Help trying to figure out exactly how I feel

Scarletta

New member
Hello, longtime lurker, first post. Guess i'm gonna have to go into a bit of history. Thanks for reading, those of you who do.

The hubby (L) and I have been married for almost 11 years. After some brief swinging we finally took the plunge to poly over a year ago, and I have one boyfriend, C, who is also married to a woman who self identifies as lesbian. Hubby L and boyfriend C have very little relationship and C's wife and I have some mutual friends. And everyone's fine with this arrangement. As we make up our rules and boundaries for our individual marriages, we tend to mirror each other in our choices, which is nice. Less to remember that way.

What I'm having trouble is dealing with and letting go of some of the anger I've been harboring against both of my men for the past couple months. The first year that C and I were together, L had a lot of difficulty dealing with the emotional intimacy we expressed. He had access to any chat longs, and C's wife did as well, only L didn't like them as much (C's wife didn't care either way as long as she was kept in the loop.) L would go back and forth about what level of intimacy between myself and C that he was comfortable with, and we'd oblige. No sex this week, sex but no super-emotional discussions the next week, how about just friends until further notice, etc. It was frustrating, but C and I have known each other since high school and we both were confident that we'd always have our friendship, so there was no rush, L would come around in his own time. Or not, in which case we'd both still have our happy marriages, some good memories, and a great friendship.

This January, I prompted L to reexamine his feelings and actually meet C (they'd met sometimes in group situations, but L was always standoffish.) We went out for drinks and karaoke, then back to my place, and had a awkward threesome but one that ended up having L see C in a different way. Suffice to say that since late January, L has been much more at ease with my relationship.

