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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 can’t just cuddle

138 replies

WantACuddle · 11/08/2018 13:33

Have nc for this. I’m having issues with DH and his seeming inability to cuddle in bed. Whenever we have a cuddle, without fail he will try it on even if I’ve already said I’m exhausted and just want to go to sleep.

Also, if he cuddles up to me in the morning when I’m asleep/ dozing, he will start feeling my boobs and touching me intimately, even though we have had conversations where I’ve explained that I don’t like it.

If I tell him to stop he apologises but I just want him to stop doing it in the first place!

We usually dtd about once a week and will usually agree in advance (ie lets get an early night tonight) as otherwise I feel like I would always be too tired/ not in the mood.

I think he feels like he doesn’t get enough affection but the truth is I rarely cuddle him as I know it won’t just be a cuddle and I don’t want more. If it was just cuddling I would be happy. He has a high sex drive and mine is lower and admittedly it is more of an issue now we have two young kids (early primary age though not babies / toddlers).

I’m really not sure how to resolve this as the more I think he’s trying to initiate things when he knows I don’t want it, the less I want it and resent him for it. We’ve been together for 10 years, married for 6. Any advice?

OP posts:
LadyInParis · 13/08/2018 21:20

Although counselling is a good idea as the pp suggested

WantACuddle · 14/08/2018 16:01

Sorry I’ve been AWOL, it’s been hectic with the kids being off school so I haven’t had much chance to go on my phone.

Thanks for all the responses. I’m going to try to have a chat with him about it all tonight. Not to make accusations but just to explain (again!) how it makes me feel and that I don’t like it.

To be clear, he doesn’t do this in the middle of the night when I’m fast asleep, it’s mostly in the morning when I’m vaguely awake but still with eyes shut.

To the people who have indicated that it’s a bigger issue, you’re probably not wrong. I could probably happily go weeks without so once a week ish seems like a fair compromise. I find this always happens to me in long term relationships. I lusted after my ex for years before we got together but by the time we split up 6 years later we probably only had sex once a month or so and it was down to my lack of desire. We didn’t even have kids.

That’s why I want to try and make things work if possible as if we split up it would probably happen in my next relationship too. I wish I did have more desire but I just don’t.

OP posts:
BloodyBosch · 15/08/2018 10:14

Op, I completely understand where you're coming from. DH used to think a cuddle was a precursor to sex, rather than affection in its own right. I found that once I made it crystal clear how I felt, and that I avoided cuddles for that reason he started to get the idea and I found I was more likely to initiate after that.
It wasn't easy, he was very hurt, but I told him in no uncertain terms because I'd had enough!! The other thing is that going in for the grope is the biggest passion killer ever, we have other body parts that can be included!
He saw it as rejection, when I didn't want a cuddle to go further. I saw it as he's only making moves towards a cuddle because he wants sex - ie for his benefit.

Stillme1 · 15/08/2018 12:41

"I saw it as he's only making moves towards a cuddle because he wants sex - ie for his benefit."
He cant be doing things very well if he is the only person in your bed who benefits from sex!

Notmany · 15/08/2018 12:58

Stillme1
Indeed, thought exactly the same!

LadyInParis · 15/08/2018 18:26

OP I don't think it is an issue with you at all. I am exactly the same in the beginning I'm raging horny all the time, then I go off it completely.

It was only when I met my current man (who is now my fiance despite the fact I always thought I never wanted to be married) that things changed. Now I can go off it for months, then out of the blue I can be all over him constantly for a few days, a week, two weeks. Even the physical non sexual affection. And when I met my current partner, I realised that there is nothing 'wrong' with me per say, other than a traumatised past which has probably caused these intimacy issues in me. (Not you perhaps, I can't say as that's your business, but for me). But because he sees me, who I really am, despite the issues, and he knows how I love him because we communicate and I explain, and he gives me space and patience and a calm atmosphere and waits patiently out of respect for me. And now my sex drive does come back now and then (and he enjoys that while he can haha!) and the relationship is a long term one and a happy one. Because he allows the space and respect and understanding that leads to me eventually coming back to him in all ways physical. And that means everything to me. I'm not saying you have trauma by the way, just that this is how it is for me and because I found a man who sees the real me, respects me, gives me space, communicates and understands me, and we match in other ways that satisfy him until I come back to him physically, it works.

And my whole point in this is to say that I never thought i would ever be able to have a long term relationship because I always went off sex and even any non sexual affection. But once I found the right man for me, it works and my sex drive and affection whilst still odd (only due to my own past) is workable and not a problem.

So op I guess what I'm trying not very well to say, is that there is nothing wrong with you at all. I think you just haven't found the right partner for you yet. Please believe me when i say it. I always thought the same as you; that there's something wrong with me and I'll never have a long term relationship. But now I met the right guy, I found I can have a long term relationship, and there is nothing wrong with me (although I still struggle to believe that and often wonder why he puts up with me and what he even sees in me!).

You just need the right man. You deserve the right man. One with patience, understanding, empathy, the ability to see you; the person inside and love you for that, and find satisfaction from you in other ways that keeps him happy too, whilst your sex drive peaks and troughs. And you will. I believe in that because we all have a lot to give in non sexual ways.
Laughter, emotional support, shared hobbies and likes, a strong bond and loyalty, I could go on. But, whilst difficult to hear perhaps, this man isn't suited to you. And you and your little girl deserve far better. Please don't just settle. Please. You deserve better than this truly. Flowers

LadyInParis · 15/08/2018 18:33

(Apologies for the little girl part; I have been posting on another thread very similar but the man is an alcoholic and abusive even in front of the little girl. I got the two mixed up my apologies. Even so, your children still do deserve a happy mum. A single happy mum or a happy mum with the right guy and contact with their dad)

BloodyBosch · 15/08/2018 23:41

@Stillme1 - I didn't mean it like that. I meant he didn't just want to give me a cuddle being nice, it was because he intended sex to be the outcome so therefore he was getting something out of it.

Scott72 · 16/08/2018 00:28

"he was getting something out of it". Makes it sound like sex is something that only ever occurs for his benefit, at the expense of inconvenience to you. Such a mismatch of libido probably means a relationship is in serious trouble.

BloodyBosch · 16/08/2018 08:17

No, not in serious trouble at all, just being read by people who don't understand. It was a mismatch of libido for a short time, but it was resolved. It was for his benefit on that particular occasion because he was the one that wanted more than a cuddle on that particular occasion. If you've no experience of this, you're not being helpful to pick at it; neither have you read properly, I stated "when I didn't want it to go further", because sometimes just a cuddle is what you want / need. The op does have this experience, and therefore does understand.
@WantACuddle talk to him, it may take a couple of attempts, but if he's the right man for you he will listen.

Notmany · 16/08/2018 09:48

bloodybosch

I think you should stop making assumptions about others because they don't like what you have written tbh. Pretty dismissive and patronising.

Stillme1 · 16/08/2018 12:56

This thread has shown me that I must be very lucky.
I have a DP who I really want to be with in all senses of the phrase and it is reciprocated.
I cant imagine what it would be like to have a partner who wanted to push me away all the time. I really would not stay in such a situation whichever side I was on.

BloodyBosch · 17/08/2018 00:01

@Notmany - slightly hypocritical as it is people jumping to conclusions and being dismissive in the first place... assuming someone has a shit relationship because of a phase in part of it? Not only that but they appear to have misunderstood anyway...

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