Quote From: thecatladyHi leeday-
Cat lady here. Just wanted to let you know that I know EXACTLY how you are feeling and that you are not alone. I'm sorry I can't give you any advice at all since I too am right in the middle of it. Altho I don't have children, I can only say if it were me, protecting the children is of course the number one priority and you right on target to do just that.
Again, I am so sorry for how this makes you feel. I know it helps me to know that I am not alone (altho I don't wish this feeling upon anyone)...just knowing others have the same feelings helps validate my own feelings and helps me when I feel like I'm just going coco bananas.
Sorry I cannot advise you in any other way but this message board seems to help so keep coming here. Knowledge is power.
Peace out - the cat lady
Hi leedav-
I just re-read your post and I wanted to let you know I found several things you said about what your husband said to be exactly what I am hearing. Hmmmm.
In the last couple of days (remember, my situation is new...I just learned about his porn viewing a few days ago), we have talked a lot. This I think is good news....at least I'm finding out what I need to know.
Your guy said stuff like, "it's just a visual thing, all guys do it, & it doesn't mean I'm not attracted to you". I have heard the exact same words from my husband of 25 yrs. in the last few days. Also, and very interesting to me....my husband also would always have sex with me if I initiated it but never initiated it to me. Hmmmmm. You said your husband also did/does this.
This makes me wonder. You see, I am trying to understand all of this and trying to decide if this porn viewing is a big deal or not. He says he uses the images to "get stimulated" and then of course masturbates. While we are discussing all of this, I'm thinking, "all guys masturbate and I'm ok with this" (I'm not saying you should or should not be ok with that...that is your choice only) but at any rate, I'm trying to sort out - if he masturbates regularly (because all men do), what's the big deal? Here's where the looking at other naked women comes in. It seems (to me) like cheating if he gets stimulation from looking at other women and then masturbates. He disagrees. He says it's just a way to get stimulated and that masturbation is a private thing. That the women don't mean anything...it's just the way to get going. Now, granted, my husband is 68 yrs old and maybe needs a bit more stimulation than say a 20 yr. old, BUT, I wonder why he doesn't come to me for that.....I'm 48 yrs. old so he's already got someone young, fit, etc. Hmmmm.
I don't know why I'm telling you this...only that there seems to be a pattern in what all these guys tell us. Is this part of being addicted? And/or is this just part of being a man? OR is this all just a bunch of crap to tell us women so that we will allow them to continue this? I just don't know. I just find the pattern interesting.
After our discussion today, I felt much better because my husband is actually a very willing spirit to make some changes. However, after hearing your husband's explanations/excuses - whatever you want to call it - I wonder. Are these just the words of an addict....are these just words to soothe us hurting wives?
Again, I share in your pain and I urge you to consider doing whatever you feel is necessary to protect your children because that of course is the first item at hand. Of course, you have to protect and take care of yourself as well so be sure to keep yourself high on the list. You seem to have been going thru this for sometime (as opposed to me where this is all new). Do we teach old dogs new tricks? If after a certain amount of time if there is no change, do you just keep doing what you're doing? A wise man we all know often says, how's that working for you?
Others on this message board can make much more sense and advise you more than I who is so new to this problem I can't begin to claim I know anything. But I do know your pain. And I do know that you must take care of those children's mother.
I look forward to hearing more from you. -The very hurt, confused and extremely tired cat lady.