He also decided he wanted to start up a relationship with a co-worker of his, which I approved. She seems great for him. L treats me with so much more respect when he's dating her. I think they are fine, and like I said, I approve of their relationship, but I can't help but be a little jealous sometimes, that he has been allowed to enjoy the NRE and I was barred from it. But I try to say well, what's done is done, and C and I are in a good place now anyway, so it's fine. L and his girlfriend are able to see each other at work every day, as well as spend some time after work 5 days a week. I, however, am only able to see C MAYBE once a month, and that's due to a bunch of reasons now, but last year a lot of it was L's discomfort with our relationship. So I kinda feel I was robbed of that too, and that L's lucky to have an understanding wife (me), but I was not so fortunate with my spouse, him.

~~~
So, the hubby L, is seeing a single woman, and I am seeing C and things are going well, with all of us finding time for our lovers and our spouses and L and I for our son, as well, trading off on the childcare while the other one is out (no funny business at our place because we are the only ones with a child.)

C has an ex girlfriend V that he dated maybe 18 years ago, who I have a light friendship with myself. She's a single new mother with a husband stuck out of the country and a narcissistic mother who just tears her down. Sometimes C and I will go see her and offer babysitting, companionship, or bring her a meal or two. Once she had to leave briefly and C and I messed around at her place which was kind of hot. V is well aware of our arrangement and herself in kind of a polygamous marriage (different country, so it's kind of weird.)

I really like C. No, I am in love with him. And everyone knows that and is cool with it, and I am fine with C not being in love with me, back. When I need reassurance from him, he's quick to give it, stating that he has no desire to ever end our friendship, and if he had the desire to add another person he would be sure that I along with his wife would have equal say in the matter. And of course those discussions would preclude any kind of activities whatsoever.

Right, so finally, the meat of the story. Two weeks ago, C told me he was headed to visit his parents and then stop by V's place to see if she needed anything. I hoped he would have fun, and agreed to talk later. We did talk later, at which point he casually told me that they cuddled, kissed, and he performed oral sex on her. I was floored because this was so out of the blue, and yet, I knew of their past relationship, and I wasn't sure if maybe he thought our discussions of new people in our relationship only applied to actual NEW people, and not rekindling old relationships? He was very non chalent about everything, including the fact that he didn't get a chance to get off either and was wondering when I would be free. This was insulting, and very unlike him, so I was just speechless (most of our conversations are messages.)

I took a day to think about how I felt, at which point I decided that he had violated our agreement to discuss anything before any activities occurred, and also told him that I was insulted about how saying that he just needed me to finish him off. And finally, that if this was his definition of our relationship, that one could just engage in anything with any one at any time, then I was not willing to continue our (at that point 15-month) relationship. That was good, right? Stating my boundaries, explaining how I saw things, etc.

He replied saying that he honestly didn't think he was violating anything because physical intimacy with his ex, V, was never off the table even when he got married (they've been married 10 years, almost as long as we have) and that his wife knew that, and he was pretty sure that he had communicated that to me. Also, he almost saw it as just being able to do something for her, to comfort her and not expect anything back, and thought I would have understood that since I kinda knew her and that she was a special case. However, since it was apparent to him that he didn't make that clear to me before, he took full responsibility for not being clear, and was very pained to have hurt me, and listed in detail all the precautions he would take in the future to take my feelings into account, and that he would never have done that if he even thought it would be a shock to me. Also that he knew he had broken my trust, however unknowingly, and would do whatever it took to win me back, would accept any boundaries I put on our relationship and indeed didn't feel like engaging in anything sexual at all with anyone at the moment, realizing how he had hurt me. He said that at all costs, he wanted to keep our friendship even if that meant keeping it purely platonic and that he couldn't stand to lose me over what seems to be a misunderstanding, not an intentional violation. He also explained that he had taken the time to get assurances from her about her testing status, and all that, so it wasn't like a heat-of-the-moment thing like I had envisioned.

Hard to believe this guy isn't in love with me.

I took a day or two to digest this, and we got together to discuss our rules and boundaries again, and all was well again. Our sex is great again, C's wife is just as pleasent and friendly when I'm over, and both C and I take the same time to reaffirm our spouses' comfort levels with the relationships.

Now that we're back to normal, and indeed even stronger, C has expressed a brief interest in "branching out." But that he wasn't actively looking. He had said as much before, but then, after the profuse expressions during our rocky time, I just... I dunno... I got a real taste of how he really feels about me. And I miss that. And I wish he would do it more. And before I could have even said so, he had said himself that he realized he doesn't tell me often enough how much he appreciates me and that he would make an effort to do so. And he does. But now it's back to.... back to where he doesn't care if I find someone else or not.

And this bugs me. And I know it shouldn't. I mean, what do I want, do I want C to be jealous? Well, no. But... I dunno, maybe I do? Maybe I want him to be even a tiny bit possessive? Because I am. I'm poly. I know full well how affection for one person doesn't diminish how you feel for another, in fact I love my husband L just as much as ever, even though I'm in love with C. And I know an easy solution would be to just tell C how I feel but... but I so much want him to respect me, and wanting to play the petty jealousy game is not the way to do it. But I wish he felt some kind of... I wish he felt our relationship was more than just friends with benefits. Well, he does, he said those exact words, and even some more flowery language that I know he genuinely means. But for some reason, his neutral reaction to me possibly finding another lover makes me feel sad. Am I just being petty? And heck, do I even want another relationship? Sometimes I feel lazy and that I don't feel up to going through the trouble of getting to trust someone else again.

So I'm angry at L for not allowing me to take more advantage of the NRE with me and C, and then wishing I could recapture that, and feeling like C is bored now and wants to move one and feeling cheated out of all of that, and feeling like now he realized I was only upset for 48 hours that I'm not worth going through any trouble to keep, since I accepted him back so quickly....

I dunno, I'm just mad, and jealous of both of my partners, and jealous of THEIR partners, and... yeah it's not them, it's me. How am I *supposed* to feel, guys?
 
You feel however it is you feel. When you grow tired of feeling that, and tired of thinking the same things over and over? You could change your thinking behavior AND your doing behavior.

  • Right now you seem to be dwelling on the past in your thinking behavior at this time.
  • You also seem not willing to talk it out with DH or C in your actions behavior at this time so you can lay old things to rest.

Neither seems to be serving you well.

WITH DH

You seem to be saying...

  • I am jealous of DH.
