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TimidHubby
May 23, 2012, 03:11 PM
Hi,

If TL;DR (too long; didn't read, see the TL;DR section at the end for the short version)

Background: I've been married just over 5 years now. I love my wife very much. I've never been with anyone else.

The Story: I'm not one to complain or bring up perceived problems, yet I've been having one for 5 years, and in the last 5 days or so it's been keeping me up at night,. seriously, like 3-4 hours of laying in bed thinking about what I wish I could say. The problem I've been having is that I see my wife as a selfish lover. I've more or less accepted my lot in life though. Generally, our sex life consists of some kissing to get her in the mood, me performing oral on her or otherwise stimulate her to orgasm, then we have a bit of intercourse. As for her performing oral, I can count 5 times that it has happened in the last 5 years as per of foreplay (ie she's allowed a 69 a few times). Not that I've been counting, but its not that hard to remember occasions that fit on 1 hand. Also, one time where she was drunk (might happen once every two years that she drinks, I don't drink at all), she gave me an actual blowjob in the car to completion. So I know what it's like and how good it feels and that she is capable.

Sometimes it's clearly body issues for her, like she doesn't want to do 69 cause I might see details of her butt or that sort of thing, but to her credit once she's satisfied she has tried to consider what I'd like for the remaining minute or two for me to finish, like being on top riding up and down even though that doesn't do much for her. At one point we learned that her riding on top facing my feet gives her pleasure too since its like her favorite doggy style, but again, she doesn't feel comfortable doing that. So at least there's that.

However, for most of the past 5 years we've only had sex once every week or two, or sometimes three. Not because she's not willing, necessarily, but she just gives off no sexuality. She expects me to be the initiator (in year 4 I learned that making out can get her somewhat interested), and often doesn't even hint if she is feeling horny. She is very attractive... slightly overweight, but her waist is smaller than her hips and bust and she's very attractive to me, enough so that watching her just undressing makes me happy. But she doesn't ever try to turn me on. And she complains often that we don't have sex enough, but then does nothing about it other than complain that I don't make it happen often enough. In the first two years, I've bought her, and she's bought herself sexy lingerie, but I've seen each piece maybe once. Those few times she's worn something I make sure to go wide-eyed and go wow and give every indication that I like it. But she doesn't like 'initiating'. Why, I don't know still.

This has come to a head most recently because we became pregnant about 11 weeks ago. We had sex at week 8 or 9 and she spotted a bit the next day and we went to the ER, but they said she was fine. Her Dr suggested not having intercourse until week 13 or so. Now, yes we've gone longer stretches before without sex, but for the last week or two I've been making it clear enough that I'm still horny and feeling the need for release, but she kept ignoring me. I admit I find her even more appealing since getting pregnant. One aspect being firmer bigger rounder breasts. I even offered to just give her oral no strings attached and got turned down. Eventually (a few days ago) I gently confronted her asking her why she wasn't interested. She said that it's because she can't 'do anything about it'... I was confused, because I figured orgasm was a pretty good result, but apparently those 1-2 minutes of intercourse afterwards are more important to her than even to me? So, OK, she doesn't want to do ANYTHING sexual because she can't have intercourse to end it... I suggested there are still things she could do with her breasts, hands, or mouth that could at least help me out, but she says that it shouldn't just be one-way. I meekly responded by saying that I guess I just have to accept it, and repress and ignore any sexual feelings I have for her.

Even when we have a confrontation, I talk quietly and calmly, she generally yells or talks in a loud agitated manner. If I feel bad, I apologize, if she feels bad, she gets mad that she had to feel bad and yells at me. So even in the midst of a confrontation where I try to describe my feelings (which I'm not great at), I still subconsciously avoid saying anything that might make her unhappy. She even asked if I thought she was selfish, which I've thought for 5 years, but I still say "no....." to save her feelings somewhat. For example, saying that I give her oral just about every time, and never get much back, or that I would give her oral just because I love her no strings attached (which she won't leave it at, she will require penetration afterwards for a minute or two, and if she can't have that, she doesn't want the first 30 minutes of pleasuring, she's VERY complimentary of my oral skills... to the point of wondering 'where I got them'. (She doesn't want me to watch porn)

Part of her new years resolutions were to lose weight (she did), get pregnant (she did), and get help from a psychiatrist, but she didn't follow through with that one and even crossed it out after getting pregnant cause she 'felt better'. I hoped she'd go and maybe address sexual and anger and life-coping issues that she has (not that I've ever told her I think she has serious issues in these areas, despite her, for example, freaking out and crying when she wants to have a bagel in the morning, so she takes a bagel out of the freezer, then realizes its frozen, so she goes and cries in bed. I, meanwhile, take a frozen bagel out, cut it in half, and put it in the toaster twice. She just can't deal with any unexpected challenges, a lot of the time). She had been abused in several ways as a teen and felt she could use help to get over them so those experiences wouldn't affect her present, so I don't get how being pregnant fixes any of that, but it's not like I can say "no, I think you still need help".

I've never been with anyone but my wife. I thought, based on our dating/engagement that she was a far more sexual creature. We didn't want to have sex before marriage (well, she secretly kind of did), but we would turn each other on to the point of needing to each separately finish ourselves off in the bathroom one at a time. She would, almost every weekend that I came to visit her, go topless while I (semi-)avoided looking or touching, and with my underwear still on, she'd rub her breasts around on me, which was such a turn on I sometimes couldn't even make it to the bathroom in time ;-). Basically, she was sexual and interested in turning me on then, but not after we got married. Why? Because it was taboo, not allowed (religiously). I've suggested various naughty/taboo things since getting married (ie semi-public feeling sex, like stopping on the side of a road and having sex on the grass on the other side of a cement barrier where no one could see us), but she's not interested. Perhaps that one blowjob that I've ever had in my life felt taboo to her since it was in the car at night, though as I mentioned she was pretty drunk after a Christmas party).

