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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

Desperate for any help/advice!

38 replies

Jhm93 · 23/07/2021 21:15

Hi,

Me and my husband have been married for 3 years, together for 7. We have 2 children together, things haven’t always been amazing but we’ve always had each other and our amazing children.

After my youngest child I found it very painful to have sex do we have not tried for almost a year now. I do understand how hard that is on him, I have also been telling him for the past year how unhappy I am in our relationship. I feel he makes no effort at all, he can be controlling at times but has no idea he is, he also treats my daughter (from a previous relationship) different to our own children. Nothing has changed other the year and things are still the same after taking to him about these issues.

A few weeks back I was looking through his photos on his phone from a recent family day out when I found around 170 photos of me. These photos are mostly naked and all without my knowledge or consent, photos of me taking a bath, doing house work in a skirt/ dress bent over, some are of me sleeping when my nighty has risen up, and some of me when I’m getting changed etc.

I felt physically sick and humiliated, I am extremely insecure about my body and he knows this, I felt he’d completely destroyed any trust I had for him. I confronted him and he couldn’t say sorry enough. He told me it’s because he’s so attracted to me and loves me so much.

I don’t know how but I decided to try to move on and work though things. He just likes to sweep out problems under the rug and not talk about them when I try. Fast forward a few weeks and I was really trying to move on from it, that was until I was asleep and suddenly woke up to my trousers being pulled down. I kept my eyes shut as I wanted fo know what his intentions actually were. He was looking at my vagina and wanking himself off over me. Again I felt physically sick, I turned over and he tried to roll me back on to my back. Again I rolled over and he eventually finished himself off and left me alone.

I confronted him about it, he told me my 2 year old son who was sleeping in between us pulled my trousers down by mistake when he was wriggling and he was simply pulling them back up for me. I screamed at him and couldn’t believe he lied which upset me even more l!

Two days of us not talking he then finally admitted the truth and again apologised. I feel so confused by everything’s that’s happened, I have spoken to my mum who thinks we should try marriage counselling, which I feel like I should do for my children’s sake. But how can I ever look at him the same way ever again or feel the same way.

He is currently on the sofa giving me space but I have no idea where to go from here, any advice would be really appreciated x

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 23/07/2021 21:34

I would disagree with your mother here and think you should not embark on marriage counselling at all. Joint counselling is never recommended where there is abuse of any type within the relationship. Controlling behaviour is abusive behaviour and there is sexual abuse and voyeurism present in this relationship too. It’s all about power and control. He wants absolute over you.

This is not to mention him trying to blame your two year old child for pulling your trousers down (he is truly despicable), does the man think you were born yesterday?. He had NO respect for you whatsoever and you are in an abusive relationship with this man. He also treats your daughter from a previous relationship differently, he is a terrible example of a stepfather to her. That in itself is relationship ending.

I would have no compunction about calling the police re his voyeurism and sexual assault on you and starting divorce proceedings. You were never able to move on from this and he does not deserve any of you in his life now.

category12 · 23/07/2021 21:41

He's creepy as fuck and doing things to you without your consent.

What if he moves from wanking over you in your sleep to raping you? He's been taking non-consensual photos to wank over, then he's literally wanking over you in your sleep - his behaviours are escalating. Sex offenders tend to start out with "minor" behaviours that escalate.

Your mum is wrong.

Joint counselling is a mistake where there's abuse, and this is abusive.

category12 · 23/07/2021 21:42

Also, are you telling us that he was wanking himself off over you while your ds was in the same bed?

Jhm93 · 23/07/2021 22:06

Thank you.

All of you, I think I really needed to hear that (read that.) I think sometimes you don't see what is happening when you are in the middle of it all and have other people having an input.

I am so scared as to what will happen if/when we separate. I couldn't imagine missing time with my children, equally I know they adore him and would never stop him seeing them.

Do you think there is any coming back from this?

It is all so strange/creepy to me. I feel if he'd gone out and cheated on me I'd be able to handle it better but this...I'm so confused.

I've never heard of anyone going through something like this, I don't know what to think. I just want him away from me but I'm so worried about the effect it will have on the children.

As much as I hate him at the moment I could never deny that he is a fantastic dad 90% of the time.

I wouldn't even know where to go from here, I've no money, nowhere to go, no friends and a family that want me to work things out x

OP posts:
Unanananana · 23/07/2021 22:07

He is disgusting. He did that with your child in the bed next to you? There is a word for that shit.

