Hi Im sorry but this is going to be long.
I have been with DP for seven years and we have 1 young child. Ours was not an instant love, but things happened quickly in the beginning (moving in, baby etc). Since then things have stalled considerably, but my love for him has grown immensely (possibly due to all we have been through together). I really love him now, but I cant say I loved him in the beginning. He seems to love me more then, and less now.
When we met we had both recently finished LTR and to be fair, I think DP was more bothered than me about finding someone new. He seemed keen to get serious very quickly. I would have liked more of a courtship. But he seemed to hate being single/alone. He as very sweet but not big on the passion side. Sex has always been a little stilted, but we have grown into knowing one another and now, when we have sex we both love it. But I have always had a higher sex drive than him. He likes it a lot abut one week in the month (I swear men have monthly moods as well!) and not at all other times. I prefer more regular sex, but get annoyed when he wants it a lot all at once. He has said in the past it really turns him off if I ask for sex/making love so i dont do that now. It seems the female making any approach doesnt do anything for him and it makes me feel cheap so if he doesnt approach me, we dont do it.
What does annoy me is that he feels the need to grope me in sexual places as a form of affection (he never kisses and cuddles me) and he does this in a jokey way, but I think its a bit cheeky when we are a) not having much sex and b) he doesnt show me more romantic affection which I would dearly love. I do get a bit tetchy with the boob/bum grabbing I must say.
So, the sex is one issue. The main problem is that he uses sex/affection to punish me. I am a busy career mum and run a tight ship at home. He also works full time, but I do expect some help around the house every now and again. Admittedly because I find it quicker and more painless to do things myself, I tend to simmer resentfully and then blow up every so often about his lack of thought around the home (leaving dirty clothes on floor, not knowing the location of the dishwasher, coats in the bedroom, etc etc just general annoying stuff). When I do challenge him or make any sort of confrontation, he withholds affection and sex for up to a month. Basically until he gets blue balls then he jumps on me for about a week. I think this is a cruel way of dealing with everyday family arguments.
Another ploy he uses to put me down is to call me names in front of his family, he is quite the snob and likes to sneer at people he considers to be lower class than him, so calling me a chav or pikey is his favourite put down. Although my family are quite well off and I am very well educated. This makes me seethe and I am not averse to going ballistic when he does this. I am no wallflower, dont get me wrong but the constant sniping is making me feel looked down on.
I had an affair about three years ago (only slept together once) but it was a mutual friend and needless to say when he found out he was very hurt, but I realised I really did love him and he forgave me. Or so I thought. I think his behaviour detailed above is more of the same punishing style he has developed and my affair gave him fuel for his fire. But the reasons I looked for affection from another man are also detailed above! Our whole relationship I have felt a little lonely and like him having sex/giving me love is really a chore for him. I feel he is putting up with me to keep our family together (he is very good with our child, and child adores him). His parents have had a very long marriage etc.
The bottom line is I love this man to the bottom of my soul. I know I have wronged him and nearly lost him in the past but I know the relationship I desire is in there somewhere! But I need to regain his respect before he can truly love me I feel..... any advice or alternative perspectives? Please, no man-hating abuse style advice please, I am well aware what constitutes an abusive relationship and this is not one of those.