My husband is a cuddler and I am not
By ZenDove
@ZenDove (698)
United States
March 30, 2007 3:41am CST
Boy, does this cause problems. My husband is so affectionate and sentimental and I am not. I know,usually it is the other way around. Women are usually the ones complaining about lack of attention from their husbands. That's one of the problems that I thought my marriage would not have - I don't complain from lack of attention but TOO MUCH! I think that love is a haven, something you can relax into, be comfortable in. I don't want to always have to perform, follow a script, prove the passion. If I am confident that you love me, I don't need to hear it a dozen times a day. My husband is the complete opposite. He wants to cuddle, kiss, gush and confirm all the time. It all seems mindless and generic to me. If I hug you, you can best believe that it is personal and not just an automated response. I don't want to sleep with your hot, breathing flesh pressed against mine. It doesn't mean that I don't love you and find you desirable. I just want to sleep! Shouldn't you just know that I am glad to see you at the end of the day without me rushing over to the door like a shut-in puppy? Ironically, it hurts my feelings that he doesn't just know that I love and appreciate him. I mean, my god, I'm his wife. I chose him above all others. I choose him every day when he opens the door and I am there...even if I am on the phone or the computer or polishing my toenails! He takes it so personally that I am not the touchy-feely type. Even though I wasn't like that when we were courting. He seems to feel that, because we are married, I should suddenly become Sandra Dee. I think that part of the issue is that when we were dating, he felt that he still had options but now that we are married, I have become his sole source of female affection. And I'm just not physically gushing. Please don't hold my hand while I am trying to eat and don't summon me for a kiss. He was mindlessly, constantly rubbing my back while we were watching a movie the other night and I asked him "What? Do you think a genie is gonna pop out and tell you how much he loves you?" Hurt feelings the rest of the night. Why can't my feelings be respected? Why is it that the way that I love is not considered loving? He says our roles are reversed, I say that he knew me before he married me. He seems disappointed that I am the same person. My lack of sentiment has never been this big of a problem in a relationship before now. I love my husband, I am loyal to him through thick and thin but I can't stand seeing his sad, unfulfilled face whenever I don't follow his script of affection. What to do? Are there any other women, anywhere in the world who feel as I do?
3 responses
@ashanti1967 (191)
• United States
30 Mar 07
oh wow! i thought only i felt this way..good to know that there are other women who feel the same!and there's definitely no Sandra Dee here either! i guess these type of husbands have a expectation on a wife's role as being the nurturer puppy love all the time goo-goo eyed woman and we are supposed to be the one's who never get enough of the air that they breathe,so maybe they figure if we were to respond in that way we would not notice the goo-goo eyed effect on the flip side that they are oozing..me myself ..it feels like im suffocating or in a corner im backed into..ultimately he ends up hurt that im not reciprocating but i feel what i feel..cant change that!
@ZenDove (698)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I'm so happy, I could hug you, LOL! Every time he says Gimme a kiss or he brings me flowers, I feel like a dog on a leash. I know that he expects a certain performance from me as a reward for his sweetness. I just can't do it. I'm sorry to hurt his feelings but, yes, I feel what I feel. I'm tired of being the bad guy or the ice princess while he's considered Mr. Wonderful. Thankx,ashanti.
@ashanti1967 (191)
• United States
31 Mar 07
ZenDove, it feels great knowing that im not some awful evil shrew!! hugs and kisses right back at ya! i mean you got it right with the dog on the leash statement, some people are naturally syrupy sweet and into that kisses goo-goo eyed way and some people myself included are not! thanks for making me feel like i am normal!!
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Mar 07
it is a matter that the two of you show your love differently, I can understand you getting annoyed when he overdoes it, I have been there done that and have the t-shirt to prove it, but I also know that he can be legitimately hurt that you refuse his offerings of love.
Have you ever felt rejected?
I think what you guys need to do is work out a compromise where both of you get a little of what you want,
1 person likes this
@ZenDove (698)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Now, see, that is so reasonable! That's all it is, we show our love differently. My love isn't any less than his and vice-versa. Yes, I've felt rejected in life. That's one reason why it makes me feel guilty knowing that I cause that sort of pain for him. I love my husband very much, I just don't want to be touched all the time. It's only been 2 years for us, surely we can find a compromise. Keep your fingers crossed for us! Thanks.
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
30 Mar 07
OMG, I was too embarassed to write something like that, because I thought I was the only one like that. Gee I'm glad now I dont feel as bad. My hubby is a touchy feely person too. But we know where each other stands and is all cool. I do feel guilty for not falling for his every gesture but we just seem to work it out.
1 person likes this
@ZenDove (698)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I was hesitant to put it out there like I did but I am so glad that I did! Even if no one had understood me, it felt good to get it off my chest and to offer it up in an open forum. I know that my husband doesn't understand that I feel guilty for not responding as expected. To me that means that I have to feel guilty for being myself. Not kewl. How did you get your husband to understand? How long have you been married? I'm really encouraged by your saying that you just seem to work it out. I look forward to that day. Thank you, so much.




