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I am so upset by my husbands reaction

284 replies

IamAWallFlower · 28/06/2019 13:35

Recently I booked and went for a boudoir photo shoot. I am not a confident person, hardly ever have photos taken in general and it took me so much courage to actually ring up book and go to the shoot.

It’s taken a good few years but I’ve dropped almost half of my body weight and worked my ass off to get where I am now. I needed to do something for me to celebrate my achievement and this was it. Something to look back at and be proud of as I am as I’m sure most of us are, too hard on ourselves. I’m aware this photo shoot is probably not to everyone’s taste.

He knew I was booked in for the shoot last month. The day came and I went and it was totally amazing. My hair and makeup was done and I honestly felt wonderful, the best I have ever felt about myself. My hair is straight and they curled it beautifully, I’ve never had curls before but I loved it. I felt like me but better, they did the makeup similar to how I would but it just looked better like HD almost.

I came home beaming and asked my husband what he thought of my new look. He barley looked at me, just raised one eye from over his phone and just said “I think you should go and wash that crap off your face” I was honestly gutted, I walked away and held back the tears. My husband never pays me compliments, ever. Not once since our wedding day 15 years ago has he said I looked nice.

This photo shoot was never done for him, it was for me. I actually had no intention of showing him the pictures as I didn’t see any point as he clearly doesn’t find me attractive anymore.

When I went back to view the pictures I was amazed how lovely they were so I bought some images and a canvas.

Two days ago I picked up my canvas, he saw me with the box when I came in and asked what it was. I didn’t show him as it’s for me. I was planning on putting on putting it up in my walk in wardrobe, no one goes in there and it’s behind a door anyway.

I haven’t got round to hanging it yet. But he’s opened up the box and had a look and confronted me when I got back from work yesterday. He’s really angry I’ve degraded myself in this way. He was shouting at me that I must be so vain to have that done and I must absolutely love myself. He’s unhappy I bought the canvas and he doesn’t want it put up in the house. Apparently he hates now I’ve lost weight I “ponce about in the mirror now” ( I really don’t, we’ve only recently had a full length mirror put in but I do take more pride in my appearance now)

I am so upset by his outburst yesterday. I just can’t understand it. He doesn’t watch porn because he prefers pictures. I’ve seen them in a folder on our shared pc. I actually bought a few digital images and had considered perhaps in the future sending them to him once I plucked up the courage as I know that’s what he “likes” I won’t be now that’s for sure.

I feel so sad about this all I’m even contemplating leaving my marriage over this.

Sorry for the long post I just needed to vent.

OP posts:
ScreamingLadySutch · 28/06/2019 18:06

I wish there was a like button sometimes.

Echoing all the other people, well done you OP for losing all that weight, and well done you on the self care of taking more care of yourself, and well done you for your photo shoot.

I bet you look wonderful, put your canvas up and keep on keeping on. I bet you look absolutely lovely, and the vipers are really proud of you.

Oswin · 28/06/2019 18:06

You wanna know what is irresponsible?
Telling women that if he's horrible to you it's because he is feeling insecure cuz men are just silly. Even though he has repeatedly been awful. That it's the women's responsibility to work it out.
Fuck that. If a man tries to wipe out your confidence you leave.

Rickandportly · 28/06/2019 18:12

Yeah, he’s a tosser.

Well done on the weight loss. Look at your photos and feel amazing x

MitziK · 28/06/2019 18:12

You're thinking of leaving him over this?

Fucking do it.

You'll feel so much better when you do.

Essentially, he thought that you being fat meant you wouldn't be attractive to any other man. He thought that refusing to compliment you and keep on pointing out that you were fat would make you believe that you couldn't be attractive to any other man.

And then you started to lose weight. He didn't like that, so tried to sabotage you. And when you continued to do so, he kept on with the lack of compliments and insults so that you would give it up as a lost cause.

Now you look the best you can - especially because you felt good about yourself, he immediately tried to knock it out of you by telling you to wash that crap off your face - he told you that you were dirty and covered in shit. Because it would upset you.

And then he's calling you all the names under the sun because it's clear in person and on the photos that you are an extremely attractive woman. If you knew that, you'd go out, you'd meet people and realise that you aren't an ugly, worthless piece of shit who should be grateful for the opportunity to serve him.

He wants you to be unhappy. He wants you to think he's the best you deserve. And he loathes any hint that you might be realising 'Actually, I can do better than this prick'. Which is why he's stepping up the abuse.

Going by my experience of the arsehole I discovered melting an entire pack of butter into my baked beans because I'd refused a fry up three times and had started making myself beans on toast (and been foolish enough to let myself be distracted by him asking to get something from the bedroom), the next stage is accusing you of going out to pick up men. Then probably of having an affair, then whoring yourself out - a brief interlude of 'I love you so much, I'm just scared you'll leave me' and then, when that fails, back to accusing you of prostitution.