Are blowjobs so rare in married life? Those few people I've known who were very open about such things revealed that BJs were commonly given by the woman as rewards for doing nice things, or as bribes for doing things she wanted or buying things she wanted... Honestly it's not the biggest problem in the world, but if it happened even occasionally, I would feel so loved and more generally attracted to her, as I would see her as a sexual person, rather than just someone who I try to avoid getting yelled at. I give her flowers for no reason with relative frequency, I do most of the cooking and dishes, I let her buy things that I don't think are 'needs' all the time (money is one area where she's respectful), I tell her I love he and how beautiful she is constantly, but I never get 'rewarded' beyond a hug and an "awww".

I know I still need to explain to her somehow how much it would mean to be and what affect it would have on my happiness and satisfaction with the marriage. She even has debilitating fear that I will go back to porn and masturbation as I had done pre-marriage, but that extremely strong-sounding fear is not enough for her to actually DO anything to avoid that result.

Apologies for the long long story, but hopefully at least writing it gets it out of my head a bit, and if I get some useful advise out of it, great.

TL;DR version:
I give oral just about every time, I've had one blowjob in 5 years thanks to booze, and some oral foreplay 5 times. I give her flowers and do the cooking and dishes, but don't get rewarded. I've never considered it mandatory that she please me, but even in a period of 3-5 weeks where we can't have intercourse, she still refuses to do anything to help me out when I'm in 'need'. I'm timid and she angers VERY easily, so how do I deal with it or broach the topic of how much more positive I would feel about her and the marriage if the occasional 5 minutes on her knees were to happen?

CravenMorhead
May 24, 2012, 10:29 AM
She needs help. In so many different ways. She needs to see a counselor. You've got the patience that most don't have to deal with this. It sounds like she has a lot of issues that she isn't dealing with that she needs to deal with.

The path to getting mental help is daunting and humbling. First admitting that you have enough of a problem that you need to go see one and then the follow through of admitting your deepest darkest secrets to a psychologist. Then the confirmation that there is stuff you need to work on. You've already shown that you're very supportive and she will need that more than ever.

I am really pushing this because if she gets that angry over a bagel, what is going to happen when she has a kid that is constantly s**ting itself?

Also Depends on the woman with regards to blowjobs. My current GF likes to but previous haven't. They're not rewards because that is starting to use sex as a power play in the relationship.

I think the majority of the issues are on her part and really need to be address before the baby comes. I am concerned for it.

WisperWill70
May 24, 2012, 10:36 AM
Why are you obsessing about this so much? (spending hours in bed thinking of what to say isn't healthy)

There's nothing wrong with your connection that a little communication and/or sex therapy couldn't fix. There are numerous "sex positive" religious blogs, and facilitators out there to help you find ways to connect if religion is an issue.

She wants sex and you want sex but you're both communicating about what you want and need ineffectively. You are more concerned about her reaction (and thus controlling her reactions even if it means lying) than you are being loving and upfront about how you feel... but if you do it in the right way, you will be working WITH each other instead of against. Which is the second problem - sex is not a bartering system where you keep track of who makes who happy in what way!!
It's not a system of rewards and there is no ledger where we keep track of who did what and who owes who. Your perception of your wife as a "Selfish" lover is unreasonable.

If she doesn't like to give oral sex or has issues about it from a moral standpoint, then you just have to either let this go or talk to her about your feelings. Your sex connection sounds really limited too --- 30 minutes of (stimulating but not enough to climax) oral sex for her and a minute or 2 of penetration to "finish things up" ?

I would suggest you try to change things up and that means OUTSIDE the bedroom too... touch, connection and body appreciation don't just happen for 30 minutes in the bedroom. Hug her -- talk to her about her body, (without being demanding of sex).. appreciate and don't make it all about the "O" or who is giving who what sexual act... massages, time spent together and flirtation with her can help. (not timid passive aggressive complaining! That is not flirting)

Take the focus off oral sex... and into other modes of foreplay and touch so that you're not engaging in mechanical sex which might be dull for her... and which she expects you to initiate. Spending more time on vaginal penetration may help once she's up for it (one word of warning: pregnancy can make her EXTRA horny -- or turn the "desire-o-meter" all the way down -- respect the fact that she's in an unusual situation!)

Initiate sex! If you want it... give her the attention you want from her. Don't please her because you want something in return but because you honestly want to. Double think your perceptions around masturbation. While she's pregnant and unable to have vaginal sex... tend to your needs. There's nothing wrong with masturbation - God and your wife will love you anyway and maybe this will help you to stop obsessing about blow jobs. Don't make her responsible for your sexual release.

Lastly, remember that timidity, controlling her through "acquiescence" and not opening up aren't loving - neither is demanding, blaming, etc. Be direct and loving... "I like it when you do x,y,z -- that turns me on... I just think your beautiful!" is WAY more effective than, "You never give me blow jobs and it's not fair... I please you." -- the later puts her on the defense and makes you feel whiny.

JudyKayTee
May 24, 2012, 01:36 PM
I think you both need counselling - before marriage you got each other to a fever pitchen but then finished yourself off - in the bathroom. She walked around topless and you "barely" made it to the bathroom to (again) finish yourself off?

This is not an adult relationship. I see problems that a marriage license are not going to solve.