I am sorry, I know it must be hard when you love your husband so much, but it really sounds like your husband is getting between you and your son and affecting your relationship. And your son obviously has to come first. You don't want all this having a negative affect on him. Hugging you and kissing you and being close to you is perfectly normal. It seems like your husband is jealous of this and I'm not sure why. Although the fact that he looks at it in a sexual way is a little strange in my opinion, and I'd wonder where these feelings come from for him, because obviously it is 100% non sexual and normal behaviour between parent and child. Your son looking at you is probably normal curiosity about the opposite gender. Or he might have just been looking to see what you were doing, who knows. I don't really have any advice, but I hope that you and your husband can work things out, and that it doesn't have any negative impacts on your son or your relationship with him.
Oh my gosh...I remember you very well. I think you know what needs to be done. Take it from someone who was the kid in a similar situation...it's not going to get better. Your son has already been damaged by your husband's horrible behavior, and the damage is only going to intensify. You have tried...you went through counseling, you showered your husband with all kinds of love and attention...nothing has worked. It sounds like the only thing that would make him happy is if your son were to just disappear. Your husband sounds like an unbalanced individual, and I hope you get your son away from him as soon as possible.
Before I even read your update I was going to suggest that your husband has some deep mental issues! It sounds like he's more jealous of your son than anything else. For christ''s sake, he was 8 years old! As far as him hugging you and your husband thinking it's something else is just plain sick!! For you to make excuses and stay with this man as long as you have is what will harm your son. You've held back showing your son affection because your husband has some kind of freaky sexual delusions! That is what will hurt him, not that he slept in your bed when he was a child!!! Get this man out of your life and get you and your son's relationship back on track and healty. You should show affection to your son, you should tell him you love him! I am so dismayed you have let this disturbed man come between you and your son. It's very sad.
I do not like the sound of either the therapist or your husband making those claims. I think both of those ideas are complete rubbish. A child of any age can sleep beside their parents their entire life and not have sexual feelings for them. That is ridiculous, what the therapist said. I suppose it can happen, but for the therapist to make it sound so definitive, as if this is common, is ridiculous. As a mother of four sons, all of whom slept with me a great deal of time during their childhoods, with normal sexual lives, I can tell you firsthand that is total garbage. Look up other cultures, its very common in many cultures for kids to sleep with their parents. As for the husband making those claims, I see that as a major red flag. Why he would say those things tells me that he may become a problem in the future. If anything, keep an eye on him, not your son. I pray your nice little son never hears about that nonsense. That could be very damaging.
Oh my dear God, PLEASE live this person you call a man! Honestly, you and your son do not deserve this!!! You are being emotionally abused and don't even realize it! You are still trying to justify his actions and figure out how you can make him feel better! DON'T!!! Your poor son is living in HELL and going to be effected by this for life if you don't do something! Forget fixing this with your husband! He has had long enough to get with the program! Get out NOW! You need to for not only your son but for yourself! My husband and I were both severely abused both mentally and physically all through our childhoods... please leave him! I can't stress this enough! It is NOT YOU! You can't change him and he's NOT Mr. Wonderful because he does nice things for you or buys you things! Mr. WONDERFUL doesn't make you feel HORRIBLE!!
I know this no longer qualifies for child behavior forum (I am not sure if it ever did...I think there should be a husband behavior forum!) but I posted this so people who have read this and remember it can help me out? and New people may or may not read the whole thing..? I know it's way too long...I may post this again somewhere else....thanks for your time everyone.
Hello. I am back...almost two years later and still the same issues only worse as many of you told me. My son is now 12 and entering is teen age years soon. My husband is still on my case about him almost on a daily basis! In fact we are not talking now for the past 3 days because of something stupid (couple of muddy foot prints in the backyard that he says my son is responsible for!!!). The last 3.5 years, we have faught over almost everything you can imagine about my son. From haircuts to me helping him with home work to buying shoes, to spending time with grandma! I have tried and tried to show my husband lots of love and attention from doing what he likes, to giving him surprises, stuffing little love notes in his clothes, texts,...and whatever else I know how. We even went to couple's therapy (he cancelled after 10 sessions..and said we don't need it anymore)...and I continue my own therapy to try and work this out...but nothing has made a difference. He still has something to say about every thing and anything my son does or anything and everything I do for/with him.
