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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

AIBU not to want sex every three days?

65 replies

Feelingvulnerable · 03/12/2016 22:59

Ok so for a little background - Been with my DH for 20 years, married for 14 and have two teenage kids. Things aren't always easy and he can be emotionally abusive at times without really realising it I think. (I've been known to sit in the shower crying because of something he's said.) We've had some great times but about two years ago something happened between him and our DS (who was 16 at the time) and it really opened my eyes to the sort of person he is and I didn't like what I discovered.

Any way, we had a big chat recently about what was wrong with our relationship, because it's been deteriorating slowly for two years and we really have nothing in common. We agreed to giving our relationship a go and see where we are in a years time. My issues were centred around his attitude, insensitive comments and what had happened two years earlier (I can't move on from it), his issues were around me not being affectionate with him, not enough sex and not doing anything together (he rejects all my suggestions and only offers up sporty suggestions, which I'm not in to). Now I've never been a tactile person, I'm not one for public displays of affection, never have been and he's known this for 20 years. So the idea of being more touchy feely with him is a hard one for me but I'm trying. I'd be happy with sex once a week wiith cuddling in between days but he can't cuddle without sex.

So to the issue here, he always expects sex every three days, that's when he starts to get angsty. He sulks if I'm not in the mood, ill or physically can't. He's even pulled the duvet off me in a strop before because I said I didn't want it. The most we have ever been without sex was after our DD was born, he waited a full two weeks before pushing me to start having sex again. So forward 15 years and he still gets all touchy feely every three days. In between days he goes to bed about 9, I like to go up a bit later as I'm a bit of a night owl but only about 10/10.30. Over the years we've been in a cycle of him feeling hurt if I say no and sulking, me feeling guilty if I don't feel like it or am ill. It's exhausting. However recently I'm struggling with this more than usual, we aren't doing so well and I don't always like the things he says, sex is very mental with me. If he says a shitty thing then I don't exactly feel like making love to him but he doesn't get it no matter how often I tell him, he just sees it as rejection. Says I don't fancy him and sulks. When he sulks he ignores me, gives me one word answers and makes me feel guilty as hell.

Surely every 3 days is a lot? Especially after 20 years together? Sorry didn't mean for this to be so long

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 03/12/2016 23:02

He's a pig.

Sorry.

neonrainbow · 03/12/2016 23:05

God he sounds fucking awful i wouldn't have sex with him either!

NoCapes · 03/12/2016 23:05

I think you may be coming to the end of your relationship
You just need to admit it to yourself

He sounds like an arsehole, you can do much better

bibbitybobbityyhat · 03/12/2016 23:06

Failing to understand how you can want sex once a week with him when twice a week is too much. All very odd.

PickAChew · 03/12/2016 23:09

Nothing that you tell us about him makes me feel he could get me horny without trying. He sounds pretty vile.

And, if you do have sex with him that you don't want, that is rape.

InTheKitchenAtParties · 03/12/2016 23:09

He pushed you into having sex 2 weeks after you gave birth???

I would have left him then, tbh.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 03/12/2016 23:10

LTB

I'm not joking, he sounds dire.

PinkiePiesCupcakes · 03/12/2016 23:11

If you have a child, and you refuse that child sweets, if they went in a strop what would you think?
They're doing it to get their own way right?

That's exactly what your OH is doing.

You refuse him, he throws tantrum, you give in to 'keep the peace' or you do what he wants in the first place 'because its easier'

I'm going to guess that walking on egg shells is a common situation for you? That you alter your behaviour to keep him happy or to avoid his moods?
He's training, or trying to.

The best thing you can do is refuse, refuse, refuse, refuse.
When he strops, tantrums, throws a hissy fit, etc.
Tell him clearly and sternly to pull his head out of his arse or fuck off out the door because you refuse to live like this any longer.

ChuckGravestones · 03/12/2016 23:12

I think you should reject him permanently. Forever.

J0kersSmile · 03/12/2016 23:13

Imagine a nice life where you can go to bed whenever you want to and not have to have sex...

MyWineTime · 03/12/2016 23:14

Your marriage is crap, sorry.
Having sex more or less, wouldn't actually make a blind bit of difference because that isn't what the problem is with your relationship.

Maverickismywingman · 03/12/2016 23:15

He doesn't respect your boundaries to sex.
He is stroppy about sex. He doesn't understand why all this makes you feel less attracted to him.

I'm not going to say LTB but that's what I think you should do
What I will say is - this needs serious addressing. Couples therapy and taking it right back to grass roots. Starting small with "dating", then re introducing affection. A lot changes in the amount of time couples are together, but he needs to respect your wishes on sex and affection. If not, he has means to leave.

saffronwblue · 03/12/2016 23:17

The frequency of sex is the least of your worries.

BumDNC · 03/12/2016 23:19

I don't see how you can rebuild all that trust - which he has clearly broken with your DS in some way and all of his horrible comments with.... more sex.
This just means he wants what he wants and not what you want.
Do you want to do this for 20 more years?

Happyinthehills · 03/12/2016 23:22

YANBU LTB

Pallisers · 03/12/2016 23:23

This isn't about frequency of sex. Well to a certain extent it is - anyone who expects sex 2 weeks after a woman gives birth in the absence of her wanting it has a serious problem.

Next time you say no thanks to sex, and he sulks and says "you don't fancy me" say "you are right. I don't. It is not a turn-on to have someone pressurising you into sex. It is not a turn-on to watch a grown man sulk because he is not getting sex. It is not a turn-on to have someone say something shitty to you. So yes. I don't fancy you right now."

I think you have serious issues here and given how you describe them, wonder how you will overcome those issues.

I wonder what happened with your 16 year old that you can't forget it. I suspect it was something monumentally selfish and demonstrating no love or loyalty to his child. .

Yourarejokingme · 03/12/2016 23:24

No is a full sentence.

He's coercive and a damn bully

Time to leave I think.

Costacoffeeplease · 03/12/2016 23:29

^^ what they said

He's an abusive arse, how fucking dare he?

Feelingvulnerable · 03/12/2016 23:30

I think I knew how you would answer but I've been kidding myself that it will all be ok. I've been so blind 😢 I haven't told anyone what he's really like, it's so personal and I feel so ashamed. Everyone loves him.

OP posts:
Feelingvulnerable · 03/12/2016 23:32

Also, thank you. You've made me cry but it's all good 😘

OP posts:
elephantoverthehill · 03/12/2016 23:35

OP I have been there and worn the tee-shirt in 2 relationships. He either has to understand that making love, or having sex, whatever you want to call it, is about mutual respect, admiration and love or both of you need to talk and think very seriously about your relationship.

sobersarah · 03/12/2016 23:36

Tell him no
Then all the other stuff above

WouldHave · 03/12/2016 23:46

Why on earth does he think that sulking will get him what he wants? There are few greater turn-offs than a grown man sulking - unless it's a grown man who thinks a woman will want sex with him after he has been shitty to her.

Pallisers' suggested answer to the "You don't fancy me" line is the way to go.

JuddNelsoninTheBreakfastClub · 03/12/2016 23:46

All I can say is why would you want to have sex with someone who acts like that, then treats you like crap when you won't have sex with him. The pushing for sex when you had just had a baby shows very selfish behaviour. Also what happened with your son must have been bad if you can't move on from it. Does he put on a facade for other people then?

Beebeeeight · 03/12/2016 23:48

He sounds like a rapist.