Could your spouse carry on an affair beneath your own nose? Would you know?

United States
June 25, 2008 10:19pm CST
I like to think that I'm a pretty savvy and smart woman, but sometimes I do think that I could be fooled very easily if I were in love with someone. I think it's only natural to close your eyes and miss the signs and pretend that everything is fine. For the record, I am in love and I do worry that I would miss the signs. What are the signs that someone is cheating? Would you miss the signs that your partner was cheating? Would you notice right away that he or she was acting withdrawn or distant? What would you do? Could your spouse or partner carry on with another person without your knowledge?
6 people like this
26 responses
@sparkster (181)
30 Jun 08
well mine was having one for 5 years though there were plenty of clues so I did have suspicions all along.
30 Jun 08
And here are the signs that gave them away: both go missing and reappear at roughly same times the other cheaters partner being suspicious smell of other men in bedroom evidence on the bedsheets use of my dressing gown coming back at 5am in a car and saying was 6/7 doors down saying was with friend when friend said she left at time she text me, yet came back 1hr 30mins later and didnt reply to texts. partner told me she likes the other cheater other cheater told me he likes my partner being told bag of clothes u know r ur partners r someone elses, then finding that they are ur partners clothes and are now on ur bedroom floor. tissues left on bedside table my side of the bed still warm leaving kids with her mum & going down his flat mentally abusing me telling me everythings all in my head whispering in my ear while she thinks i'm asleep 'its in your head'
30 Jun 08
she even came home from him and got into bed and slept with me straight afterwards! YUCK, it's just so minging its filthy stinking acky yuck!!!
30 Jun 08
as for bag of clothes they actually belonged to my daughters friend and it was a handbag with jeans in and cosmetics it was left in the father inlaws car.when asked by my daughter could they be taken out of the car please and be picked up later that seemed ok and thats what was done but by morning he asked his partner y are those clothes that were in the bag on the bedroom floor there mine on the bedroom floor not the clothes that were in the bag she replied he then called her a liar and said there the same pair of jeans and the same bra but she didn even no there was a bra in the bag because she didn look
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
26 Jun 08
I sortof figured it out when my ex husband was going over tohis ex's house of course he tried telling me it was all in my mind and that nothing was happing. I was even having bad dreams about the two of them together. The night he did leave me. He lied and told me the week before that he was having to work extra hours at Lowe's so he would be there all night. I belived him at first. Anyhow the night he left. My best friend came here and helped me to look under his yahoo messanger of past messages that he had had. Sure enough he was talking to her about leaving me and stuff and then talking about staying the night at our house when she was younger. I called he cellphone number to confront her. She tried to say it was someone else. She even had another woman call me to tell me that was her Rick was talking to. That they shared the same email address. I said well alright well you have never been to my house . She got smart and said well you need to stop harrsing my workers. Later that night I got a call from my ex and he said yeah it is who you thought. You figured it all out but stop harrossong us. The real funny part was when one of my ex boyfriends and another friend was therting to kick his butt. When he came to get his clothes he rold me to get my posse off of his back. I had no idea that they had bothered him. I thought it was very nice of both of them to take my side. He use to always play the song "Friend's In Low Places" by Garth Brookes. I should of told him I have friends in low places also.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
26 Jun 08
Yeah I have very nice friends that look out for me and hated the way he had done me. I hope one day I will find better for myself. That is understandable as well as loving and caring.
• United States
26 Jun 08
I'm sure you will!
• United States
26 Jun 08
That is nice that your friends would care so much. Your ex is a total super jerk and you deserve so much better. If you don't mind me saying so! Be well. Best wishes for future happiness.
• Philippines
27 Jun 08
My husband has always been faithful and I doubt that he would ever cheat on me. We've been together for almost 13 years now counting from the time we started dating. We've been through a lot of ups and downs in our relationship, through being in a long distance relationship to being inseperable. Besides, he should know better that to make the same mistake his father did. He knows how much pain it would bring his family as he has experienced that already. Even if all is well now, it would still have been better if there were no affairs that happened.
• United States
27 Jun 08
Well put my friend. Same my partner had a father who cheating and saw first hand all the pain it caused . When you have been though it all and bestfriends it just isnt worth the risk to through it away . And anyway why would someone be looking .
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I've been cheated on before and the signs were there, most of those times I chose to not see the signs and the other I really didn't care. I think at this point in my life, it would be really hard for someone to get away with it. Woman's intuition is rarely ever wrong and once you learn to listen to it and trust it then it makes figuring things like that out.