Why would you even consider staying with that? What is wrong with you?? Protect your children.

Unanananana · 23/07/2021 22:09

As much as I hate him at the moment I could never deny that he is a fantastic dad 90% of the time

Err....what? He committed sexual offences next to your sleeping child. He is 0% good father and 100% a filthy pervert.

Aquamarine1029 · 23/07/2021 22:12

I would be calling the police. Your mother gave you horrible advice. You never have counseling with an abuser. Your husband is a sexual deviant and predator. Police, now.

seekingadvice23 · 23/07/2021 23:32

@Unanananana

He is disgusting. He did that with your child in the bed next to you? There is a word for that shit.

Why would you even consider staying with that? What is wrong with you?? Protect your children.

Completely agree! This makes me feel so sick!!
MiniTheMinx · 23/07/2021 23:39

Where was the 2yr old while this was going on?

SorryWoman · 24/07/2021 01:23

Leave him

ProudAspieDad · 24/07/2021 01:41

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PixelatedLunchbox · 24/07/2021 01:54

I completely agree he should not be vilified. If it were me, I would have seen a doctor months ago for the painful sexual intercourse problem. If you don't wish to fix the problem (your prerogative) is there a possibility you would give him permission to have his needs met elsewhere?

spotcheck · 24/07/2021 01:57

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spotcheck · 24/07/2021 01:58

And he absolutely should be vilified for wanking over his sleeping wife.

Disgusting behaviour which shows zero respect.

ZednotZee · 24/07/2021 02:10

Have you not had sex for a year OP?

Have you discussed this with him? Of course its not OK for him to use any part of your physicality without your consent; but did you ever venture in to how he was meeting his needs? And whether the methods he used were acceptable to you?

Marriage and ltc do presuppose some kind of sexual involvement and if that was off the table for an extended period then I hope you have had the necessary conversations about it.

DismantledKing · 24/07/2021 02:15

ProudAspieDad

I think that is the worst advice and the worst post I have ever read on Mumsnet. I have reported it for minimising abuse. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Sparklfairy · 24/07/2021 02:36

Man comes on to mansplain that sexual assault is okay because a man simply CANNOT be denied his sexual needs. Its traumatic for him, see.

ProudAspieDad · 24/07/2021 03:17

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Grimsknee · 24/07/2021 03:34

There was no plea for help to save a marriage. Your reply was despicable.

LunaNorth · 24/07/2021 03:42

@ProudAspieDad

You’ve got this very, very wrong. Worryingly wrong. Violating someone is never an expression of love. Ever. Please make sure you understand that.

I think yours is one of the scariest posts I’ve read on Mumsnet, and please don’t use your neurodiversity as an excuse. My close family members who are not NT know and respect the difference between desire and abuse, and frankly, if you don’t, then it’s time to learn. Fast.

smileyforest · 24/07/2021 03:56

@ProudAspieDad
Utterly vile is your post ....Nothing to do with 'Needs' Damn right abuse ! This lady needs help to get away from her husband....its despicable!!!

Eekay · 24/07/2021 03:58

Fucking hell.
Get out of that marriage. Is he posting these photos online??
You don't need marriage counselling, terrible advice, you need the police.
I'm sorry this abuse has happened to you.

itsmschanandlerbong · 24/07/2021 04:19

I can't believe some of these comments that I'm reading. People are minimising his behaviour because he has "needs" and you haven't had sex with him for a year? God forbid he should have a bit of self control and not sexually abuse you. Worst still, in front of your two year old child. I would also classify that as sexually abusing them too btw. Not to mention what he doing to your daughter emotionally. Your mother has given you terrible advice. You need to leave, and fast. He is escalating. He is controlling and abusing you. He is NOT a good father. If he is abusing you then by extension he is also abusing your children. Contact Women's Aid for advice and support. Leave as soon as you are able to.

Sakurami · 24/07/2021 04:26

He is sexually abusive, controlling, makes no effort and treats your daughter differently to his bio kids.

Leave him

Sampafie · 24/07/2021 06:02

@OP @Jhm93

I am so scared as to what will happen if/when we separate. I couldn't imagine missing time with my children..

Im a bit worried that THATS what youre focused on. A man who clearly cant control his sex drive being around my children, and tends to use excuses like "i just found it so sexy to do" would TERRIFY me being alone with my kids. But then again maybe thats just me