Leave now and you don't have to deal with that.

whatkatydidalready · 28/06/2019 18:15

He seems to enjoy putting you down and belittling you. The things he has said are really unpleasant and uncalled-for. Don't waste any more time trying to make this relationship work.

You deserve better.

Flowers
bluebellforest · 28/06/2019 18:16

My first LTB.
Please, please leave him or kick him out.
Life really is to short to put up with this shit, it really is!

NoFucks · 28/06/2019 18:20

No @Oswin irresponsible is stating that something that isn't nice is an abusive relationship when there really isn't enough in this post to conclude that this is an abusive relationship. I said what OP's husband has done is shitty. I have suggested a reason for it. Maybe he is just a shitty person but there is NOT ENOUGH IN THIS POST TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP! I'm not saying it isn't. I'm saying THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE!

It's irresponsible to pass off every shitty thing a man does as abusive.

Bluntness100 · 28/06/2019 18:20

Cmon op..you know what this is. He wants you to feel downtrodden and miserable because it makes him feel superior, like he has power, that he's a catch,

Now you look and feel more confident, that he thinks you look attractive, he's loosing that superiority so he's trying to smash you down again.

Honestly kick him to the kerb where he belongs. What the hell is keeping you there?

sallievp · 28/06/2019 18:27

You sound lovely and deserve so much better than this horrible man.

carla1983 · 28/06/2019 18:29

@NoFucks - It's such a huge red flag to speak this way to someone.

iseveryusernametakenorwhat · 28/06/2019 18:29

Nofucks, yes there is actually. Not sure what thread you're reading but there's plenty.

Op you've lost the weight, now it's time to lose him.

poppinpink · 28/06/2019 18:30

He sounds like he's jealous. He should be proud of you and supporting you! I got photos like this done at the time of my wedding for my husband and he loved them. I was really out of my comfort zone doing that but it gave me a right boost and my husbands reaction to them was as it should be!!! I couldn't live with someone like your DH, he's dragging you down!

Mumsymumphy · 28/06/2019 18:32

You own that photo lady!

Pop a copy in his bin bags of his worldly possessions just before you launch them out of the door.

NoFucks · 28/06/2019 18:33

@iseveryusernametakenorwhat Please highlight the abusive behaviours for me.

ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 28/06/2019 18:35

Absolutely throw him out. Then hang your beautiful pictures up and rejoice in the fact he can't piss on your chips anymore. What an arsehole. I'm bloody glad you love yourself, OP - you should love yourself.

Dieu · 28/06/2019 18:36

Bastard.

He's feeling threatened by your weight loss, and probably preferred you lacking in confidence when fat.

Hi is scared that will now see him for the arsehole he is, and leave him.

Which you should do. Life is too short for him and his shit. Your ideal partner would have celebrated your amazing achievement with you ... and relished your photos!

LinusSula · 28/06/2019 18:37

Miserable old bastard. Ugh how can you be bothered even talking to him. He's insanely jealous {and scared} that other people will find you attractive and you'll realise what a miserable, sabotaging, spiteful prick he really is. Run! Be free! Live your life and be happy!

iseveryusernametakenorwhat · 28/06/2019 18:38

He's critical, jealous, sabotages her, puts her down and undermines her. It's obvious to everyone but you.

NoFucks · 28/06/2019 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Cambionome · 28/06/2019 18:46

How do you define abuse, then NoFucks?

ohfourfoxache · 28/06/2019 18:50

What a nasty little cuntweasel

Shoxfordian · 28/06/2019 18:51

He's threatened by your new confidence
I agree with everyone saying to leave him

carla1983 · 28/06/2019 18:56

@NoFucks I was put down like this by my partner my therapist defined it as emotional and verbal abuse - the shouting, the criticism, the mocking cruelty. What do you define as emotional abuse.

TeaForTheWin · 28/06/2019 18:57

OP has not provided any evidence in the post to conclude that this is abuse

If it looks like shit and it smells of shit, it is probably shit. It seriously worries me that you are apparently a domestic abuse councillor and yet you are minimising his behaviour.

You should know that withholding affection and kindness, throwing temper tantrums and belittling and undermining the confidence of those close to them - are all common abuser tactics. It's all very well saying 'it isn't conclusively abuse' but...why? why would you feel the need to argue that stance? I mean you might as well go the whole hog and say 'other people have it worse so stop complaining'. Not cool.

And for my two scents, living with someone who is cold, who never has a nice word to say, who brings you down every time you try to find your happiness and confidence and who accuses you of not being a good person in some way for ever daring to think of yourself for once, instead of his needs and desires - is abuse.

Cersei61 · 28/06/2019 18:57

I'm with NoFucks on this.

To call him 'abusive' with only this one bit of evidence, belittles the term 'abusive'.

Some are shitty, insecure, immature, jealous - that does NOT always make them abusive.

I was physically, mentally and sexually abused by my exH. What the OP is describing doesn't even come close.

Unless the |OP has a big drip feed about to unravel.....