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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

Sex and resentment

81 replies

Glassempty · 04/03/2021 00:09

I think I need a bit of help unpicking something I've realised recently and am after some objective views. DH and I have longstanding issues with sex, we both brought baggage from bad past experiences and unfortunately I think we've sort of made each other worse over the years, resulting in the whole subject becoming something of a battleground. Over the last year or so we've been working really hard to try to improve things and it's been much better, communication has improved massively and we've made more progress than I ever thought we would.

Our problems have centred around insecurity/lack of confidence and zero communication leading to long dry spells and both of us feeling rejected and unwanted by the other with lots of resentment building up on both sides. Sex is much more frequent now so things feel better between us but I still feel like that cycle of resentment is there on a smaller scale.

What's happening sounds petty, and I'm prepared to be told it is and that it's me 'at fault'. DH showers in the morning, he works a physical job in a fairly dirty environment and knows if he wants sex during the week I'd prefer him to grab another quick shower before bed. I don't think that's unreasonable but he literally never does it, although will still cuddle up to me in bed and see if he gets a response so it's not that he's too tired for sex, he just can't be arsed to shower. Then the weekend comes, he showers at night instead then and I know he gets into bed with the hope/expectation of sex because (in his head) he's done what I've asked. But by then I've built up a weeks' worth of resentment because I would've liked sex midweek and feel like he can't be arsed so I don't feel in the least bit inclined to shag him just because he's deigned to shower for the occasion. It feels like it's 'expected' too, which turns me off quicker than anything.

I've only just realised that I do resent him not showering in the week, I'm always disappointed but I've excused it as him being tired up til now. But I do resent it, that I'm expected to 'fall in line' at the weekend when my needs are being ignored all week. He's definitely not too tired because occasionally I will overlook the lack of shower (out of sheer desperation!) and he never says no.

I will be speaking to him about it, I just need to be clear in my own mind before I do. I can see I'm falling into old patterns of poor communication causing resentment but is a 5 minute shower really that big an ask? Is it really fair that I never get to choose when I would like sex, that it always has to be the weekend unless I compromise on the shower? And am I wrong to feel a bit hurt by his (in my eyes) lack of effort? Sorry it's long Blush

OP posts:
TheUndoingProject · 06/03/2021 20:13

It sounds like you think being controlling is absolutely fine as long as it’s you doing the controlling to be honest OP.

Prettybubblesintheair · 07/03/2021 14:43

I just think your marriage sounds so miserable, you’re both desperately grasping bits of control of the other, creating boundaries and refusing to accommodate the other. It’s like you’re both looking for ways to punish each other and delight in doing so, like “aha but how dare you to tell me to shower when I’ve told you how much the lack of intimacy effects me” “ah but you must be gagging for it so why wouldn’t you just shower if sex is so important to you” it’s all just so tit for tat and draining.

Newstaronhorizon · 07/03/2021 15:02

You need to write or email to him that because you were sexually traumatised in childhood by a man who had not washed beforehand it is causing you difficulties, that you realise that it is something that is now non negotiable for you any more and that having to bring it up time and time again is like re traumatising the experience for you, that it is neither the fault of either of you.

Say, from now on please come to bed showered or we will have to get separate bedrooms as I can only sleep with and have sex with someone who pays me this basic respect.

Good luck

Italiangreyhound · 07/03/2021 15:34

Having boundaries is not being controlling!!

gutful · 07/03/2021 15:46

Oh foul

He stinks up your bedsheets

He doesn’t shower his filth off at the end of the day

He wants to stick his dirty penis inside you unprotected am sure

My stomach is turning for you OP

This is so rank - and disrespectful to a partner! To be so utterly lazy & uncaring about their needs you won’t even wash yourself

He should just shower at night when he comes home.

His routine of stinking up the bedsheets & showering in the morning makes no sense cleanliness wise

It speaks to him only showering because it wakes him up in the mornings

I bet he doesn’t even wash his crack or balls properly

Imagine how dirty he is in other ways, not washing hands after a shit etc

Yuk yuk yuk if you threw you this stinky fish back nobody else would want him. He would be a bottom dweller of the dating pond

gutful · 07/03/2021 15:48

Just highlighting how Op you are being expected to shag someone that nobody else likely would.

How is that appealing or fair?

He knows you would be more receptive to him if he was clean & he still can’t be fucked?

Well if he can’t be fucked - he won’t get fucked then. That’s what I would say

Actually no I would leave someone like that.

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