• United States
26 Jun 08
Isn't it the truth! If the US military were smart, they'd harness woman's intuition and we'd have a safer country. I always know when bad times are coming. Noone listens to me! LOL! But I do know and I start preparing. Like about his recent job cut-back. I knew trouble was brewing on his job. So we saved like crazy.
• United States
27 Jun 08
You're so right! Don't feel bad, I'm always saying the exact same thing. I'm always the one going... why won't you just listen to me? Then things happen and people say "oh I should've listened to you". Drives me nuts, lol.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
26 Jun 08
It wouldn't really matter if I am snazzy or not. I know that my fiance wouldn't do it. I know that a lot of people say that about their spouses, but I know mine won't. He hates cheaters, he and his brother were both cheated on, and by the same woman. He loves me. Have a Great day.
• United States
26 Jun 08
I'm happy that you are happy. Yes, it's good to know the person you are with. I trust my man, too. But he would never cheat on me. He works too hard to keep his family together to do something stupid like that. He would lose everything and he knows it. It would be very sad for us all!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I am very glad that your man is a very family oriented person. He also sounds like a person who likes to work a lot. Have a Great day.
• United States
27 Jun 08
My hubby is in the military and works very odd hours. If he decided to cheat on me, he would do it easily. I trust him, and if told me that he was working late or had to go away for work then I would believe him without question. He's a very sweet guy in my opinion. Plus, I have no doubt that he loves me. He would probably start acting funny once he did start cheating and that would make me curious. If he does cheat, I pray that he never tells me and I never find out. Sounds funny but, it would hurt too much.
• United States
27 Jun 08
Honestly, I'm the same way. If it were a one time thing, it would be better for me not to know. I would not approve of him cheating, but it would be so devastating and would break up our family. The heartache and mistrust would last for years especially if we stayed together. Sometimes I think guys confess that kind of one time infidelity to get it off their mind. They know that it will hurt their spouse, but they just don't want to be burdened with the guilt anymore. I think the offending party should have to live with the burden of their bad deed! I love my spouse too. And I'm not worried. But I hope he is smart enough to know what he would be losing.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
27 Jun 08
I don't think my husband has the time to have an affair...he's busy all day and during the weekends too (he teaches part time). But even if he did, I might miss the signs and not see them as long as he was his usual self to me. My husband can easily do it under my nose and I wouldn't even know. He gets so many phonecalls...I don't ask or even listen to find out who they are from. I don't check his mails...and I don't look for lipstick marks on his shirts..lol
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
26 Jun 08
You saw that News item from Austria a few months ago about the Man who unknown to his wife managed to build a secret "apartment" in his basement,Imprisoned one of his own Daughters there after creating the story She'd run away,Fathered Children by Her,even somehow managed to bring one of those children into the house to be raised by his wife...? I think It would take a high level of Duplicity to be able to pull something like that off..but apparently,it works...If a Relationship is built on trust,it would take some exceptionally understanding Spouse who would be prepared to stand by someone capable of deception not even close to this..
@syanika (60)
• Australia
28 Jun 08
Hey i thought my ex was in love with me and never do the dirty but he tried with my best friend and i never even noticed. Good thing she said no. To bad tho i never found out threw her it was threw some1 else. In the end i just kiked him where it hurt, and left. I have never looked back. Then i met my new hubby and i know he wouldn't have the balls to do it and he doesn't know how to lie so i think this 1 is more likeley not to i hope
@phoenix25 (1541)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I have worried about that in the past, but I know it was just rampant insecurity rearing its ugly head. I have never had a reason to think that my husband was cheating on my based on his behavior. Sometimes, I just like to worry. However, me and my husband have a pretty unconventional relationship. I know he wouldn't sneak around behind my back because he knows that he only has to ask if he wants to do something with another woman or couple. Some people frown upon that, but it works for us and we have a wonderful marriage. Anyway, if I was in a typical marriage, I would say that signs of cheating would include and not be limited to sudden insecurity and defensive outbursts from my husband/partner (that is usually the best way to tell, IMO), foggy answers regarding where he has been or what he was doing, and periods of time in his schedule that go unaccounted for. Personally, I think I would know the moment I saw my husband if he had done something without asking (my personal definition of cheating). I have seen how guilty he became over taking a girl's phone number when she offered it, so I know how guilty he would look if he cheated. I would see it written all over his face. I think, as far as most relationships, that a lot of women do close their eyes to the signs and I think they do that because to some degree they don't want to know. It's one good example of how people use defense mechanisms. To some extent, they may realize something is wrong, but some people deny the existence of those clues becuase they really don't want to admit that their husband/partner is cheating.
• United States
27 Jun 08
If you are happy with your relationship, then that is all that matters! Be well. Thanks for taking the time to post.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I have no idea what the signs would be . Maybe , it is just a gut feeling . I trust my Rob and don't have to worry . If he was to ever have one I would be in shock . And mean shock . I trust this boy with my life . It is something that I just know that he would not ever do .