I am not as sweet as I used to be...and not involved much with his kids who are hardly ever home. I am basically living with them like a room-mate...I now act like a crazy person every time he mentions something negative about my son and throw a fit because it has become an extreemly soar subject. I feel like I have this horrible wound and the minute it begins to heal, my husband attacks it again...and my only reaction is no madness! I work full time now and I spend 95% of my time in my room after dinner with my computer. I gave up on family time and family things long time ago. I still do things with my son and my husband but seperately...and i get treated like dirt every time I do something with my son such as going for ice cream, movies or dinner.
I have tried looking for an appartment 4 times in the last year and decided to stay and try harder because we love each other...but I can't live like this. I feel guilty because I think a lot of people have it worse than me and are still in their marriage but at the same time, I feel like what is the point of a marriage if you so unhappy in it? Yes, my husband does still bring me breakfast in bed and buys me stuff...but he takes away my very basic right to be good parent...and I have to fight with him, takes days of silent treatment and ignorance for every thing that has to do with my son. I still get dirty looks every time we are even alone in a room for a second or if I hug him or laugh with him....it's just crazy...I am so tired, stressed and depressed. My son told me yesterday that he knows that my husband (his step dad) doesn't like him. It made me so so sad. I knew he knew stuff allthough I tried so hard to sheild him from the crap that goes on between my husband and I over him but he is not stupid. He feels the dirty looks and he hears our fights ...he is still a great kid..with good grades and everyone who spends time with him compliments me on how well behaved he is...but I am dead scared of the impact of what's going on in our life on him in years to come. I don't want him to turn to drugs because he feels like he is not loved in his home...and believe me his step brothers and his step dad know how to make someone feel unloved very well! So, now...what? I think I am ready to move out...have very little money ..and I think I can manage my own place but money will be very tight. Isn't that better though? Peace of mind is worth so much more, no? I keep imagining my own little appartment with lots of love and just my son and I...but I feel guilty for leaving my husband after all he has done for me (besides this issue I mean)...and all the money he has spend on stuff for me. I want to be greatfull but I can not compromise my son's well being for it. Please give me some comments...? What should I do?
sooner or later you divorce this man your son peeking inaproirate but sleeping hugging is nothing wrong he's ignorant if his sons hugged each other or him he think it's gay I am gay am defended teen from 5 thugs in inner city and olso lifted butterfly to safety in front of this kid I showing him a real man shows kindness your husband think affection is wrong he is not real man I know 13 year old he hugs his mother so hard with love
And he is all boy inner city PR kid not afraid to fight your husband is ****** up
And it won't make him gay hermphidites have both sesxes what they should be inside
Ives church people wrong same group as your husband 98 percent gays born that way so it won't make him gay
well, it does sound like you fully understand what is going on in your house. my only fear when reading all of this is that you dont, yes he was good to you during your sickness, and possible looked like a god's gift, but if he was "mr wonderful" he wont be jealous of your relationship with your son, or act like a "spoiled little boy who doesnt want to share you with another boy". He is an adult and i complete agree with the others about him having alternative and even possibly evil motives. I also think that you feel like you "owe" him since he was so good to you during your sickness and now you make excuses because "at one time" he was great at one time. and there is a part of you that wants to "fix" him because you know he did not have a good childhood, etc and you think you can teach him what love is and all that ****. i think your inner consciense is trying to warn you and you are seeing all the signs, but you either do not want to see them because you dont want to be alone and a single parent again, or you are scared to lose what comfort he does give you when it is just to 2 of you.
all i can say is i hope time proves me wrong. Please just keep an eye out that he doesnt drive a wedge between you and his son. or become so controlling, wanting you all to himself that he doesnt allow a life outside of the house.
good luck and god bless.
Good luck to you my friend, Merry Christmas to you and a blessed and healthy New Year!
