and Jon's one year old daughter, as well as Sam is a hair dresser and she does my hair.
Dee and Jon were having an affair. I knew about it, and I didn't agree with it. I never hid my displeasure, and I tried to talk Dee out of it. I kept it all to myself and never breathed a word of it to anyone. Minus Dee who would call or text to talk about it all the time as she was in the new stages of the affair and it was daring and she felt wanted etc etc etc. She told me and two other close female friends.
I am not a Jon fan. I think he is immature, wishy washy and a liar. I told her I wasn't a Jon fan, but as she was very much involved with him she defended him and bashed Sam.
I never told Scott as I didn't feel that it was my place. They were having some serious relationship issues and I figured either they would work it all out of else the relationship would end. With or without me. Here is where I should state that Scott has previously cheated on her. Not making excuses for her, just throwing that out there.
So now, up to date. Sam did my hair on a Thursday. She asked if Scott and Dee were still having relationship issues. I said yea, she was their friend as well, and it was no secret. Then she made a comment about Jon starting a new job and how he was glad so Dee would stop texting him because he thought it was almost like she wanted to have an affair. I just shrugged and said she text him because they have been friends for ten years. End of that convo. Either Jon really said that or Sam was suspicious and fishing.
Friday morning Sam text Scott something. I'm not sure word for word. But Scott lost it and accused Dee of cheating and told her he wanted a divorce and yada yada yada. Well it came out that she and Jon had kissed, but as far as her husband knows that's as far as it went.
He told her she was no longer allowed alcohol, to see me, to go out alone, to talk on the phone without him in the room, to go on Facebook unless he was beside her, and he got to read all her texts at the end of the day.
Now she is pissed because she thinks I told Sam. I didn't say a single word. I never asked to be put in the middle, and now that it's coming to surface, which I told her would happen, she's livid. It hurts a lot actually, that she would accuse me of that. What probably happened was she erased her texts from the affair with Jon but not me....and Scott went through her phone. But she believes that Jon would never say anything but that I would. The guy who wears the skirt in his own relationship, who she has been sleeping with for two months, over her best friend who has been there through thick and thin for 20 years. Who has never told a secret and never lied to her.
And it's akward between Sam and I when she drops and picks up the baby from my care. Though they are still bringing her so that has to mean something....even if it just means they haven't found alternate care yet.
She called me all secretly at 10pm on Monday night to ask to talk to me face to face on Tuesday morning. She had posted on Facebook Friday that she was taking a step back from the world and wouldn't be on the computer or her phone, and anyone needing to get ahold of her could call her hubby. She claimed that the only reason I wasn't on her door step asking what was wrong was if I had something to hide. I knew that Scott had found out by then, and I know she would do anything to save her marriage to him, so I assumed she needed some time with just him to work shit out. I wasn't hiding anything. But then her kid got sick and her husband did a 'suprise' drop in at home so we never got a chance to talk.
I can't sleep, eat or concentrate. She is more like my sister then my sisters are. And to think that she thinks of me like she does. Or that I may lose her over this bullshit when I did nothing wrong. Plus, her husband is immensely petty and if he thinks I had some great part in this he will forbid her to see me. We went two years once only talking in the dead of night and her lying about where she was going to see me. I was the affair!! And that was over something his crazy ass family made up. Now I really did hide the affair from him, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and she is my best friend. I can only imagine the seven rings of hell that will be raining down on me.
I don't understand how I got here. I mean, I get how I got here, but why didn't I try to do something more to make it so this wasn't the outcome for me. It feels like I committed some heinous act, not her. I am VERY against cheating. And I still can't tell my SO because Scott doesn't know all the logistics. If it was all out in the open I would tell Joey every last sordid detail. But my life is already hellish without that occurring.
Dee and Jon were having an affair. I knew about it, and I didn't agree with it. I never hid my displeasure, and I tried to talk Dee out of it. I kept it all to myself and never breathed a word of it to anyone. Minus Dee who would call or text to talk about it all the time as she was in the new stages of the affair and it was daring and she felt wanted etc etc etc. She told me and two other close female friends.
I am not a Jon fan. I think he is immature, wishy washy and a liar. I told her I wasn't a Jon fan, but as she was very much involved with him she defended him and bashed Sam.
I never told Scott as I didn't feel that it was my place. They were having some serious relationship issues and I figured either they would work it all out of else the relationship would end. With or without me. Here is where I should state that Scott has previously cheated on her. Not making excuses for her, just throwing that out there.
So now, up to date. Sam did my hair on a Thursday. She asked if Scott and Dee were still having relationship issues. I said yea, she was their friend as well, and it was no secret. Then she made a comment about Jon starting a new job and how he was glad so Dee would stop texting him because he thought it was almost like she wanted to have an affair. I just shrugged and said she text him because they have been friends for ten years. End of that convo. Either Jon really said that or Sam was suspicious and fishing.
Friday morning Sam text Scott something. I'm not sure word for word. But Scott lost it and accused Dee of cheating and told her he wanted a divorce and yada yada yada. Well it came out that she and Jon had kissed, but as far as her husband knows that's as far as it went.
He told her she was no longer allowed alcohol, to see me, to go out alone, to talk on the phone without him in the room, to go on Facebook unless he was beside her, and he got to read all her texts at the end of the day.
Now she is pissed because she thinks I told Sam. I didn't say a single word. I never asked to be put in the middle, and now that it's coming to surface, which I told her would happen, she's livid. It hurts a lot actually, that she would accuse me of that. What probably happened was she erased her texts from the affair with Jon but not me....and Scott went through her phone. But she believes that Jon would never say anything but that I would. The guy who wears the skirt in his own relationship, who she has been sleeping with for two months, over her best friend who has been there through thick and thin for 20 years. Who has never told a secret and never lied to her.
And it's akward between Sam and I when she drops and picks up the baby from my care. Though they are still bringing her so that has to mean something....even if it just means they haven't found alternate care yet.
She called me all secretly at 10pm on Monday night to ask to talk to me face to face on Tuesday morning. She had posted on Facebook Friday that she was taking a step back from the world and wouldn't be on the computer or her phone, and anyone needing to get ahold of her could call her hubby. She claimed that the only reason I wasn't on her door step asking what was wrong was if I had something to hide. I knew that Scott had found out by then, and I know she would do anything to save her marriage to him, so I assumed she needed some time with just him to work shit out. I wasn't hiding anything. But then her kid got sick and her husband did a 'suprise' drop in at home so we never got a chance to talk.
I can't sleep, eat or concentrate. She is more like my sister then my sisters are. And to think that she thinks of me like she does. Or that I may lose her over this bullshit when I did nothing wrong. Plus, her husband is immensely petty and if he thinks I had some great part in this he will forbid her to see me. We went two years once only talking in the dead of night and her lying about where she was going to see me. I was the affair!! And that was over something his crazy ass family made up. Now I really did hide the affair from him, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and she is my best friend. I can only imagine the seven rings of hell that will be raining down on me.
I don't understand how I got here. I mean, I get how I got here, but why didn't I try to do something more to make it so this wasn't the outcome for me. It feels like I committed some heinous act, not her. I am VERY against cheating. And I still can't tell my SO because Scott doesn't know all the logistics. If it was all out in the open I would tell Joey every last sordid detail. But my life is already hellish without that occurring.
Like I had said, it will probably take some time, after shes had a while to thoroughly think it through. I would give her the space to do that by not reaching out to her via text/phone call. Let her come to you.
If she never does.. then you know just how valuable the friendship was to you both.
Best of luck.
2. drama do you need it? IMHO this women grew up to lack boundaries she threw you under the bus and you don't see it. guess what better you know it now than later . IMHO it does not show you to be non judgemental to keep her as your friend you betrayed your own marriage that way. both her and her husaband are no good for you get out before there are too many secrets that this friend pulls you into start distancing yourself. losing her or making yourself lose her is the best thing that can happen. IMHO if you trust your husband you will come clean that is your primary relationship. tell your girlfriend or hopefully soon ex girlfriend where your loyalty lies.
the easiest test is can this stand the test of daylight. if it can't you deep down know that it is just wrong.
She screwed up. So bad. But I have never been the type of person to be petty and tell someone to get lost over it. I truly believe in second chances. I'm not perfect, so I wouldn't expect someone else to be.
We still are not talking. However, I signed up to take a parenting class with her before all the shit hit the fan. As she didn't want to go alone. And now she has missed one class, the most you can miss and still complete the course, and the last lesson is tonight. So lets see if she shows or if she blows off the course. I haven't talked to her since Saturday.
While I dont agree with your continuing the friendship since I personally dont believe its a healthy one based on what information youve provided - thats your decision to make and you are the only person involved who is fully informed.
I agree with you that couples shouldnt need to share every tiny detail of their lives, but this is not "I went to Starbucks and had a mocha latte during lunch today" type of information. This is causing you stress and is affecting (or has the potential to affect) multiple people involved and in a severe way. Not only that, but youre looking for advice/someone to talk to about your situation with your friend and it doesnt cross your mind to go to your husband?
" Plus I want my daughter growing up knowing that different sexuality and lifestyle does not define a person. My own sister is bi and we know a poly family. She sees all sorts of diversity often and I want her to accept it so I have no qualms with reasonable exposure. Though she still has no idea about Dee she is aware her Aunt has girlfriends and boyfriends."
Am I the only person who sees this as an inappropriate " teaching " to a little kid? She is a LITTLE girl, let her grow up a little.
And contrary to your belief, sexuality and life style DO define people.
I chose to define myself at this point in time as a person who is in a monogamous, committed relationship with a man and my kids do not need to know where I ve been and what i ve done until they show interest in sex and relationships.
Our actions make us who we are and some of those lifestyles and actions need to be advertised and promoted to kids until they are mentally mature and ready to understand it.
I have never understood hiding life from children. She is still very much an innocent child. But she's not sitting in a dark room so that she never gets exposed to different lifestyles.
Your sexual preferences do not make you who you are. It's not like if you are bisexual that is all you are. I don't ever want her to think that closed minded. Ever. So I don't practice it either. We treat everyone the same...regardless of orientation. I am straight and monogamous. That is the household she will be growing up in. However, I have friends who are bi, gay, swingers, poly, cross dressers even. All good people. My daughter sees the person, NOT the sexual orientation.