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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:
Thumbwitch · 26/07/2014 20:29

HAve you definitely said you will go on holiday with him and his DD? Or just that if you'd realise he was so upset about it then you would have agreed?

If you really don't want to go, then tell him you're onto him and you don't think much of his tactics.

If you haven't agreed to go, then sit tight and see what happens.

Diorella · 26/07/2014 20:32

oh god, I haven't read the 13 pages but I'd open the door for him, say SEE YA to his back, and wish him good luck with the women who'll dress up for him Hmm

AntideluvianCat · 26/07/2014 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nickelbabe · 26/07/2014 20:45

fucking hell, it just gets worse!

no, the holiday excuse is just bollocks, and he's pulled that out of the air to make you feel guilty and accept his crap.

in fact, it's made the whole situation make a turn for the sinister.

bubblebabeuk · 26/07/2014 20:50

(waves to anti's DH!)
Trying to wriggle out of it aren't you, she is too good for you, I hope she kicks your bullyboy arse to the curb....

FunkyBoldRibena · 26/07/2014 20:50

Cat - note he is not sorry that he threatened you with the end of your relationship if you didn't put out dressed like a whore; he blamed it on your opinions about the holiday.

He is not sorry and is probably reading every word so there is no need to let him know anything - he already does.

bubblebabeuk · 26/07/2014 20:52

Agree with pp, very bloody sinister, harbouring a grudge and punishing you for four bloody months.... Twat LTB

FairPhyllis · 26/07/2014 20:57

I don't think you can ever have a healthy relationship with him.

You are only 40. But you are living the life of women several generations ago who felt they had to accept bullying relationships in return for being financially propped up.

Don't make the mistake of feeling that because you have been together two years or because you have married that you have invested too much here to leave.

ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy · 26/07/2014 21:12

"It sounds like what he might really be getting off on is putting demands on you -"

This.

And yes - linking the relationship between your DD and his, / you and his DD and what you two do in bed is... inappropriate.

ChasedByBees · 26/07/2014 21:21

So what he's saying is, he has been pissed off with you and harbouring a grudge for four months, and so to pay you back, he's been sexually bullying you and threatening to leave if you don't give in to his demands. Does he actually think this hastily concocted excuse sounds better?

I'd have to LTB for his sheer idiocy.

Sunflower1985 · 26/07/2014 21:30

This has made me cry some as my DH does the same thing. Oh dear.

ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy · 26/07/2014 21:30

Sunflower Flowers - are you ok?

Sunflower1985 · 26/07/2014 21:42

Don't want to hijack, but I have a cupboard full of stockings and corsets that he's bought me that I've told him time and time again make me feel objectified and not at all sexy but if I don't at least once a week take the initiative (and it has to be without him asking) dress up then he becomes a passive aggressive arse. Humph.

Earlybird · 26/07/2014 21:44

Oh, OP I am so sorry. How awful.

I had a long term relationship that was a bit like this. He was superficially so loving, caring, considerate (would cook for me, make me a coffee, drive me where I needed to go, etc). But, he was completely selfish when it came to the more profound things that mattered. I was seduced by his thoughtfulness for several years......until we came to a turning point in the relationship that required some compromise on his part, and then - everything fell apart. His parting words included 'I would have stayed with you forever if you had only continued to let me have things on my own terms'. Ugh. i was a fool. I overlooked far too much for far too long. I justified his rotten behaviour by remembering his small gestures - those were far too easy, and really meant nothing.

So, my advice: look beneath the surface gestures. If all of his 'giving' is the easy stuff, with none of the true compromise and generosity that a healthy relationship requires, I'm afraid there isn't much future. And somehow blaming you for all of it is even worse.

Re-read the post by allalonenow at 19.12. There's wisdom there.

Maryz · 26/07/2014 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarryOnDancing · 26/07/2014 21:48

Your update about your conversation caused my first ever gasp out-loud whilst on MN.

He's openly told you that he's manipulated, punished and abused you sexually and your response is that you will now go on holiday?! FFS, come on!

The line about him wanting you to do something for him stunned me. Honestly, why why why didn't you end the conversation right there and pack his bags?

So anytime in the last 4 months that you've dressed up at his suggestion, he's been literally getting off at the power over you. He has told you openly that he was using you and making you "do something for him". You were sexually satisfying him as a punishment. That is sick. I'm not exaggerating here OP, it's one of the sickest things I've read on here.

How is your skin not crawling knowing that he was climaxing because of his sense of power over you?!

Please leave this bastard! He is a really terrible man.

CarryOnDancing · 26/07/2014 21:52

Sorry to hear that Sunflower. Have a good read through all the advise, there are some very wise people on here and it's all as valid for you as for the OP.

Today could be the day your life gets better. There's nothing like realising life doesn't have to be like this!

LumpySpacedPrincess · 26/07/2014 21:53

That's crap sunflower. You don't have to put up with it though.

SolidGoldBrass · 26/07/2014 22:10

I think both OP and Sunflower should start checking out their options, legally and financially, on how to get rid of these inadequate, unpleasant men. One of the key factors on getting rid is the realisation that they are not 'lovely', they are woman-hating losers. They have never done anything for you that wasn't either about performing like a Good Romantic Partner or intended as a trade-off that you weren't consulted over - 'I have made you a cup of tea, you are now obliged to suck my dick'/I have bought you a piece of jewellery that you didn't actually ask for, don't actually like and won't ever wear but I bought it, which means you are now completely obliged to let me fuck you up the arse.'

Lweji · 26/07/2014 22:18

There is no way you can get around him on this.
He is abusive now. It's not overly obvious to you yet, but the signs are all there.
You can't control it and he won't stop. He may tone it down if he realises you're on to him but only while he can, and he will work around you to deflect your attention.

You do need to get out asap.

HanselandGretel · 26/07/2014 22:23

I believe you will grow to resent him and wonder what you ever saw in him, speaking from my own experience of passive aggressive emotional manipulators.

DeriArms · 26/07/2014 22:30

Anti, these must be very difficult things to read. Please let us know if you can how you are x

Bruins · 26/07/2014 22:33

How can you come back from this OP, now that the scales have fallen from your eyes?
How will it be possible to love or respect this man?
How will you ever be able to dress up for his satisfaction again?

Your attitude to him has changed quite dramatically during the course of this thread.

AtrociousCircumstance · 26/07/2014 22:33

OP. This man is a twat. A selfish, vile idiot.

You want to see the best in him. It's called sunk loss fallacy. You don't want to believe your judgement has been that off, to have chosen someone so crap.

And he is crap.

But your judgement wasn't necessarily off, because it's not always possible to know from the start, in a relationship.

But your judgement is sound NOW. You know, now, that he is not a nice person. Because of these essential factors.

Act on your judgement now. Stop trying to muffle it.

Pepperwitheverything · 26/07/2014 22:45

Anti, I too concur with the PPs. He hates women, and that means you!! Leave and live independently again, and it might just happen you meet a wonderful man who loves you for YOU. Your husband sounds absolutely revolting. Whereas you sound pretty wonderful.