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

Is this normal?

9 replies

Dubdubdubdub · 20/08/2024 12:38

Hi I'm recently dating a guy, few months, and want some advice if possible? I'm an abuse survivor, early childhood and into my earlier adult relationships, so it's good to get other opinions. I've done lots of work over the last ten years or more but always need to keep aware.

He seems pretty nice. We are both in our fifties. No red flags I can see as yet. Overall though a bit disorganised and vague at times with some memory issues that have been lifelong I think rather than recent. So I wondered whether to attribute the following to that perhaps I.e. just not thinking..or whether you thought this was normal as I haven't had a huge number of 'normal' i.e. genuine, loving relationships.

So we've had some good sex (as well as enjoying lots of other good things together). However recently there was a situation where I started it and ended up doing all the work, by hand. This was the first time it happened. He wasn't very connected to me at all and didn't seem bothered by it afterwards. It felt weird and is still troubling me. Later on I mentioned it and he did apologise but gave an excuse that I didn't really believe. So I'd like to know your thoughts, if any. I recognise that I have lots of baggage around this too. Please be gentle as this stuff can be raw even many years later. Thank you.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 20/08/2024 13:01

I’m not sure which part you need advice on? Assuming it’s the recent time where you “started it” and did it all by hand, do you mean you did this to him or to yourself?

If you mean you did this to him by hand and are wondering if that is weird, I don’t think so? I don’t think there is really a “normal” when it comes to people’s sex lives, everyone is so different and normal looks different to everyone. I know personally in my marriage there are times when one of us will do something for the other without expecting/wanting it to be reciprocated, we’re both totally happy with that and both get a lot out of it- so neither of us ever end up feeling “used” (for want of a better word).

The important thing though is that you should only do what you are comfortable with, only you can decide where those boundaries are for yourself, clearly communicate them with your partner. X

Biggaybear · 20/08/2024 13:12

What was his excuse ?? Tired ?? Drunk??

We are told nowdays that both parties should give enthusiastic consent. If during sex one or other of you dont feel up for it anymore than you should say so & stop. Again, if you didnt think he was being an active participant you could have asked if he was ok and/or stopped.

Dubdubdubdub · 20/08/2024 13:28

I was doing all the work for him by hand, which he was enjoying a lot and came but I didn't feel much connection to me. It was the first time that happened but the more I think it over realise its triggered me. But yes the question was that, Is it normal for one person to get all the attention?
I guess it felt one sided too as I don't orgasm or let him try. It's just too much for me, especially with being a new partner, but I enjoy all the other stuff. Thank you both xx

OP posts:
UpUpUpU · 20/08/2024 13:33

It can be but not every time. If it's just a one off I wouldn't worry but if it becomes a regular occurrence then id be having words with him.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 20/08/2024 13:42

Dubdubdubdub · 20/08/2024 13:28

I was doing all the work for him by hand, which he was enjoying a lot and came but I didn't feel much connection to me. It was the first time that happened but the more I think it over realise its triggered me. But yes the question was that, Is it normal for one person to get all the attention?
I guess it felt one sided too as I don't orgasm or let him try. It's just too much for me, especially with being a new partner, but I enjoy all the other stuff. Thank you both xx

Bit of a contradiction there, one minute you say it was him getting all the attention and then you say you don't orgasm or let him try.

What was his excuse that you didn't believe?

Mrsttcno1 · 20/08/2024 14:47

Dubdubdubdub · 20/08/2024 13:28

I was doing all the work for him by hand, which he was enjoying a lot and came but I didn't feel much connection to me. It was the first time that happened but the more I think it over realise its triggered me. But yes the question was that, Is it normal for one person to get all the attention?
I guess it felt one sided too as I don't orgasm or let him try. It's just too much for me, especially with being a new partner, but I enjoy all the other stuff. Thank you both xx

It can be normal, it depends on your relationship. But if you don’t let him try to make you orgasm then I don’t know how it could ever be anything other than one sided for you?

As I say in my marriage it is normal for it to be one sided occasionally, I get a lot of pleasure from pleasuring him, and vice versa, it doesn’t have to always be both. But that’s just how we feel, you are allowed to feel however you like just make sure you do communicate that x

Bobbotgegrinch · 20/08/2024 15:47

Me and DP will quite often just get the other one off, without reciprocating. It's part of a varied sex life and all evens out in the end.

I don't think it's a red flag as long as he's happy to do the same for you.

Dubdubdubdub · 20/08/2024 17:13

Mrsttcno1 · 20/08/2024 14:47

It can be normal, it depends on your relationship. But if you don’t let him try to make you orgasm then I don’t know how it could ever be anything other than one sided for you?

As I say in my marriage it is normal for it to be one sided occasionally, I get a lot of pleasure from pleasuring him, and vice versa, it doesn’t have to always be both. But that’s just how we feel, you are allowed to feel however you like just make sure you do communicate that x

Well I enjoy all the other parts of it that don't involve my orgasm so that feels enough atm, but that means he is always coming up trumps, so to speak! Eventually it might happen once I know him better but it feels awkward at the moment because it's new and I don't think I could manage all the attention on me for the whole time. I'd feel selfish and probably really awkward, but I imagine that's much easier in a longer term relationship. Also my orgasms are really triggering so that doesn't help either. It probably doesn't make much sense unless you've experienced. Thank you all x

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 20/08/2024 18:12

Dubdubdubdub · 20/08/2024 17:13

Well I enjoy all the other parts of it that don't involve my orgasm so that feels enough atm, but that means he is always coming up trumps, so to speak! Eventually it might happen once I know him better but it feels awkward at the moment because it's new and I don't think I could manage all the attention on me for the whole time. I'd feel selfish and probably really awkward, but I imagine that's much easier in a longer term relationship. Also my orgasms are really triggering so that doesn't help either. It probably doesn't make much sense unless you've experienced. Thank you all x

If I was you OP I’d explain it all to him exactly like you have here, you’ve explained your stance very well and if only giving him pleasure isn’t okay with you then communicate that with him. There is no “normal”, everyone is different, so all you can do is set out your boundaries and if that isn’t okay with him then he isn’t the one for you, that’s fine. Good luck x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread