cynthiastanley is offline cynthiastanley Post #1  January 18,2012, 5:42pm
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TheThinker is offline TheThinker Post #2  January 18,2012, 5:56pm
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Hello all,

Although I have never posted here before, I met my husband on eharmony and thought it would be a great place to vent/seek advice.

My husband on almost a year travels a great deal for work. On his most recent trip, he went to a strip club with the boys. Although he didnt tell me beforehand (and actually told me he had gone to a "club" until he returned home), it wasn't a big deal. He doesn't frequent them, but has gone multiple times in the past and knows I can curb my jealousy for a fun boys night.
I also happen to be pregnant (my first), in my second trimester. I had mentioned casually before that although I don't gripe about him enjoying strip clubs, it might bother me when I'm pregnant because I know I no longer have a comperable body to those women he lusts after. He, of course, doesn't remember this conversation, but it still wasn't a big deal. I didn't even remind him and was glad he had fun, since my hurt feelings were brought on by my own insecurities.
HOWEVER, I found out he was getting lap dances (plural) that night. He didn't lie about it, but did not tell me right away. We have never talked about him receiving lap dances previously, but had the conversation of what we considered cheating multiple times. We both have agreed that any emotionally romantic feelings, conversations, touching, anything with anyone else was cheating and those feelings and actions were reserved for eachother. I assumed that included lap dances, but he claims he thought I knew that's what went on in strip clubs.
Am I just being naive to assume that my husband wasn't receiving lap dances? Maybe. However, it really upsets me that he wants other naked women grinding on top of him. My feelings are so hurt and I am insanely hormonal right now and just can't get over it. I don't want other men giving me that kind of attention, and I can't imagine loving him like I do and feeling that way. I feel so ugly and unattractive that I can't be enough for him (he was only out of town for 3 days). I also feel like he betrayed me and I feel cheated on, though I'm not sure if he saw it that way or not. I don't believe him when he says he loves me anymore, that's how emotional I am. I know it is partially the hormones, but it is still real for me.
We have an otherwise great relationship, never fight, very passionate and affectionate. However, that is ruined for me now (possibly the pregnancy hormones speaking). How would you guys react to this?
This isn't a matter of hormones, it's a matter of trust. Are you telling us he wouldn't be doing this if you weren't pregnant??.. because I seriously doubt it...
therefore it doesn't matter what condition you're in...you don't like it. So tell him to knock it off.
Last edited by TheThinker; January 18,2012 at 5:59pm.
 
 
cristie86 is offline cristie86 Post #3  January 18,2012, 6:00pm
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I think you're overreacting, although, I don't want to say "you" because as a pregnant woman I did the same. It's definitely the hormones talking. I think it's not cheating though. I have 8 brothers and I celebrate all their birthdays and believe we frequent strip clubs very often. If you've ever had a lap dance, I have, there's no touching. You can't touch the girls and they can't touch you. If something happened after that, as in a PRIVATE party, then that's different, but since you guys never really talked about lap dances, I would say, tell him it bothered you and ask him not to do it again. Try going with him sometime, honestly, you might think it's Pamela Anderson shaking her stuff on him, but chances are it's some overweight woman with stretch marks and 5 kids.

I'm sure your husband still loves you. Not only as his wife but also as the mother of his child (congrats on the baby btw). My body morphed so much with 2 pregnancies and 2 C-sections and my boyfriend still loves all my stretch marks and kisses all of me all the time. You will still be beautiful after the baby. Just remember, you're lending your body to a part of you and once he/she gets here, you won't even care about it.

Take a breather. Get on here and talk to people. Ask for advice. Listen to others' horror stories. Don't get emotional over little things that could eventually push him away. But you're fine. Baby us just messing with your body. Good luck and welcome!
 
 
cynthiastanley is offline cynthiastanley Post #4  January 18,2012, 6:02pm
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I cried and cried and cried, and he did listen and comfort me and apologize. However, now I just can't get over the fact that he wants a naked woman grinding on him, who is not me. I may be naive but I had no idea that he felt this way. I trusted his feelings for me and thought he felt how I did, which is that I don't want anyone but him. I trust him to not hook up with someonen else or anything, but I honestly donn't know if he just wont tell me next time he gets lap dances. He truly doesn't get it and thinks that he is a just a man and that's how men are. Is that true?
It's not that he acted on it, but that he wants it. Does that make sense?
 
 
AndieIsMe is online now AndieIsMeAdvice Member-Moderator Post #5  January 18,2012, 6:06pm
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Hmmm, most strip clubs I know you have to pay extra to get any kind of lap dance. There are always no touching policies in place, but that doesn't mean she can't touch him.

I would discuss this a bit more and don't allow him to bring in hormones as a deflection of what you see as a step towards cheating.

Personally, I wouldn't mind my BF or hubby going to a strip club once in a while. But, the situation you describe sounds like it is more often than it should be.
 
 
SearchingHoping is online now SearchingHoping Post #6  January 18,2012, 6:08pm
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I would prefer members with marriage experience to respond to you (and women who had been pregnant), but I will give you my feedback anyway.

The quality of the communication between the two of you seems to be one of the problems here. You had assumed something regarding the interpretation of loyalty, he had assumed something else. You are talking about "touching and feelings", he may think that paying for a lap dance does not include any "feelings" and that the touching is irrelevant because it is part of a show. However, it is important that the two of you resolve this and talk this through.

I understand pregnancy can be quite tolling on your emotions, however, have you ever felt this lack of trust on him before? It seems you do not trust him 100%. Is this new? have you ever had a gut-doubt before?

Some women feel sexier during pregnancy, in spite of the changes in their bodies. Others feel like you. You still have three or more months of pregnancy ahead of you (and then the baby is going to require lots of cooperation and effective communication between the two of you).

Do you have trusted friends or relatives you can talk about your feelings about yourself and body image? It seems your husband is disqualified right now to provide the emotional support you need. Too bad. You should at least let him know that you need him for emotional support right now, he should be reassuring you.
 
 
cynthiastanley is offline cynthiastanley Post #7  January 18,2012, 6:18pm
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First off, thank you guys for replying. All opinions are helping me, really.
In response to a few of them: Yes, he specifically seeked out these dances, and also spent $200 on the night, not including the dinner and drinks elsewhere. I'm trying to not think about the money, although that's way more than we can afford. Needless to say, I bought myself the embroidery machine I've been wanting for months.
And, there was touching, which he admitted. I got details, though I sort of regret it, and I think he was very honest in the details. There was extreme grinding and touching of him by her. All parts on all parts of him. He even sat for multiple songs, which is so wierd and discomforting to me, but says to me that he was very turned on and enjoying it. This was a club where she got completely naken throughout the dance except for a string.
 
 
TheThinker is offline TheThinker Post #8  January 18,2012, 6:22pm
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There was extreme grinding and touching of him by her. All parts on all parts of him. He even sat for multiple songs, which is so wierd and discomforting to me, but says to me that he was very turned on and enjoying it. This was a club where she got completely naken throughout the dance except for a string.
nice of him to tell ya that, eh?
Great that he was so honest with you.

Yeeeeah.
 
 
SearchingHoping is online now SearchingHoping Post #9  January 18,2012, 6:24pm
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I cried and cried and cried, and he did listen and comfort me and apologize. However, now I just can't get over the fact that he wants a naked woman grinding on him, who is not me. I may be naive but I had no idea that he felt this way. I trusted his feelings for me and thought he felt how I did, which is that I don't want anyone but him. I trust him to not hook up with someonen else or anything, but I honestly donn't know if he just wont tell me next time he gets lap dances. He truly doesn't get it and thinks that he is a just a man and that's how men are. Is that true?
It's not that he acted on it, but that he wants it. Does that make sense?
Have you told him that you cannot get over the fact that he wants a naked woman grinding on him?

Have you talked about "how a man is" before getting married? Have you discussed your beliefs on gender roles before pregnancy?

It seems as if you were clear with him that you find this behavior unacceptable, but he does not agree with you and would pay again for a lap dance because "he is a man". This seems to be in quite serious conflict with your values/worldview. So, how have you solved before these conflicts regarding values? Is this the first time you find a difference in values? Have you built some strategies to deal with these differences among the two of you?

If I understood correctly, you are on your first year of marriage. There are many things to learn as a couple. However, you need to work together on it. His talk about "this is what men are" and leaving you believing that he wants to pay a naked woman to dance for him... even if he says he would not act on it, makes me think he is self-centered and not concerned with your feelings and needs. Does he understand the issue is not resolved? Is he willing to continue working on it with you?

I wish we had his perspective here.
 
 
cynthiastanley is offline cynthiastanley Post #10  January 18,2012, 6:24pm
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I have always trusted him 100% but do have a history of relationships where my significant other cheated a lot. I was also raised by my father, who is an extreme womanizer, since my mother died when I was very young. I didn't have a great view of men until I met him. However, I felt he was so different and actuallly showed me that men were different. But yes, the distrust is an issue of my own perhaps, that is brought back very quickly due to my past. He knows this past very well, of course.
I also am lacking in support right now. I followed his job and just moved to a new place with no friends. I am not yet working, as I just finished my masters in December and am moving again for his job this July. My family, which literally includes 2 people (dad and sis) are available if I want to talk to them, but I am hesitant. I don't want to slander his name or make them feel that he is not the good man that I still feel he is. Since they will be around him for years to come, I want to preserve his image in their eyes. I need friends. This is as good as I can do tonight, though. =(
 
 
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