  • He has been allowed to enjoy the NRE and I was barred from it.
  • I also envy DH.
  • L and his girlfriend are able to see each other at work every day, as well as spend some time after work 5 days a week. I, however, am only able to see C MAYBE once a month and that's due to a bunch of reasons now, but last year a lot of it was L's discomfort with our relationship.

C's current schedule has nothing to do with L's past struggle, but you seem to want to lay it on DH's head anyway because you haven't resolved old stuff.

How about asking DH to acknowledge all this and tell him you would appreciate him saying something like...

"Yes. I'm sorry your unfolding with C had bumps. I'm grateful and appreciative that you supported me all that time I was struggling though, even if it cost you NRE time with C.

I am grateful and appreciative that you now gift me THIS -- an NRE time without struggle. I wish I had been able to give that to you then -- I hope I am more able to give it to you in future if you ever date a new person."

You seem to need appreciation from him there to be able to totally let it go.

WITH THE BF

It seems you need appreciation from C too. And some affection -- demonstrated in more overt ways. You seem to want him to woo you and show he values you.

But for some reason, his neutral reaction to me possibly finding another lover makes me feel sad. Am I just being petty?

You also seem upset that while YOU miss "the NRE we never got to have" C himself is not seeming too upset by that.

C is ok with you having another lover. But that would mean NRE with that other person, and not C. Is that where this is parked at? :confused:

And I know an easy solution would be to just tell C how I feel but... but I so much want him to respect me, and wanting to play the petty jealousy game is not the way to do it.

So what is stopping you from taking the easy solution? Pride? Wanting him to chase ya? Something else?

What behavior does he do that demonstrates lack of respect toward you?

You are not able to tell your partner C up front how you feel without you making it be a petty jealousy game? How does you telling your partner "I am struggling with jealousy things. Please help me!" = petty jealousy game? :confused:

But now it's back to.... back to where he doesn't care if I find someone else or not

Does not care, or does not mind?

Are you the one putting that evaluation on it or is he? That he does not seem to care about you/does not value you?

You have several things going on there with DH and with C.

  • What behavior(s) do you need each one of them to do for each issue, so that you can then let yourself feel better? Rather than holding on to the grudges?
  • What behavior(s) do you need YOU to do for each issue, so you can then let yourself feel better? Rather than holding on to the grudges?

You need page 5&6 things on jealousy?

GG
 
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C's desire to seek others is a separate issue from how he feels about you. I think you may be looking at it backwards.

His desire for expansion is not due to a lack in your relationship, but probably rather because he feels safe and secure enough in your relationship to expand. Also, when a person is able to delight in his partners - in your case, you and his wife - it can spur a person to add more to what he already perceives as awesome. It's like I have had two pieces of cake and that makes me want three! Not, "gee those first two pieces were crap, so I'll eat a third."

As it is, it seems C has been pretty clear how much he values you and your relationship, regardless of how you define it.

As for your husband, yes, I can see how you might feel cheated. What do you want from him? What can he do to dissipate your anger? Perhaps when you answer that question, you can discuss it with him.
 
L and his girlfriend are able to see each other at work every day, as well as spend some time after work 5 days a week.

Im going to try to give you a little perspective on just this bit....Nudge and I work together, and yes it IS nice we get to have lunch when we want/can and get some chats during the day...but honestly? its almost more of a tease than anything else. "Seeing" him is always nice, i love his face, but we are working at work and have to be very very careful about spending any time socializing. We spend a lot of our work day interaction just wishing we could actually HAVE a conversation. You hvae a kid right? Have you ever noticed how when youre with your spouse and the kid is around, its hard to have adult convos or finish talking about/doing something cause the little tyke is always pipping up and you have to wait for 'adult quiet time'? (unless it isnt like that with 1 kid, i have three) Thats what beign at work with your partner is kind of like, just looking for that moment you can actually speak.
 
Im confused..... ...anyone check the date on this

04-02-2013, 12:16 AM
Scarletta Scarletta is offline
New Member

Any advice might be out of date by now ...
 
New User Name

Oh! Someone ressurected this!

I had the name Scarletta, and then had forgotten the password and decided to start over with a new user name and all that. Funny, this is still somewhat relevant.

I LOVE this advice, from everyone. This is how it ended up working out:

C decided NOT to see anyone else, and actually has been kind of in an emotional funk recently. We're good together, and you're all absolutely right, I shouldn't blame C's current schedule on DH's head.

Yes, GalaGirl, I desperately need the appreciation that you mentioned. We're still stuck on this point, as *I've* actually started a new relationship and he again has flipped out (while also going through another two girlfriends.) It's so hard not to hold a grudge when he continues the behavior. But I'm working on it.

And working on self-care, as well.

Bookbug, you're so right on me having looked at it backwards. In fact, a few weeks after posting that, he said pretty much exactly that. He felt safe in branching out. He hasn't, and it's due to things that have little to nothing to do with me, I realize now.


LOL @gorgeouskitten, yes, Adult Quiet Time usually occurs about 5 minutes after the little man is asleep and about 10 minutes before one of us falls asleep. When DH was dating that woman at work, he later mentioned that it was something like that. They had to be careful how MUCH the socialized.

He's not dating her anymore, and now word has gotten around that they HAVE dated (and she was pretty sore about the break up too.) I've gotten to know some of his co-workers, and now we're beginning to be 'out' about our lifestyle, inadvertently, and that's some interesting drama that's yet to unfold. But regardless of that, yes, seeing her everyday probably wasn't the fantasy that I cooked it all up to be in my head.



In all, the advice actually still is relevant, in terms of the issues DH and I have. We've actually started seeing a poly-friendly counselor recently that we both get along with, so hopefully we can address some of those issues there.

C and I are doing well, and our discussions are much less emotionally charged. I read many of the post that all of you who've commented here write, and take to heart much of your advice to others, as well. Thank you SO much!
 
Ah, ok. Thanks for clarifying about the username change.

I hope you and DH can work through the... NRE blues? ( Don't know what else to call it.)

I also hope things with C stay stable.

Hang in there!

GG
 
LOL @gorgeouskitten, yes, Adult Quiet Time usually occurs about 5 minutes after the little man is asleep and about 10 minutes before one of us falls asleep. When DH was dating that woman at work, he later mentioned that it was something like that. They had to be careful how MUCH the socialized.

I hope this works out well for him, Nudge and I have had quite the work experience (though we are still together, which i think our normalness helps calm the masses a little) we get quite a lot of judgemnet, gossip, we even got in trouble so to speak. the office is a dangerous place! I hope DH doesnt not have any bad fall out :)

though, amusing last time J came in with the kids, and hung out in Nudge's office. that threw them. lol
 
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