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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

Husband & porn - please only comment if you can be helpful or supportive as I genuinely can’t cope

374 replies

Ifeeldreadful · 05/03/2018 07:05

I’ve name changed for this, as I feel truly dreadful, and don’t want this situation associated with the ‘regular’ me.

This is very long, and please, if you can’t say anything helpful or supportive, then please don’t comment - I just can’t take it.

My child seemed quite unwell. I wanted to check the symptoms online, but realised I’d left my phone in the bathroom from when my DD had a bath earlier & I’d caught up on emails. I couldn’t find the laptop, and in my panic I just went and opened the bathroom door and caught my Husband sat on the toilet ‘enjoying’ porn on the laptop.

He very quickly tried to close the window down, but I’d seen about 1 second of it. It looked like ‘regular’ porn, but I’m just utterly disgraced, incensed in fact that he was ‘enjoying’ any porn. I looked at him with disgust, and just said ‘seriously,’ before walking out with my phone and slamming the door.

I didn’t know what to do, but ever since then, I’ve wished I’d taken the laptop off of him and watched what he was watching - I just can’t cope with the betrayal of him using porn full stop, but then also not being able to see what he was watching is absolutely destroying me.

I also hate the fact that I don’t know if he continued to use the video after I’d fled the room in a clearly angered state.

I was physically shaking and thought I was going to be sick. I went and cuddled my child and tried to continue normally, in the hope that I could speak with him whenever he next showed his face, but I couldn’t cope. I went to our child’s bedroom and cried uncontrollably and hyperventilated, and couldn’t stop shaking. I wanted to stop crying and quickly get my child and I ready to get out of the house, but I failed miserably. I didn’t want her to see me like that, nor the neighbours, so I only managed to put my coat on and wipe my mascara from my cheeks before he came into the room.

He told me how sorry he was, and put his arm around me. I shuddered and told him not to touch me. I couldn’t look at him, or even in his general direction. My shaking was terrible by that point, and I burst into uncontrollable tears again. Our child came running in and hugged me and asked what was wrong & went and got tissues for me. I tried my best to stop crying and get my shit together, as I don’t want her seeing her Mummy like that, and for the sake of my unborn child. Obviously I couldn’t discuss/address anything with our child there, and all I ended up saying to him is ‘how does he think I feel for watching it in the first place, but when I’m 39 weeks pregnant too, and when I’ve hardly had a spare moment to myself like usual and he has done as he pleases all morning.’

He kept apologising and saying he’d been stupid. He said he’d gone on YouTube to watch something and clicked on another video, and then he saw that one and started watching it. He started blaming the internet saying how easy it is to access porn.

I don’t believe him however, and I’m convinced that he uses it regularly. A few years ago before we had our child, I came home early and caught him then. I went ballistic and was distraught. He promised he’d never watch it again. I have never got over catching him that time, and now it’s happened again.

It may sound strange, but a huge problem for me is that I don’t know exactly what he was watching. From the seconds I saw, it all looked ‘normal,’ and with female adults, and I don’t doubt the content for a second. I just simply feel I have to see properly what these women look like, and what exactly they were doing. It’s the unknown that I can’t deal with. I’ve dwelled on it over and over since the first incident, and always wished I’d demanded that he show me the video.

I went and searched the laptop history earlier, and tried to access his YouTube account, but funnily enough the bastard doesn’t use a password for that that I know. We know each other’s passwords for everything else. I tried a few different passwords and gave up in severe frustration and a sea of tears. I wanted to cut all of his clothes up!

I was ‘forced’ into trying to act normally as our child was there, so I think he thinks I’m handling this better than I am, but I can’t get over it. I couldn’t bring myself to sleep in the same bed as him, and I’ve been crying for hours.

I can’t handle not seeing what he watched, and the feeling of being lied to, and the betrayal of it all (including using an unknown password). I was really hoping I could just sit and watch it without him knowing, but now I feel that the only chance of trying to move on is if I demand that he sends me a link to the video and I can watch it in private (no way could I watch it with him there). I just don’t feel I can continue with the relationship until I can watch the content and try to come to terms with it all. The thought of him being present at our child’s birth and seeing me so vulnerable is repulsing me.

Do you think I should demand that he sends me the video link?

I’m honestly thinking of taking our child and staying with my parents as I can’t cope. Obviously I don’t want to do this and uproot her, but also because I want to give birth st our local hospital and my parents live ages away.

Please advise and comfort me. Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
DearMrDilkington · 05/03/2018 07:08

This is not a normal reaction.

annawoolfworries · 05/03/2018 07:11

I think you might need therapy. Your reaction is very strong. I understand that for you it’s a betrayal but the thought of splitting up your family over this? Take care.

Maybellissimo · 05/03/2018 07:13

You’re 39 weeks pregnant. You have enough to deal with. I would let it go. Yes it was hugely insensitive of him to watch it on the toilet while you were in the house but if the rest of your relationship is good then I wouldn’t uproot yourself and your daughter.

Whenwillwe3meetagain · 05/03/2018 07:14

Calm down!

Maybellissimo · 05/03/2018 07:14

I don’t think it’s on that he’s watching it while you’re in the house tbh

jessei · 05/03/2018 07:15

Could your pregnancy hormones be making you more sensitive than normal?

Costacoffeeplease · 05/03/2018 07:17

No, not a normal reaction, especially when you’re still upset about the previous incident. If you think it will help, then ask him for the link - I doubt it will make you feel better though

Maybellissimo · 05/03/2018 07:17

OP I think the hurt stems from the fact that you’re heavily pregnant probably don’t feel the most attractive right now and he’s watching nubile women writhe around. Not the best for your self esteem. I don’t blame you for your reaction at all but tell him how you feel and move on.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 05/03/2018 07:17

I think you’re hugely over reacting. Hugely.

Maybellissimo · 05/03/2018 07:17

Don’t watch the link. It won’t make it better.

crazydoglady6867 · 05/03/2018 07:18

I think the fact you are 39 weeks pregnant must be clouding your view. This is a very strange reaction to finding your DP watching a bit of porn, if he was fucking a group of women in your bathroom I would think you could react this way but not this, I think you need to just calm down a bit, let him enjoy a bit of porn now and again. He may be just really horny and doesn’t think you will be interested in sex at the moment. Try watching it together next time, it is not so bad you know. Please don’t punish him, he hasn’t done anything so bad.

AhNowTed · 05/03/2018 07:19

Your reaction is extreme. There's really nothing wrong with having a wank to a bit of porn.

Minus4 · 05/03/2018 07:19

I don’t think seeing the video will help you. In fact it might make you feel worse. I’m not sure why you are fixated on that.

I also think you have overreacted although him sitting on the toilet with the laptop watching porn is quite disgusting.

I would talk to your husband about how you feel and reinforce what your boundaries are. I don’t think you should leave.

ClaryFray · 05/03/2018 07:19

I think your reaction is a bit much. It's images on a screen. Your reacting as if you've caught him in bed with someone else. It's porn.

I think you need to turn you attentions to your children.

RaindropsAndSparkles · 05/03/2018 07:20

It sounds like a bit of soft porn on the laptop. I think it's a shame he had to watch it in the bog. I'm pretty sure most men watch a bit of soft porn.

I think you probably both need some counsellinv to deal with your reaction.

Is he generally kind, funny, honest, decent, wouldn't harm a puppy kind of chap?

Whg don't you have a quick google at what's freely available to calm yourself down?

Cat2014 · 05/03/2018 07:20

You poor thing. I completely understand how you feel, I have been there, not when pregnant but when I was up all night breastfeeding our baby and my ExH was then ‘getting a good nights sleep’... it’s awful to go through especially when you’re feeling in such a vulnerable state. Ignore the ‘cool wife’ comments from people who think it’s fine, it’s not fine in YOUR relationship and that’s what matters.
I think he has to try and make amends and I strongly advise not to make any rash decisions now. At least he’s acting like he is sorry and understands, my ExH didn’t see what he had done wrong.. so try and work through it even if you can’t discuss it at the moment. If you think it would help yes ask for a link but it might be like picking a scab and make you feel worse, I wouldn’t personally do that now.

ems137 · 05/03/2018 07:21

I think you need to speak to him.

I wouldn't like my DH watching porn either and I'd be upset if I saw him watching it. My problem comes mainly from my own low self esteem if I'm totally honest. However, I have never told him he's forbidden from watching it, you can't do that to someone. He knows how I feel about it and either doesn't watch it or makes sure I don't know about it which is fine by me.

I understand that you're upset but I do think it's an over reaction. You need to talk to him properly. During that conversation you should tell him your need to see the video and why. You can't, and shouldn't "make" him do anything.

runningmama2016 · 05/03/2018 07:23

Sending hugs. I'd feel exactly the same. I find porn disgusting, it literally makes my skin crawl and makes me feel sick to the stomach. I don't have any words of advice I'm afraid but I just wanted to say you're not alone in feeling like this. I wish I didn't react the way I do to it. I have a history of sexual abuse (so name changed to reply) so I do wonder if that has anything to do with why I find it so disgusting.
Don't let anyone on make you feel like your feelings are invalid. Having said that, I really hope you and your husband can come through this.

laurzj82 · 05/03/2018 07:23

Sorry OP, I also think this is a major overreaction

Cat2014 · 05/03/2018 07:25

Ems137 - no you can’t forbid it, but surely in a relationship people should consider their partners feelings, is it that hard for men to go without porn even if it upsets the person they’re supposed to love? It’s not a medical need!

PerrieGrey · 05/03/2018 07:27

It's just a bit of porn. I'm pretty sure my boyfriend has watched it whilst I was in the house or when he was in the shower. It's so, so normal.

buckyou · 05/03/2018 07:29

Bless you. I can understand that you feel betrayed but it does seem to be a bit of an over reaction with the shaking etc.

Is it that he’s ‘cheated’ on you that’s really bothering you or do you have a particular dislike for people watching porn? I also think your pregnancy hormones might not be helping here.

Fact is most men watch porn. Not ideal but they do. I would try and calm down, put it to the back of your mind for now you’ve got enough to deal with.CakeBrewFlowers

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 05/03/2018 07:31

I hate porn, I do think there's something wrong with having a wank to a bit of it. But I know people watch it and that's their choice as adults.
However, I am worried for you that your reaction was so extreme. It was extremely disrespectful for him to do that whilst you and your child were in the house and I'd expect my partner to respect my views on the matter. (What is your stance usually about it?)
How are things apart from that? Do you think you'd be able to calm down and have a conversation with him about it? Without upsetting yourself and your child? Because like everyone else said this was extreme. Look after yourself.

RJnomore1 · 05/03/2018 07:31

Two things

It's fine if this is a red line for you. You set your relationship boundaries and what you can't accept.

But the way you reacted not normal. I'll put it down to being 39 weeks pregnant but if you weren't I'd be seriously suggesting you need some type of help with managing your emotions.

And no I don't think you should watch it, what would you think you would get out of watching it?

HerSymphonyAndSong · 05/03/2018 07:33

Interesting to see how much relationships topic has been taken over by porn apologists. Some people do react strongly to the idea of watching real people potentially being exploited onscreen (do you really know the difference?)

And not all strong reactions when pregnant are necessarily “pregnancy hormone” related (so patronising) - pregnant women can get genuinely upset or annoyed too when people do things that are upsetting or annoying

Hope you are ok, OP