Pollypocket88 (original poster new member #86990) posted at 11:44 AM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
Myself & h are trying to R very close to D day still and I was wondering should we ask before checking each other's phones or should we just do it?
[This message edited by Pollypocket88 at 11:54 AM, Sunday, February 1st]
Love is friendship caught on fire
Trying To Be The Best Version Of Me馃尰
5Decades ( member #83504) posted at 12:56 PM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
I do not ask.
As a condition of my agreement to attempt reconciliation and forgiveness, one thing I absolutely demanded was full and complete access to all devices anytime I so desired.
His agreement was that to try to reestablish trust, he would give me free and complete access to all devices anytime I wanted.
I do not need permission to reassure myself that he isn鈥檛 cheating.
5Decades BW 69 WH 74 Married since 1975
cocoplus5nuts ( member #45796) posted at 2:33 PM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
Which one of you is the cheater? The BP doesn't need to ask. They can look at anything any time they want. The same rules don't apply to the CP. The CP does not get the same considerations as the BP.
BackfromtheStorm ( member #86900) posted at 3:14 PM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
Myself & h are trying to R very close to D day still and I was wondering should we ask before checking each other's phones or should we just do it?
Who is the BS and who is the WS? Have you both cheated each other?
The person who lost the trust is the one who should agree to full transparency, that is if they are wanting to R with their BS (and the BS gives that chance to the WS).
Is not a rule out of a book, is common sense, if you betrayed me and want to redeem yourself, show me you are open to do ANYTHING to regain the lost trust.
Because betrayal kills trust, forever if there is no a long process of slowly regaining it.
You are welcome to send me a PM if you think I can help you. I respond when I can.
Pogre ( member #86173) posted at 4:44 PM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
Polly,
BackfromtheStorm wrote:
The person who lost the trust is the one who should agree to full transparency, that is if they are wanting to R with their BS (and the BS gives that chance to the WS).
Is not a rule out of a book, is common sense, if you betrayed me and want to redeem yourself, show me you are open to do ANYTHING to regain the lost trust.
Common sense indeed. This is very well put, and I agree. There's no "rule" about it, but if the WS (wayward spouse) is sincere about wanting to R, then they should voluntarily give the BS (betrayed spouse) unfettered access to all of their devices. It's not about any kind of punishment from the BS. It's about demonstrating transparency and rebuilding trust. If the WS has nothing to hide, then they shouldn't be hiding anything.
I understand people valuing their privacy. When you cheat on someone you kind of forfeit that privilege if you want to R. But really, in a committed, honest, transparent, and loving relationship a person shouldn't really be saying anything to others that they wouldn't say in front of their loved one anyway. I mean, I get venting sometimes, but I'm intentionally careful to not say anything to anyone that would be so bad I'd need to hide or delete it. I don't say things about my wife that I couldn't at least explain or hope that she'd understand.
I'm the BS in our situation. I know all of my wife's passcodes and can check her devices anytime I want. In return she knows all of mine. I have nothing to hide. As a result of that, I rarely ever look at her stuff, and she never checks mine. Just knowing I could is almost enough for me. It's a great way to show sincerity, transparency, and commitment to a BS.
If a WS is being overly protective about their privacy, won't share their conversations, or even worse, delete conversations that's generally seen as a huge red flag.
Where am I going... and why am I in this handbasket?
Pollypocket88 (original poster new member #86990) posted at 5:29 PM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
Thank you for your responses I am the WS im just trying to see how we navigate this as its first time for both been together 18 years.
I dont even recognise myself over the last 12 months.
We can go to bed having a cuddle and I will wake up with h asking questions about my phone (not related to A) and it just knocks me and confuses me.
I just want to make things right I am in therapy also working on myself just want to be the best version of myself for our family thanks p x
Love is friendship caught on fire
Trying To Be The Best Version Of Me馃尰
BackfromtheStorm ( member #86900) posted at 6:07 PM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
But really, in a committed, honest, transparent, and loving relationship a person shouldn't really be saying anything to others that they wouldn't say in front of their loved one anyway.
This is actually what is normal for me.
My partner always had all passwords and access to every device of mine, and I have hers.
Only thing about trust: I never checked those, she sometimes checked mine.
Should have smelled something
You are welcome to send me a PM if you think I can help you. I respond when I can.
cocoplus5nuts ( member #45796) posted at 8:05 PM on Sunday, February 1st, 2026
My partner always had all passwords and access to every device of mine, and I have hers.
This was us. Neither one of us checked the others. The only reason I put passwords on my devices was to keep my little kids from messing them up. Otherwise, I wouldn't. Although, I think now everything requires PINs and passwords.
My H cheated when he was away from the family for work. Obviously, I didn't have access to his things then. I discovered it when I checked a text message for him while he was driving. Our oldest was getting married and I thought it might be a message about the wedding. It was a message from the OW asking how my H was doing emotionally. After that, I checked all of his accounts often.
I don't check anymore. For one thing, idc anymore. For another, if he's going to cheat again, he's going to cheat again. I can't stop him. I'll find out eventually.
WB1340 ( member #85086) posted at 3:15 PM on Monday, February 2nd, 2026
People in a committed relationship should not have secret passwords. If someone has to hide something from the other then what type of relationship do you honestly have?
I always had access to my wife's phone but she was smart/deceitful enough to erase her sexting with her co-worker just before she left work each day just in case I happened to look at her phone but what she failed to realize is her phone was synced to her tablet and I checked her tablet in the middle of the day and that's how I found out
As the WS you should have zero problems with him checking your phone your email your messaging apps, everything, at any time for a very long time.
In the beginning of R I was obsessed with checking her phone and tablet. I was driving myself nuts and I never found anything and eventually I just accepted the fact that if she's going to cheat she will find a way and this time she will have learned to be better at it and there's not a darn thing I can do about it so I just stopped driving myself nuts about it
D-day April 4th 2024. WW was sexting with a married male coworker. Started R a week later, still ongoing...
Pollypocket88 (original poster new member #86990) posted at 3:47 PM on Monday, February 2nd, 2026
WB1340 thank you for your response im glad you gave the insight from the BS POV too (being obsessed) having been there yourself
Love is friendship caught on fire
Trying To Be The Best Version Of Me馃尰
Pogre ( member #86173) posted at 4:02 PM on Monday, February 2nd, 2026
Infidelity is very traumatic. PTSD symptoms are common. He's going to be on an emotional roller coaster for quite a while. Most people underestimate the damage it does. I know I did until it was thrust into my lap. The general rule of thumb is 2 to 5 years to recover from it, and true reconciliation can be a lifetime of work in progress.
That's not to say it will be forever miserable, but the scar never truly goes away, and trust might never be fully restored. My wife is earning a level of trust back from me, but blind, unconditional type of trust is likely forever gone. Going forward it's a "trust but verify" policy from now on.
Where am I going... and why am I in this handbasket?
This0is0Fine ( member #72277) posted at 4:07 PM on Monday, February 2nd, 2026
What do you mean "each other's phones"?
Complete electronic transparency is for WS to rebuild trust. It is not necessary and arguably detrimental to the BS soon after DDay. How are you supposed to get emotional support, vent, talk to a lawyer, etc. with WS looking at your phone?
Love is not a measure of capacity for pain you are willing to endure for your partner.
Pollypocket88 (original poster new member #86990) posted at 7:29 PM on Monday, February 2nd, 2026
This0is0Fine
I / we were kind of hoping for reconciliation rather than divorce thats why I came looking for others thought on this is hope wrre not at a point any of us want to talk to lawyers馃檹
Love is friendship caught on fire
Trying To Be The Best Version Of Me馃尰