Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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, no sex and being horrible

179 replies

WhatToDoNowPlease · 06/12/2018 22:20

I've been debating posting for a while, I have AS so I'm not sure what is usual in a relationship.

Background first as it's relevant, a bit long though so I'm sorry. I will try and condense it.

I met DH at 15, started dating at 16 and we married when I was 29. Since getting married we now have two little boys, aged 2 and 6 months.

Before DS2 was conceived, we were working on our relationship as around 2006 DH's sex drive plummeted and it has been a huge issue. We would talk about it and he always had a reason (tired from driving to uni to see me on weekend, stressed with first job, money worries, etc).

Whenever we talk it ends with him promising to work on things but nothing ever changes. We have been to counselling which I found humiliating (when asked what I found attractive about him I answered. When he was asked he just sat in silence and stared ahead until she dropped the subject) and pointless. Most sex felt like duty sex and not fun at all. We did try out seeing another couple around that time, wasn't for me and DH was put off by having to look at another man, however he was fine with the female half of the couple. She would occasionally come over and he was all for doing stuff when she was there which I found incredibly hurtful. Anyway, we stopped that and are still friends with the couple.

DH broached the idea of getting married, he said that things would be fixed by the time we got married. They were not, he said we would work on things during the honeymoon, Nope. Then said by Christmas. Nope. During this time decided to start trying for DS1 in the January, I guess mistakenly thinking lots of sex would fix things. However we had sex twice and I had a positive pregnancy test less than 2 weeks later. Barely had sex during pregnancy until about 8 months when it was extremely difficult as we had no experience of adapting around the bump so we gave up.

After DS1 was born we slept together 6 weeks pp and then not for a long time. When DS1 was 10 months old I decided enough was enough and threw all of my effort into fixing things. We had a mishap, I took the morning after pill within 24 hours but DS2 was already conceived. DH furious that I was pregnant (I was not happy either, I was still on maternity leave and I was scared) and told me I should terminate the pregnancy. I did not do that as I already felt protective over baby.

I had hyperemesis, no sympathy even when I was hospitalised. He had to be convinced to call 111 and to take me to an appointment as I was too weak. He ignored my vomiting and would keep a conversation going with me while I was throwing up and get cross when I asked him to repeat himself as I couldn't hear him. He was ill towards the end of the pregnancy and tried to stay in bed after throwing up once and was angry when I said no as I was heavily pregnant and needed help with the newly walking toddler and still vomiting multiple times a day.

During pregnancy I found he had been chatting to a friend who was a prostitute and checking on her via FB messenger after her clients had left. He had apparently been friends with her for 5 years and just decided to hide the friendship from me. I was very upset, especially when I saw the conversations where she told him to leave me and that I should have aborted DS2.

During pregnancy DH was increasingly horrible to me. No sex since DS2 was conceived at all. Apparently I don't lose my sex drive even after having babies so it isn't that I've refused. During labour I was woken in the night by mild contractions and asked him to put the TENS on my back and he was cross, told me I wasn't in labour and to shut up as he was tired. Eventually he was convinced into helping me. During the labour I was distracting myself (homebirth, DS1 at nursery) and was browsing on the computer during contractions. He told me to fucking shut up during a contraction which was upsetting. I took myself off into the bathroom and stayed in there until DS2 was about to be born and called him in as I hadn't called the midwife back. He didn't believe me and tried to get me to stand up and go to the pool, swore when I didn't move out of the way quickly enough to let him in and repeatedly told me I was not giving birth until he could see DS2's head. He delivered DS2, called maternity unit and they said to call ambulance to be on the safe side. He did and the ambulance man asked him questions, he didn't know the answer as he had just wandered off and left me and DS2 on the bathroom floor. We were fine.

Since DS2 he has been increasingly horrible. He's called me fat, a bitch, lazy, stupid, selfish, refused to have much to do with DS2 but kept taking DS1 out away from me and wouldn't hold DS2 so I could spend time with DS1.

He went out to lunch with a new friend of mine and didn't tell me. When I had evidence he just denied it, then got angry with me for 'snooping'. Her car has been outside the soft play place he went with DS1 so he knows this would have badly upset me. He also took her to A&E to help her for an entire day, when he has never done that for me without complaining about the inconvenience to him. He was surprised that I didn't fancy him taking DS1 out to a theme park with her for a day without me.

Given the background above, would you think that the sex situation could ever be salvaged or have all the other issues completely eclipsed that issue and mean there's no coming back from this? I just think that if the sex situation was resolved then other issues would become minor.

Yes, I know I shouldn't have married him, I did because I loved him and wanted to be with him and believed him.

OP posts:
WhatToDoNowPlease · 06/12/2018 23:25

He really loves DS1, he will want him a minimum of half of the time. DS2 is breastfed so won't be going anywhere for a while.