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
26 Jun 08
My ex tried it - twice. I knew both times. The first I forgave, the 2nd time I walked. Huge clue the first time was he wanted to do his own laundry. Hmmmm Also, he was working out of town and staying in a motel during the week. He casually told me one weekend that I should contact him at work during the week and not at his hotel room. Yea, right. I may be blonde, but I'm sure not stupid. Then there was the issue of him being overly nice. Its like he knew he was guilty, so he tried to be extra sweet when around me. Trust me, no one changes that drastically for no reason.
• United States
27 Jun 08
It's the truth! When guys start acting nice when they were jerks before, it's time to start calling the lawyers!
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
27 Jun 08
We have a saying here that there is no secret that won't be revealed. So no matter how much a partner hides his or her affair someday it would be revealed. For women who are suspecting that their partner is having an affair I'd say that they are more right than wrong. Simply put it this way: woman's instincts.
@jadeekai (35)
26 Jun 08
well, it's really possible for our partners to have another relationship with other people... it happened to me not just once, but a lot of times... from the fact that we already have a child (we're not married) didn't stopped him from cheating... there could be a lot of signs that your bf's cheating on you... 1. your gut sends your first indicator is your intuition or your instinct. Don't try to shut them out! trust it! 2. He changes his appearance 3. He talks about another girl 4. Physical contact decreases 5. He gives you too many details about what he did last night or where he was 6. Unexpected gifts or favors. (sign of feeling guilty about what they're doing) 7. Mutual friends acts strange 8. Things don't add up or make sense when thinking back.. those of some signs that your bf is probably cheating on you! hope that can help...
• United States
26 Jun 08
That is phenomenal! I had no idea there could be so many warning signs of infidelity! Thank you. I'm going to be bookmark your response for safe keeping and pass along to friends who might be wondering. Be well!
@missybal (4490)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I don't think my husband would ever cheat on me. I do have to trust him because he's deployed so much so there is a chance he can cheat and I would never know because it would be in another country. But when he is home he doesn't show any signs that he could ever cheat. I have access to his emails and check it all the time to clear out the junk and I would snoop around if I thought there was any chance he was cheating. He doesn't have any mystery phone calls and there are no hang up calls to the house. He pays attention to me when there is another woman in the room. He actually doesn't want his space, I have to tell him to go out with the boys. His ring stays on his finger. He pretty much worships the ground I walk on. If anything changed I'd be right on top of it.
• United States
26 Jun 08
My partner can barely get by with anything without me picking up on it. Seriously. I don't know how I do it, but I just 'know' when something is not right. During a very rocky time in our relationship, I was picking up on something for a few months that just did not seem right. It made me extremely uneasy. The only time the feeling went away is when the thing happened. I think them acting very strange or cold to you is definitely a sign that something is not right. That's how I realized something just wasn't right. Things started acting strange well before anything happened. I noticed they tried to create more conflict too telling me I didn't trust them etc when I had a lot of reasons why I shouldn't.
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
26 Jun 08
I probably would catch my hubby almost immediately if he started fooling around. He is such a poor liar.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I'm not so sure that i would notice. my husband works dayshift, but never really knows how late he will work. i don't pay attention to his paystubs, so he could easily say that he works till 430, but is actually leaving work at 2:30. the would give him 2 hours to be with someone. Other than that time though he is always with us, so if that changed then i would be suspicious. He has no problem lying right to my face though. He was smoking after he was supposed to have quit. He did it for months without telling me and didn't seem to feel guilty about it at all. I don't think he'll ever cheat on me, but if he ever decided to he probably could get away with it for awhile without me knowing it.
@gemini_rose (16264)
26 Jun 08
Mine did, for 9 months. I had a suspicion though about 2 months after it had started but could never prove it or get close to finding out. Of course no one had the decency to let me in on the big secret that everyone knew except me. There were lots of signs, I was just reading them wrong so it took me a while to get onto the right message.
@chitchat (179)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I think the biggest sign that you are being cheated on is that your partner starts to act differently. He/She seems different but maybe you can't put your finger on why, but you can feel it in your gut that something is different. Unless you are extremely preoccupied or in extreme denial, you should be able to notice a change in your partner. You should be able to pick up on this--like I said, it's in your gut. If I suspected anything, I would probably try to collect some evidence before throwing around accusations. I would probably turn into a very snoopy spy. I hope that I would be able to detect anything but I've never been in the situation before so I really don't know. It's one of those things where I can say all I want about it, but until I've been through it I really don't know.