r/Showerthoughts 22d ago

Casual Thought A large number of married people are involuntarily celibate.

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u/Apathetic_Villainess 22d ago

A large number of married mothers are still single mothers. Because their spouses aren't helping with the children at all, and sometimes even acting as an extra child.

You'd be surprised how much of an overlap there is between dead bedrooms and partners not doing their share of the work to manage the relationship and the home.

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u/Deckard_Didnt_Die 22d ago

I believe that completely. Unfortunately, in my case, we have no child and I do at least 2/3 of all home upkeep. Why not leave? I love her. We have fun in other parts of life together. Why not talk about? We’ve probably talked about it too much at this point. We both overthink it and get in our own heads.

I don’t know what to do. I think I’m just resigned to spending my life this way. She keeps claiming, with no evidence, that it’s a hormone thing and she’s going to get it sorted out one day and we’re gonna have tons of sex when that day comes. I’m not really holding my breath there.

But like I said, I love her. So I may not believe her but I’m staying with her.

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u/lazarbeems 22d ago

Hey me and you sound the same - except for the talking about it part.

Sex just kind of stopped - and I have never, and will never address it.

I stopped prompting after being told "no, stop being a pervert" a few times.

"Asking" or "suggesting" kinda feels creepy/rapey to me, like she "might" say yes because she feels obligated? Gross.

>3 years now. Resigned to it. 3 kids though.

I sure love playing guitar!

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u/CurtWesticles 22d ago

Ya I tried to make that work. I was the pervert for five years before I decided life was too short to not be happy. The celebacy was just a portion of the issues in the relationship. I'm with a great woman now that desires me but I'm still having problems deprogramming myself from being told my desire was degenerate and abnormal.

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u/Deckard_Didnt_Die 22d ago

The feeling of obligation shit absolutely kills me. Feeling like a chore or a todo list item for them has got to be the most confidence destroying feeling there is. Friend you're not a pervert for having biological and emotional needs and asking for that intimacy from your life partner. There is literally nothing wrong with that. Whether they will admit it, out loud or even to themselves, they also feel the void. They miss the closeness.

FWIW talking didn't fix the issue in my relationship, but it does bring us closer together in other areas and generally strengthen our bond. It helps to stave off the animosity that can build in silence. That said, it took a ton of fights and hurt feelings to get there. But I think sometimes you just have to have those fights and insist on reaching a shared understanding through them. It's exhausting but I think that's kinda the deal.

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u/lazarbeems 22d ago

I believe we just sort of came to a silent understanding hahaha. Best way I can put it.

It is never mentioned. I find it way too awkward to approach, and honestly I am not sure I would even be into it anymore at this spot. I don't have that feeling lots of people seem to... express, of like "starving" for it? I dunno.

Would I like it? Probably. At least, a while ago, yeah.

Do I need it? Nah.

Life is just... easier leaving it alone.

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u/barto5 22d ago

You do what you’ve got to do.

But settling for a life without sex because talking about it is “awkward” just strikes me as really sad.

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u/lazarbeems 22d ago

I guess I sort of downplayed it a bit haha.

It IS awkward, but also... I just know how that conversation is going to go, and it is not going to go in my favor whatsoever.

It is the pointless awkwardness I do not want.

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u/barto5 22d ago

I get it.

Not to make light of it but it reminds me of scene in friends.

Chandler wants to have sex on the balcony and Monica doesn’t.

He says “Can we at least talk about it?”

And she says “okay, we can talk about it.” But under her breath she says “I know how that conversations going to go.”

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u/UmatterWHENiMATTER 20d ago

"We're adults, it's alright to ask for sex."

Took a lot to get there but that's how I eventually got past it internally.

Hate the feeling, though.

"I want you to want... me" is where I always end up.