He is spending a little bit of time with DS2 but as soon as he fusses he hands him back which makes me feel horrible as he's such a lovely little boy and an easy baby (but crappy sleeper).

I am hearing you all, I just have no experience of anything else and I assume the autism doesn't help matters.

I doubt anybody would believe he could be this horrible TBH, he never showed any inclination to be like this before, and we've been together for such a long time.

OP posts:
WhatToDoNowPlease · 06/12/2018 23:29

I never went back on my word, even when I was 16 I have always said I would never get rid of a healthy baby even though I'm pro choice. It isn't something I could live with. I never violated his trust, I took the morning after pill! It isn't my fault that DS2 must have already been conceived. It's just rather unfortunate for him that as soon as I realised I was pregnant I felt very protective over DS1's sibling.

She was my friend, not his.

OP posts:
RCohle · 06/12/2018 23:37

You poor thing, this sounds awful. I really, really don't think the sex is the issue here - but I think you know that.

When you've been with someone for such a long time it can be very hard to imagine how your life would be without them, but I think you and your children would be much better off alone.

It seems like he really can't get past your decision to keep DS2. The rights and wrongs of that choice are wholly irrelevant now. Your son is here and if your husband can't get past it, then you need to do what is best for your and your DSs.

Sethis · 06/12/2018 23:37

If there was no explicit agreement then that's partly on him too.

The "Friend" bit should probably have been in speech marks, because I'm using it in the sense of "another woman that he's cosying up to while acting like a prick towards you" rather than the actual meaning of the word.

Honestly think you should just leave. He'll eventually do something unforgivable because you've had a year of this and nothing has changed. The sex is almost entirely irrelevant beside all of the shit he's pulled. Your happiness will improve markedly without him in your life giving you this level of abuse.

Safeandwarm · 06/12/2018 23:45

Op it’s not just been since ds2 was conceived though. You have tried swinging for this man, even though it upset you and made you jealous. You’ve tried marriage and nothing changed. You’ve tried having ds1 and nothing changed. You tried therapy and nothing has changed, and it made you feel bad. You have even turned a blind eye to ‘friendship’ with a prostitute.

I’m sorry to say it but you have tried so much more than most people would think was right for this man, what has he done for you?

WhatToDoNowPlease · 06/12/2018 23:47

Do you think counselling might help him or am I just desperate?

I'm going to bed now but will be back in the morning. DS2 will be awake for cuddles and feeding soon so must get ready now.

Thank you for the perspectives.

OP posts:
WhatToDoNowPlease · 06/12/2018 23:51

The jealousy was more that he was willing to do stuff when she was around but not me on my own. Not exactly jealous in the normal sense. I'm still friends with her.

He's never met the prostitute/escort, she was a friend of a friend and he helped her with something and they became friends. Just much closer friends than I would like with their discussion of me.

I do see what you're saying though. I admit that the only things coming to mind are supporting me through uni and giving me my DS's, nothing about being a good partner. Though obviously he was very good emotionally (and a little bit financially) supporting me through uni.

Must go to bed.

OP posts:
maximumcarnage · 06/12/2018 23:56

You want more sex. Right. With him? With the guy who clearly doesn’t want sex with you. Who clearly doesn’t like you. Who clearly would rather be getting his jollies with other women. Really?

I’m awfully sorry but based on what you’ve posted he’s not right for you. I can’t imagine he will ever want what you crave. I can just picture your relationship getting increasingly bitter and distant. I can see his contempt for you getting worse. And if he hasn’t already, getting involved with other women.

You sound like a lovely woman. Caring and affectionate. You’re perfectly entitled to try anything you can to save your marriage. Never mind the sex part. But it’s my private hope that you meet someone who will love you completely. Who won’t treat you in a nasty and uncaring fashion.

However if you choose to remain. To suffer further indignity and rejection, I sincerely hope you find some measure of joy in your life. You deserve that much at least.

Ifeelinclined · 06/12/2018 23:57

Counseling could help if he was willing to try to make it work. But it seems like he's checked out of your marriage. You don't deserve to be treated this way. Maybe you could try some individual counseling for yourself? It might help you process your feelings and decide how to move forward. ThanksThanks

AnyFucker · 06/12/2018 23:59

Nobody is going to tell you that any of this is ok

Coronapop · 07/12/2018 00:02

Sadly flora is right.

ems137 · 07/12/2018 00:02

No, counselling will not help this relationship.

Counselling for yourself will help you to realise that this awful treatment of you is not ok and hopefully give you the courage to leave.

AgentJohnson · 07/12/2018 04:28

Yes, I know I shouldn't have married him, I did because I loved him and wanted to be with him and believed him.

Nice try but no. You married him because you didn’t want to accept who he was and you desperately wanted a happy ever after.

