I’m helping my daughter hide an affair. I babysit when her husband is away

WITH two precious children, a successful husband and a job she loves, Sophie, 35, seems to have a dream family life.

But mum Sally, 60, says her daughter is living a lie – and helping her keep her forbidden secret. . .

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As I lean in to kiss my grandson’s soft hair as I tuck him under the covers, I feel a rush of love.

Babysitting my two precious grandchildren while my only daughter is on a date is my favorite activity.

But Sophie* isn’t having dinner with her husband, she’s meeting her secret lover.

And I’ll help her cover her tracks.

Everyone thinks my daughter has the perfect family life: married for more than ten years, two charming children and a beautiful house.

But only I know that she has been secretly cheating on the father of her children for the past two years.

And not only am I willing to help her cheat, I’m absolutely happy to do so.

I never liked my daughter’s husband, Dave. I always knew she could do better.

When I was first introduced to him at a restaurant in 2013, I thought he was brash, loud and full of himself. At the time, I was confident that the romance would fade away.

She had had boyfriends before and had always remained very independent, but when I saw how much she doted on Dave, I was appalled.

Gorgeous, smart and witty Sophie, then 23, had a great job in PR and could have had her pick of men. I knew she would come to her senses soon.

But to my horror, two years into their relationship, Dave proposed while they were in Paris.

The day they got back from vacation, I opened the door and Sophie was grinning and showing off one sparkling diamond on her fourth finger.

The anger bubbled away. My heart sank, but I put on a smile and hugged them. As the wedding approached, I still hoped that she would suddenly see the light.

Once I gently asked her if she was sure what she wanted, but she snapped back that of course it was. I never said anything again after that, afraid it would drive a wedge between us.

Sophie knew I had never warmed up to Dave and kept making excuses for him. Somehow she justified it when he forgot her birthday or didn’t show up to big family events.

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When he showed up at parties, I would see him flirting with other women in front of Sophie. My heart broke as I watched her bravely try to brush it off.

On her wedding That day Sophie looked so happy, but I knew this wouldn’t last long. Dave was drunk before dinner. It wasn’t the happy ending I had dreamed of for my daughter.

A year later they came to my house to tell me that Sophie was pregnant. I realized with a sickening shock that Dave was here to stay, and I bitterly regretted keeping quiet about my true feelings.

When my granddaughter, now nine, was born, followed by my grandson a year later, Sophie gave up her glittering career to care for the children.

Dave was not hands-on, went to the pub every evening after work as an estate agent and waltzed away during golf weekends.

Loveless marriage

Sophie struggled to take care of her two small children and the house because she had no life of her own. Outwardly they seemed like the perfect, happy family, but I knew Sophie was starting to resent him.

She was exhausted and my anger towards Dave quietly bubbled away. I helped her as much as I could with the children and two years ago Sophie started working part-time in PR again.

She began to put more effort into her appearance and a glimpse of the old Sophie returned.

She had mentioned a colleague named Ben a few times; he appeared in almost all her stories about work.

But I noticed that she always left out his name when talking to Dave.

One day, when Dave was away for another golfing weekend, Sophie asked if I wanted to watch the kids so she could go for a drink after work.

She would never have gone if Dave was home – even though he went out with friends all the time – so of course I said yes.

When she got home, she often talked about Ben and laughed at what he had said to her. Seeing her happy gave me a burst of excitement. . . but also suspicion.

I didn’t hesitate before telling her that if she ever wanted to go out for drinks with Ben again, I would always watch the kids.

I was very happy that she finally got something for herself, someone who made her happy

Mom, Sally

She smiled knowingly; she understood me completely.

After babysitting a few times, she came to my house unannounced in the middle of the day for a cup of tea. “Ben and I are having an affair, Mom,” she admitted.

I smiled and she quickly changed the subject, clearly happy to have been given the secret of her heart.

I was very happy that she finally got something for herself, someone who made her happy.

I put my arms around her as she left and promised that her secret was safe with me.

“If this is what it takes to be happy, you know I’ll support you. Dave doesn’t need to know,” I reassured her.

For the past two years, I have babysat whenever Dave has been away – usually once or twice a month.

I arrive after the kids have gone to bed so they don’t know their mother has gone out, and she never stays out overnight.

I’m glad I’m her cover

This way there is no risk of them telling Dad that Mom is gone. It’s nice to see her smiling again. It feels like I have my daughter back.

Because she is cheerful, the children seem happier too. It’s the best thing that ever happened to her and her children.

I’d like to meet the man who made her so happy, but the less I know, the less I have to do to cover my tracks.

Sometimes Sophie tells Dave in front of me that she’s coming to my house to help me with something, but I know she won’t show up. I’m glad I’m her cover.

Dave is far too arrogant to ever imagine Sophie cheating on him. And if I’m completely honest, I enjoy the feeling of secretly turning my back on him for mistreating my daughter.

It’s immoral, but the happiness of my daughter and my grandchildren is the most important thing to me.

Sophie will never split up the family as long as the children are still young. I hope she does that someday, but she told me that the children’s happiness is her priority.

I don’t ask any questions about Ben and she tells me very little about him or their feelings for each other.

It’s easier not to slip that way. I have no idea if Sophie will keep the affair going, or if it will fail. If it ends, I would encourage her to find another lover.

If Dave were a better man, I might encourage her to work on the marriage

Mom, Sally

I know what it’s like to be in a loveless marriage.

I stayed with Sophie’s father until she grew up and left home, for her sake, but we were both unhappy for over a decade.

If I had my time again, I would do what Sophie does and find someone else outside the marriage.

Sophie still has a good relationship with her father, but neither of us would ever want to share her secret with him.

And because I’m single, I don’t have to worry about keeping Sophie’s secret from my partner.

I will never tell another soul.

As a mother, I want to do everything I can to make sure her life is happy – and if that means helping her cheat on her husband, then so be it.

If Dave were a better man, I might encourage her to work on the marriage.

But thanks to Sophie’s affair, I think he’s getting his comeuppance.

*Names have been changed