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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DH suggested I put this to you lot. What do you think?

422 replies

AntideluvianCat · 25/07/2014 11:43

I'm going to try to keep this as neutral as possible, as it seems DH and I both completely believe we're in the right, despite our opposing views. Also going to try not to drip feed.

We've been together two years, married just over a year. We both have DDs from previous relationships. Mine (12) lives with us and goes to see her dad overnight at the weekend; his (13) stays two nights a week. My DD has some SEN, and coupled with the hormonal chaos of being 12, can be quite hard work. I also work 25 hours a week in a job that I love, but that can also be stressful and a bit overwhelming (social work).

A couple of months ago, DH told me that if I won't dress up for sex - ie. stockings, suspenders, thong, basque, whatever - he can't see any point in our relationship continuing. I was absolutely flabberghasted. It was like being kicked in the head. He did apologise, and we patched things up a bit, but he keeps coming back to the same thing every time we have words. He says that it would make him feel wanted and appreciated, that he is constantly giving to me, and that I give nothing back.

Thing is, I DO want and appreciate him. I love him. I'm so glad we found each other, at this relatively late stage in life (I'm 40, he's 50). But I find the weekdays hard, when DD is playing up and I'm exhausted from work and the constant bloody grind of housework and organising everything. As consequence, sex tends to happen at the weekends. I'd say we probably have sex a couple of times at the weekend, and sometimes, but not always, once during the week.

The funny thing is, that at the weekends when I'm relaxed and can focus on us rather than everybody else, I do dress up for him, and am happy to do so. I really enjoy it, and love the effect it has on him. This morning, during yet another argument about this, I reminded him of this, but he said it doesn't count because I'm only doing it under duress. I'm not doing it under duress, but it seems I can't win. He is insistant that I should - on say, a Tuesday evening, when I've been at work, then come home and have been running around doing domestic chores and coping with / helping / monitoring / disciplining DD til 9.30pm, I should pop on some saucy underwear and adopt the sex kitten persona. But I don't want anyone to make anymore demands on mme. It's all I can do to crawl into bed and read for half an hour.

In the interests of balance, I should add that DH has more money than me and props me up a bit financially, which I'm incredibly grateful for and regularly tell him so. He does most of the washing up, hoovers the house once a week, cleans the bathrooms, does any gardening, and helps me with DD a lot. I have quite high standards domestically (but not ridiculous - I only clean once a week and change beds every 7 - 10 days), and am very tidy. Being tidy helps me feel on top of things, and I make no apology for it. DH says that he likes my standards, but doesn't really help to maintain them. I feel that I tidy up after him a lot.

An example: He eats a lot of biscuits. I have asked him to use a plate for these, as otherwise I have to clear up his crumbs. He refuses; thinks I'm being ridiculous. I got a telling off a couple of weeks ago for asking his DD to eat off a plate too. I've tried to explain to him that this little thing could actually help with the sex thing - I wouldn't feel so resentful having to clear up after him all the time. But it is just dismissed. He actually said to me this morning (and I quote) " we should have high standards domestically, and high standards in the bedroom" Shock

Your goign to tell me to LTB aren't you? Sad

OP posts:
StandsOnGoldenSands · 26/07/2014 18:49

He had to scramble to find an excuse for his behaviour and that is the best he can do.
This is not an open and honest conversation between equals. Sorry OP.

sarine1 · 26/07/2014 18:53

Oh dear Anti. He's really not very nice is he? Hmm
This must have been such a shock to read our reactions to his behaviour - and then to understand how much you've just bought into his way of thinking.
When I left my ex I was quite ashamed of myself to realise how much I had bought into such a dysfunctional relationship with a lying and deceitful man. I always looked for the good in him and just 'explained away' the difficult bits. Fortunately I summoned up my self esteem from where I'd buried it and knocked my 'I need to be in a relationship no matter what' feelings on the head.
I'm now happier, more confident and actually a nicer person since I got away from such a toxic man.
I'm not sure what the answer is for you - you've obviously invested a lot in him and if you work together that must also be hugely complicating? But he's essentially a shit isn't he? And still failing to take any responsibility for such appalling behaviour?
Wishing you a clear head and much strength for the future -and perhaps some more buckets of wine with friends to help you process this Wine

LumpySpacedPrincess · 26/07/2014 18:57

All the reasons you didn't want to go holiday with him are still there.

However, because he has behaved atrociously you are now going on holiday with him. Confused

AntideluvianCat · 26/07/2014 19:04

Hmm, good point lumpy

OP posts:
vicmackie · 26/07/2014 19:11

I think the most charitable interpretation of his "explanation" is that he's a bit mad. Absolutely fucking bananas, actually. Insisting you have to dress up in tacky porn garb several times a week because you don't want to go on holiday with his DD? Confused

He's BATSHIT.

