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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:
Whisky2014 · 28/06/2019 19:00

So he's jealous of you. When he said you must love yourself id have said "yes, I bloody well do!'

Well done on your weight loss op and I think you need to ditch the ugly thing attached to your life..

AnyFucker · 28/06/2019 19:01

Cersei...are you a "better" victim of abuse than op ?

This isn't a competition.

happybunny007 · 28/06/2019 19:02

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

It's not a competition!

Izzy24 · 28/06/2019 19:05

Well done for everything you have achieved OP.

Please accept this: my first ever

LTB

You deserve SO much more than this.

carla1983 · 28/06/2019 19:06

@Cersei61

As long as he's not raping and battering her, that's all right then isn't it.

NoFucks · 28/06/2019 19:07

Please have a look at some Domestic Abuse sites and info, have a look at a DASH assessment and National Domestic Violence Helpline info to familiarise yourself with what domestic abuse is. If the belittling is a frequent occurrence with some other behaviours then yes, it's emotional abuse but unfortunately for you man-haters, it takes more than one argument over a photo shoot (and a lack of compliments over 15 years) to constitute as abuse.

minou123 · 28/06/2019 19:08

Loving, supportive, kind partners would say things like
"Wow, you look fantastic. Have a great lunch with the girls"
"I really like that new top"
"Pamper yourself, you've done amazing"
"Can't wait to see the pictures"
"This picture is beautiful. Would you like some help hanging it?"

Any one of the above would have been great.

carla1983 · 28/06/2019 19:10

@NoFucks You sound more like a MRA than someone who works with abused women.

carla1983 · 28/06/2019 19:10

With that man haters comment, I mean.

NoFucks · 28/06/2019 19:11

@carla1983 So you've not read anything I directed you to??

AnyFucker · 28/06/2019 19:13

NoFucks, if my daughter or son ever found themselves in an abusive relationship and sought help I hope they don't come across someone like you

Miniloso · 28/06/2019 19:14

Christ, stop arguing on this poor woman’s thread FFS.

AnyFucker · 28/06/2019 19:14

I do hate men like this. Everyone should.

birdonawire1 · 28/06/2019 19:21

He is just awful. He's jealous and insecure now that you look so much better, and clearly can't cope with your new found confidence. Just leave him and see if someone nicer is out there. Even if there isn't living with him is just toxic

Graphista · 28/06/2019 19:27

@nofucks I am extremely sceptical you ever worked with abuse victims, either that or the abuse you witnessed/heard of was so extreme you're numb to lower level abuse.

"Please highlight the abusive behaviours for me." How about

1 "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”"

2 "My husband never pays me compliments, ever. Not once since our wedding day 15 years ago has he said I looked nice." That's a pretty big one in my book

3 "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"

4 "He’s unhappy I bought the canvas and he doesn’t want it put up in the house"

5 "Apparently he hates now I’ve lost weight I “ponce about in the mirror now”"

That's all just in the very first post!

6 "he has been suggesting I loose weight for years" which I strongly suspect actually means thinly veiled digs at op

7 "But as soon as I did start loosing it he started to try and sabotage me"

8 "But then occasionally I would over indulge then I get “should you really be eating that”"

9 "He used to be very vocal on if I had made a effort how nice I looked but that stopped after we got married" so once he had op "trapped" the false front dropped pretty much immediately - I would really expect someone supposedly experienced in domestic abuse to recognise this as a red flag!

10 "He’s no longer affectionate at all and
In all honesty I feel unloved by him. I have brought this up before and my response was “well that’s your problem then”"

11 "he said “I was too overdressed and tarted up”"

12 "every single time we go out and I get dressed up he manages to single handily ruin the evening in one comment usually a put down of some kind."

I hope to god you're not currently working in this area!

"If the belittling is a frequent occurrence" 15 years of it!

NotStayingIn · 28/06/2019 19:31

Well done you on your incredible weight loss and on having the new found confidence to do the make over!

Now don't waste your life on this misery guts. He so clearly wants to keep you feeling insecure so he can own and control you. Fuck him. Go forth and get a great new life!

AnotherEmma · 28/06/2019 19:32

The bad news is that you're married to an abusive piece of shit.

The good news is that despite his constant efforts to undermine you, you've managed to lose weight, feel more confident and attractive, and celebrate with a photo shoot. I admire and applaud you for that.

The next step is to get some real life support (counselling, friends and family) and work towards leaving the bastard.

You can do this 💪

Whisky2014 · 28/06/2019 19:32

Fucking hell, Graphista...we finally agree on something Grin

AnotherEmma · 28/06/2019 19:34

I thought that too Grin

BoronationStreet · 28/06/2019 19:34

My husband is the exact same. He's a cunt.

I know it's easier said than done but if you are able to get away from this toxic man, then you should. Life is too short to spend it with a hateful bastard. Thanks

GenuineKlatchianPottery · 28/06/2019 19:36

We the man you’re married to is a complete bastard.
Do you want to live this way for the rest of your life?

GenuineKlatchianPottery · 28/06/2019 19:38

Ignore the random “we” at the start of my post

Oliversmumsarmy · 28/06/2019 19:46

I think you are not the same person he married .

You have lost weight, look great and I bet your confidence has gone up.

Normally a husband would be celebrating these achievements and be happy for you

His reaction shows he doesn’t want a confident beautiful wife because a confident beautiful wife cannot be controlled.

And this is where I think you are at a crossroads.
You have outgrown him and he knows it.

He has 2 reactions

Belittle you to put you back in your box and I wouldn’t put it past him to sabotage your diet

ElspethFlashman · 28/06/2019 19:49

.

Graphista · 28/06/2019 19:58

"Fucking hell, Graphista...we finally agree on something" wonders will never cease Grin

But seriously

Anybody with a modicum of compassion and empathy would agree this is abusive though surely?!

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