You’ve treated the ‘sex thing’ as an isolated incident instead of the wider pattern of selfish behaviour that it has become.

The question isn’t ‘why is he like this?’ but rather ‘why are you so desperate to be with a man who has zero respect for you’?

Love isn’t the driver that has led you to make a series of poor decisions that has you voluntarily shackled to this relationship, I don’t know what the driver was/ is but I suspect that your Mum and how you relate to her and her choices has something to do with it.

The idea that you still want a physical relationship with someone who has shown nothing but contempt for you, should worry you.

This is who he is, the very first step is to except it. The second, is to find out who you are and what motivates your decisions.

Nitpickpicnic · 07/12/2018 05:08

These ‘but I’ll try harder to give a shit about our family’ types listen to only one thing. Removal of their family. A few months for the joy of freedom to wear off, for the pinch of family disapproval and the prospect of a lonely life to make a difference.

Kick him out and see if he can earn his way back, at the very least.

With a bit of luck you’ll discover that life without his constantly wearing presence is actually pretty doable. Frankly, how much more of your (short) life do you want to hand over to feeling unloved and belittled? Isn’t your whole adult life (and most of your teens) enough of an experiment?

ICJump · 07/12/2018 05:16

Please leave. He is an arsehole. The way he treated you in labour is just awful.

Healthy relationships are built on kindness and respect.

Shoxfordian · 07/12/2018 06:45

You need to divorce him, as soon as you can.
He's treated you awfully. It doesn't even sound like he likes you.

PixieCutRegret · 07/12/2018 07:01

Oh op, I felt so angry and sad on your behalf reading about how he treated you in labour with DS2. Not much on the internet shocks me anymore but reading that did.

The sex is the least of your problems. Tbh if he can be that verbally abusive to a pregnant lady I wouldn't be surprised if he became physically abusive in the future Sad

Get yourself and your little boys out of this mess, before they learn to copy thier father's behaviour.

Flowers
MattBerrysHair · 07/12/2018 07:15

Op, I am autistic too so understand that people like us sometimes don't understand what is acceptable or not in a relationship. However, I am shocked at your description of his behaviour and you shouldn't be so accepting of it. There is nothing you can do to salvage this. He is a massive bellend who has treated you appallingly and it has gone way too far to turn back. You need to find some self-respect and start getting angry about his behaviour towards you, I mean, how dare he! As a pp said, nobody here is going to tell you that any of this is OK.

Divorcing an abusive bastard doesn't 'make you like your mum'. It means you have healthy boundaries, good self-esteem and are a positive role model for your dc. I'm a single mum on benefits and although money is tight it is preferable to an abusive marriage.

You've got a lot of processing to do. I wish you all the best Flowers

Branleuse · 07/12/2018 07:21

He is neglectful and abusive. Not supporting you or believing you were in labour could have had fatal consequences. He neglects you and is cruel.
Your boys will be looking to your relationship as their model for their adult relationships. It is really important that they dont learn go treat their future partners like this, so even if its tricky for yourself, you need to leave for their sake

MummyofTw0 · 07/12/2018 07:23

You need to leave him. Please .

Tiredemma · 07/12/2018 07:28

Jesus Christ I only read half the post. Why on Earth are you with this man???

TastelesslyDone · 07/12/2018 07:37

OP, your H’s treatment of you during pregnancy was disgusting, quite frankly sub-human. Just fuck him off, work on yourself, and maybe find an actual human being with real emotions to date somewhere down the line.

stegosauruslady · 07/12/2018 07:44

This is very similar to my story with my exH. Except that our babies were all planned.

Don't continue to do it OP. It is bad for you, bad for the children and bad for your H as well! Leave him, spend some time being single and enjoying it (you can spend the time he has the children having sex with interesting humans!)

I have ended up over the moon in love with a very good man, exH seems happier, the children are far far better off.

CryptoFascist · 07/12/2018 07:48

That description of how he treated you when you were in labour made me want to cry. A decent man wouldn't treat a complete stranger like that, never mind a woman who's giving birth to his child.
It's only luck that nothing bad happened to either you or your DS.
Please seek counselling for yourself, you need to understand that you are so deserving of love and respect and decency. This is not a good man. He's not even what I would call a man. You on the other hand sound like a lovely woman and you would absolutely blossom without this drain in your life.

mummmy2017 · 07/12/2018 07:48

I wonder if your a people pleaser.
It seems and has happened to me that because we do try to be nice and help we have no value..
We hate to upset others thinking they will be upset too. The truth is they are too selfish too care if we are upset.
Start pulling him up on things..
Do not have sex or try to get affection from him.
Instead pull him up on everything, I love the replies for that on here. Been using them so much this year.
That is rude...
Did you really mean to do that!
I can't belive you said that.
No. That does not work for me...

Swipe left for the next trending thread