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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:
MrsWedgeAntilles · 25/07/2014 16:49

Using threats to coerce someone into doing something sexually that they don't want to do at that moment is sexual abuse.

His good behaviour can't be weighed against his bad behaviour to negate this, its not a point system - he's a man who is attempting sexual abuse and the fact that he pours wine for you can't change this.

I'm sorry but this is so bald but I come across far too many women who don't realise the rights they have over their own bodies and it makes me very sad indeed.

AnyFucker · 25/07/2014 17:22

OP, I think you should tell your tool of a husband you have developed a fetish about men wearing nappies. It makes you horny as hell, and insist he does it every time you do the deed. If he doesn't, he mustn't love you and he isn't being a proper husband. Refuse to have sex with him unless he is in full regalia of nappy, romper suit and dummy stuck in his gob

For some people this is a "thing" just like his prediliction for you to dress up in what turns him on.

gargalesis · 25/07/2014 17:28

I had a controlling, abusive pornsick ex who made me wear stockings every time we had sex. He got more and more demanding as the relationship went on. It took me a few years after our relationship ended to realise that his coercion and bullying amounted to rape. Three years of lying there dead-eyed while he raped me and watched porn at the same time. I was too frightened to say no. Obviously this is an extreme example, but I just recognise that same sense of entitlement in your post. Leave him, OP, before he has ground you down to the point where you don't even realise you're being treated like a piece of meat.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 25/07/2014 17:33

He sounds foul to be honest, I don't know how you can bear to have any kind of sex with him.

3littlefrogs · 25/07/2014 17:47

I have only read the op, and I think he sounds disturbingly unpleasant. Nasty, controlling, and unreasonable. Sad

AntideluvianCat · 25/07/2014 17:47

Blimey gargalesis, I'm sorry to hear that x

OP posts:
AntideluvianCat · 25/07/2014 17:48
OP posts:
ElephantsAndMiasmas · 25/07/2014 17:59

So basically unless you regularly dress up on a weeknight and shag him, the rest of your relationship and all the other things you do for him and his child, are meaningless? I think he's told you incredibly clearly how he sees you, and what you're (only) good for. How horrible for you to find this out.

AnyFucker · 25/07/2014 17:59

OP, if your husband had his way, you too would be submitting to the kind of treatment meted out to gargalesis.

"Pornsick"....good description.

AnyFucker · 25/07/2014 18:02

OP, I am going back to your first post here but what I found illuminating about your mindset here is that when you found things to "balance" his shitty treatment of you the first thing you listed was "DH has more money than me"

Do you agree that because he supports you financially he is entitled to have unrealistic sexual expectations of you, and that you are bound to comply ?

AntideluvianCat · 25/07/2014 18:05

Of course not Sad

OP posts:
AntideluvianCat · 25/07/2014 18:07

I know elephants
I just don't want to believe it.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 25/07/2014 18:09

Then have a bloody good think about what you are willing to accept from him.

Muskey · 25/07/2014 18:13

I am sorry he comes across as a knob. What about the things you want.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 25/07/2014 18:14

Actually do you know what, almost the worst thing about this is the fact that you can't just RELAX in your relationship. You're married FGS and you have a family, but you still have to worry about your appearance - not the minimum standard of "try not to drip gravy down your front and wash regularly", but actually dressing up!! I really do think that taking on some of the suggestions here and mirroring his behaviour might make him see how bloody unreasonable and ridiculous he's being.

QuipFree · 25/07/2014 18:18

You should pretty clearly LTB, so I won't comment further on your OP.

But using a plate so you don't drop crumbs all over the floor... that's basic good manners, which he should have learned by age 5 at the latest. It's not you being controlling. Seriously even my DC don't cover the sofa in crumbs.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 25/07/2014 18:24

It's all about him isn't it? His wants and his needs. Sex is about compromise and respect and listening to your partner. If you don't want to dress up then don't. If you're knackered and don't want to do it then he should respect that. What you do for him on a daily basis is irrelevant. Making your partner do things they don't want to is abusive.

bleedingheart · 25/07/2014 18:25

How joyless to have to be so regimented in your sex life. Having to dress up all the time?

You said you work together, is your H a social worker too?

FoxInTheDesert · 25/07/2014 18:35

What would you say if your DD came home one day and told you her partner treats her this way?

Joysmum · 25/07/2014 18:37

Sex can be an expression of love and it can be fucking for the pressure of fuck.

Sounds to me like he just wants to fuck and when you both have sex, he's not expressing love or wanting to be with you, he just wants to fuck for his pleasure.

Of course there's nothing wrong with enjoying sex because sex is good, but there's something seriously wrong if that's all he wants. Sad

HansieLove · 25/07/2014 18:38

He is so disgusting. Just eeuugghh! He doesn't want a real sexual relationship, just this disturbed image from his porn fueled mind.

AntideluvianCat · 25/07/2014 18:44

Don't really want to get into too much detail about our jobs as it would make us quite identifiable

OP posts:
Saltedcaramel2014 · 25/07/2014 18:46

Another one over here who thought he should fuck right off. I find it a little worrying that you mention money and the balance between you two with that. That doesn't mean you owe him - you're in a relationship, you're not a prostitute. Does he watch a lot of porn? Sounds like he's lost his way a bit with enjoying sex in simpler ways

Maryz · 25/07/2014 18:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Partridge · 25/07/2014 18:50

He sounds, frankly, creepy. Nothing wrong with dressing up occasionally, but does he never want loving, vanilla sex? Or a quickie? And I agree about the financial imbalance - it sounds like you are insinuating he believes it to be a bit of a transaction - he cleans/subs you financially in return for you dressing up.