I know Brooke. It's a long road ahead of me and somedays I feel like I can fix everything ans somedays I just want to run away. Everyone's posts here has helped me a lot. I understand that my husbands relationship with my son and his opinions of my relationship with him, is wrong. I will keep even a closer eye on this situation and I will shield my son from emotional harm as much as I can. If and when I feel things are getting worse, I will make a different decision.
He seems to be trying still. Last night I actually watched a movie with my son alone in my room! (ooooooooooh!) He came upstairs and saw us sitting and watching the movie. He left but didn't say anything! (I know it's pretty pethatic that I am happy with that!) but it's a start...
I admit that he is much better husband than he is a father but again..he is a good man and he seems to be trying...so we shall wait and see. As babygirl said, it's really easy to just give up & I know I will always have that option. But I still prefer to try and work things out.
It is great that your husband is well educated and worldly and it is great that he took care of you when you were sick and that he has provided you with many material comforts. The fact still remains that he is jealous of your son. You say he is not abusive. Maybe he isn't physically abusive, but his actions toward your son are damaging. Being possessive and controlling is not good and it hurts everybody. And as far as little kids liking your husband...little kids really liked my step dad too, and he was NOT a good father, he displayed many of the same behaviors that your husband displays, and I can count on one hand the times he was nice to me when I was growing up. Maybe little kids like your husband because he is nice to them. And maybe he is nice to them because he doesn't see them as competition, the way he sees your son. You say that friends and family think he's a great guy too. Well, he probably doesn't behave in front of those people the way he behaves when it is just you, him and your son. In an earlier post, I believe someone said that in any kind of relationship, it takes an effort from all parties in the relationship to make it work. This will not work if you are the only one consistently making the effort here. You may limp along, but it won't really work in a way that is beneficial to everyone involved. You mentioned in a recent post that your husband seemed to be trying...is he still trying, or did he try just once and then go back to his old ways? You have a long road ahead of you. And one more thing...a man can shower his wife or girlfriend with gifts and attention on one hand and still be manipulative, controlling, extremely jealous and possessive on the other hand. Those are not good traits, and they are traits that are hard to unlearn. Just because he took care of you when you were sick and provides well for you does not give him the right to control you and it does not give him the right to dictate the way you behave with your son. If he doesn't make a consistent effort to change, and I mean CONSISTENT, he will drive a wedge between you and your son, your relationship with your son will be damaged, and your son will hate him and resent you. Take it from someone who has been there. Take care of yourself and your son. God bless you both.
We live in a world that is fast paced/ we want immediate gratification and instant results right down to fast food and microwave popcorn ready in 3 minutes.
No one likes to wait. It's hard these days to work hard at something, especially in relationships.
Hang in there- Giving up surely would be too easy! Divorce today is as simple as changing your socks. Sometimes we have to try really hard and I applaud you for NOT giving up.
I am sure that this whole experience has made you grow and all the insights from folks on these forums has helped you see things from all sides.
In time, with loving patience I am sure things will improve.
OMG! No..not at all. My husband doesn't do drugs, doesn't drink (a beer occassionally with me) and he doesn't hurt animals. Not at all. I am sorry you have had a bad childhood experience and still hate remembering it. My husband is not an abusive man. He really is not and I may be a little naive but I am not stupid. If I felt anything was that wrong, I would stop it any way I could. He is posesive, yes...controling, yes but he is not a monster. He is very well educated man with a ton of knowledge of the real world. He is a hard worker and he has provided almost everything, we could dream of for my son and I & his own kids. Yes, he is jealous of my son. The mother of his children hasn't been involved with his kids for years and I think he just finds it strange that I actually enjoy my son and dedicate a lot of time to him and his activities. To be honest, he doesn't show a lot of affection towards his kids (but he is does towards me)..and I don't like that. I love kissing and hugging kids and I wish he did too. But he was raised by a tough but very nice father and that's what he knows. He wants our kids to be really tough. What he doesn't realize is that growing in a loving invironment is one of the keys to being tough. Again, I am not defending all of his actions. I don't like it that he puts me in a situation that I feel uncomfortable showing a lot of affection to my 10years old son and I certainly hate it when he says he may have sexual feelsing towards me. But he does a lot of good things too for all of us. & His goodness outweighs his bad by far. I am sorry that I pictured him so bad that everyone hates him! He is actually very loved among his friends, co-workers and both of our families. And you know what, little kids LOVE him & to me that's really good sign. Kids don't like mean people usually (I am not talking about babies).