Allalonenow · 26/07/2014 19:12

I'd say it was typical controlling behaviour by a bully to drag up problems long past in order to justify current unacceptable behaviour from them.

It neatly makes their treatment of you your own fault, it shocks you so much that you have no reply leaving you completely wrong footed, it fills you with doubt about your own judgement, it means that in the future you will be more careful of going against his wishes.

He has read the Bully Tactics Handbook. In the future he will recall events of several years in the past in order to blame you and excuse himself.

MostWicked · 26/07/2014 19:15

I love sex. Sex is a really important part of our relationship. I love dressing up, we enjoy a bit of kink.
BUT
There is NO way my DH would ever treat me like you have described. He would never demand anything and never expect anything.
Sex can only ever be a pleasurable experience if both people are doing what they want to do. There is no place for threats, coercion or demands in a good sex life.
Your DH is being an arse and your relationship really doesn't sound balanced at all.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 26/07/2014 19:17

I think his 'explanation' actually makes the whole thing worse. Be very wary of a man who seeks to 'punish' you silently rather than discuss a problem with you. Be doubly wary of someone who would think that's an ok excuse for their behaviour whether that excuse is true or not.

That's a seriously fucked up attitude.

Maryz · 26/07/2014 19:20

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Egghead68 · 26/07/2014 19:21

He is not someone who you can ever have a healthy relationship with.

pictish · 26/07/2014 19:21

I agree with gamerchick too - he totally RTFT. Sure he did. Wink

pictish · 26/07/2014 19:25

And fwiw, I have no time people who can't just own their own shit...who have to make their bad behaviour someone else's doing.

Thumbwitch · 26/07/2014 19:31

Yes, I agree too - he's RTT and has been searching for something to pin his behaviour on so he can excuse himself for responsibility for his actions.

Sadly it just makes them that much worse.

AntideluvianCat · 26/07/2014 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Maryz · 26/07/2014 19:39

This reply has been deleted

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FunkyBoldRibena · 26/07/2014 19:40

If it is exhausting at two years, think how bad it is going to get before you finally crack.

rootypig · 26/07/2014 19:41

He has a massive chip on his shoulder, thinks the world's against him, and everything is someone else's fault.

Well now we're getting to it. Putting your posts together, he's a classic bully, then, needing to feel like the big man at home.

Thumbwitch · 26/07/2014 19:45

He's left it a bit late, at 50, to grow the fuck up but that's what he needs to do.

wyrdyBird · 26/07/2014 19:48

Oh dear.... I wondered if he was going to turn out to be one of those
never my fault/why should I apologise/remember what YOU did to ME type of people.

You're on a hiding to nothing with this man. The more you post, the more he ticks the controlling relationship boxes.

pictish · 26/07/2014 19:52

Yes...he very deftly used something he knew you'd feel guilty about to blame it on didn't he?
How very cunning and manipulative of him indeed...and in the the mix, you have somehow agreed to a holiday you don't want too.

monsterowl · 26/07/2014 19:56

If you're already getting dressed up at the weekends, then he has no cause for complaint. It's not like you never do it. And if he doesn't want you to do it under duress, then why the hell is he putting pressure on you anyway?!

It sounds like what he might really be getting off on is putting demands on you - could he be resentful that you're devoting time to your job, your DD, the housework, etc, and feel like he should be higher up the priority list? (Not saying he's right if that's the case. Just trying to understand why the hell he'd have such a petulant attitude.)

FairPhyllis · 26/07/2014 20:00

OK this is what has happened. He's read the thread, felt angry that you and other people have identified his horrible attitude to you and has made up this bullshit. And in the confusion got something he wanted. Bingo!

His thinking about how you relate to another person in a relationship is so skewed that he thinks that saying " actually what I was doing was just punishing you for something that happened months ago" is a better interpretation of his behaviour than "I get off on making unreasonable demands of you sexually."

Were you previously in an abusive relationship? And if so did he know about it, or "rescue" you from it?

Wait4nothing · 26/07/2014 20:13

Me and my dH have discussed this. We think you should no longer but biscuits :D

Zucker · 26/07/2014 20:27

He's grasping for a reason for this all to be your fault. A conversation 4 months ago is the best he can come up with ffs.

He's learnt a lesson from all this though. Act like an utter prick in one area and get you to back down on something that seems not as serious, just to keep the peace for everyone else.

He sounds like an arse.

AntideluvianCat · 26/07/2014 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.