My son would have told me if he was mean to him behind my back. He is not. He is not at all. He is just a serious man. That's all.
I really think, this is pretty clear now and he is just very jealous and possesive towards me & really serious with kids. These are flaws, yes...but I am sure I have many of my own. We will work through this. My promise to myself is to raise a good man and I will...no matter what.
Thanks again for all the comments....good and bad!
I'm sorry I know his type and its very upsetting remembering the child I once was and how I felt.This is just the start.Does your husband drink or use drugs?He's mean to your little boy when your not around,I can guarentee it.Nobody likes your husband on this forum.We see it,why can't you?And I know there's more to this and your not saying.Good Luck,you and your little boy are going to need it!!!!!God Bless,Jen
It doesn't matter what a good front your husband puts up,for underneath all his phoniness he still feels the same way.When your not looking how is he treating your son,he probably gives him dirty looks as soon as you turn away.This man displays some socialpathic behavior,jealous of your son,treating you like a possession.I just pray your sweet boy can get out of this unscarred, I doubt it.I bet your a loving person and maybe a little naive.Your husband is evil underneath,he's worse then you could imagine.Don't be blinded by the charm,he can display.The reason I know his type,my step=father was like him.I suffered irrepairrable damage from him,so did my mom,the divorce stress killed her.She got cancer and now she's gone at the age of 50.Your husband has probably left a pathway of hurt,inflicted by him upon woman and children.Let me ask you this,does your husband hurt animals?
Thank you Brooke,
I appreciate it. I know what you mean. I shouldn't have to treat my husband like a child but I guess I will have to for a while until he gets it! I will continue trying ...
Thank you all ...
You should not have to assure a grown man that there is enough love to go around for both him and your son. That is the type of reassurance you would give to a child who is insecure or jealous. I wish you the best and I am glad that things seem better for the moment but again, you should not have to coddle your husband. Your son is being a bigger man in all of this than your husband is! You are a wonderful mom and wife and I certainly do wish you luck. Good luck and God bless.
We shall wait a bit and see. He has shown a little tiny bit of change this past week. They were actually posting some of my son's stuff on ebay today together...and I kissed and hugged both of them and we were all happy! I know...this is nuts to think a grown man could change this fast...I know he hasn't. But maybe he is really trying to understand my relationship with my son. I am also trying to assure him that I love him too and I have enough love to give both of them and I won't be running out! I will keep you all posted! Wish me luck...
Keep hugging,kissing,showing love to your son.Its not wrong,to not be loving to any child,male or female is though.Your husband is jeolous,which is not right.Your husband resents the love between you and your child.He has the problem, not your son.You better do something about this,before your husbands resentment turns to anger towards your son.He's going to end up hurting your son,trust me on this..I remember when my step- brother was in high school,he was crying upset about a girl,he went to my mom cried said hold me mommy and confided in her,no one else.You want to keep your relationship with your son close,don't you want him to trust you and feel like at any age he can come to you with a problem.Your husband will always feel this way,find a new one,or your son will suffer the consequences...
P.S. And in re-reading your last post, I see that your husband has once again succeeded in making you second-guess yourself. Are you able to see that?
It will be interesting to see if things will continue to be better, or if, once the heat is off, your husband goes back to behaving like a jealous, needy little boy. In one of the earlier posts, someone made the comment that a man can be a great husband but not a great father. I agree with that. From what it sounds like, the only reason that your WONDERFUL little boy would need to speak to a therapist or counselor would be so that he can have help dealing with the fact that he is being bullied by his very manipulative, jealous and controlling stepfather.
Yes..I have. My therapist says it's not necessary yet because my son doesn't seem unhappy (we all get unhappy about things around here occasionally which I think is normal but it usaually passes quickly). But I am thinking about talking to the school counselor.
Have you considered putting your son in therapy so he can have an unbiased person to talk to. I think it would help him get through all of this. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!