I am sorry you deal in this.
I mean this kindly, ok? It may not be what you want to hear.
silly2017 said:
I told him go ahead and get what you need but he also wants me to be friends with her and I don't think I can do both.
silly2017 said:
I told him the other day yes he can go ahead and have sex with her but I can't continue being all friendly to her and have her around me all the time because it does hurt. But he wants to have sex with her and also be like best buddies and I just can't do this.
I wonder if you are tired. Tired of the emotional emotional pestering/badgering/bullying and just say "yes" to get the emotional pestering/badgering/bullying to stop. Not so much because this is a "joyous yes" situation for you. Like you LOVE being here and LOVE participating with these people in a "V".
Is that true?
LONG VERSION
His letter? I call shenanigans. Basically that's a non-apology apology to me. He's not sorry for previous behavior (breaking agreements), he does not state how he will avoid doing that behavior in future (what will make him a better agreement keeper), and he does not ask for opportunity to make amends. He wants to skip doing that trust rebuilding work with you and jump on to making
new agreements before cleaning up the old mess. What kind of business is that?
silly2017's husband said:
I know you feel like it is cheating but I do not. If you know what I am doing and who I am doing it with, I am not cheating. Not, telling you the first two times I did it is and I am sorry for hurting you. But I am not sorry for doing.
He has simply gone from cheating behind your back to cheating openly in front of you. The old agreements are still there, broken. He just doesn't want to own his part in the situation making. But he DOES want new agreements. Cart before horse.
Don't get bogged down in semantics. Get on with sorting stuff out.
- He did stuff he said he would not.
- He's still gonna keep doing it.
- Not gonna apologize for doing it.
- Not gonna acknowledge it damaged trust and not gonna rebuild trust first.
- Gonna keep seeing the cheating affair partner.
- Expects you to be buddies with her.
That's the offer. You up for that offer? Sounds tasty to you? NO. You said twice above that you cannot do this. So DON'T. Keep this WAY simpler on yourself.
Respect your own boundaries and obey your personal limit. Don't cross that line. That part of the problem is solved. You are not up for
any of that.
Then move on to the next order of business: How to best disband if he wants one thing and you want another? Because you do not have compatible wants to be doing it together.
Not fun to think about. But think it out
anyway. When all the choices are hard,
you pick your hard.
Short term suckage? Already sucks. No changing that.
Are you willing and able to keep on doing this? No. You are not. You recognize it.
Could start thinking long term and how to make your long term scenario less sucky then. That part can still change.
silly2017's husband said:
I want to come to an agreement with you to allow G and I to do some intimate things together that you can’t do or do not feel comfortable doing.
They already cheated. If you made new agreements, how do you know he won't cheat on those? What makes him trustworthy?
Especially when he's not taking the time to rebuild trust with you?
silly2017's husband said:
I am sorry the thought of us being together hurts you, but not living my life to its fullest also hurts me. Having to always push my feelings and desires away
I notice he doesn't say "I am sorry for hurting you with my behavior" like he takes personal responsibility for how his actions affect other people. He says it like he's sorry (your thinking is broken) and THAT is what is hurting you. Another reason I think this is a non-apology apology.
If he chose to suppress meeting his own needs all this time, how's that
your fault?

He could have been more assertive/up front/honest ages ago.
If he wants to meet them now and sees that HOW he is meeting them is hurting you? (Cuz he says he's sorry you are hurt)
But he doesn't want to change his way of going? (Cuz he says he's not sorry for doing?)
He could suggest respectfully parting ways so this can be done CLEAN and you are not in the line of fire any more. That would be more kind. Not seek to keep you embroiled in things he knows hurt you.
Parting respectfully with regrets is way better to me than trying to do "give an inch, take a mile" stuff again, head games, or giving you non-apology apologies or simply wearing you down. None of that sounds like loving behavior to me.
silly2017's husband said:
I try my hardest to make sure all your needs are met, but when it comes to mine needs there are things I want and need also that you are just not able to do. I am not holding that against you because I understand that, but please let my needs be met.
To me that sounds like he's saying "I want you do stuff I understand you are not able to do. Do them anyway. Throw yourself under the bus for me." Might be great for him, but how's that great for you?
And
how does he try hard to meet your need not to be in pain? If this is his best effort -- he cheats behind your back, then in front of you, does non-apology apologies, does not want to rebuild trust, wants you to do stuff he knows you cannot do, wants you to go against your own grain -- is this "best effort" enough for you to want to stay here? Does you partner treat you the way you want to be treated? You feel good and safe here? Are you satisfied here?
silly2017's husband said:
I want to set up boundaries with you that allow only G and I have oral sex together, no other women. We will not talk about it and we will not discuss after you agree.
What is the purpose of this agreement when you already said to go ahead and have sex with her?
You could remind him you already said he could have sex with her. Please stop bugging you. You need a break from discussions.
Then take a time out to figure out what YOU want and need from a partner. And if this partner doesn't make the cut any more... what to do about that.
SHORT VERSION
silly2017 said:
So this is it. But if I agree to it. Who tells me it stops there who tells me he doesn't fall in love even more and eventually I am completely out of the picture.
I think you and your needs are
already out of the picture. If he does stuff that causes you pain, sees that you are hurt but doesn't want to modify his behaviors so you are not hurting again in future? How "in the picture" is that?
He packages it up with some sugar pie/honey bunch, but he's basically hell bent on going there and wants you to neglect your self care in order to come with him. He's sorry you hurt, but he's not sorry for doing behaviors that lead to you feeling hurt, and it sounds like he's gonna keep
on doing. So if you choose to go with him on this journey,
you can expect more hurt.
That's the offer on the table. Are you up for that? No. You know it inside. Said it twice already.
You just haven't moved from "saying no" to also "doing no."
I think you could DECLINE the offer. Not continue to ride the bus there with him. You already rode the bus too long as it is. This bus has veered well away from the things YOU value and you've been doing things you do not really want or like.
I think you could choose
to get OFF the bus and return to being more true to yourself and what you value.
Are you happy in this? You don't sound like you are. I think you could set both of you free and be happier long term by breaking up. Short term would suck, because who loves breaking up? But long term you both could feel better.
- He can be free TO get all his needs met elsewhere with whoever without restriction. Doesn't have to suppress himself any more.
- You can be free FROM all this. You can meet your own need for peace of mind by walking away and stop bending yourself into pretzels.
You can love someone a whole lot. Even up to 49% of your love. But the rest of the 51% you save for you loving you. That allows you to say "No. I love you a whole lot. But not even for
you will I do stuff that hurts me."
This stuff is hurting you. You could choose to get off the bus. Could choose to linger in the healing space rather than choose to keep lingering in the UGH space.
Again... I'm sorry you deal in all this.
Still gotta sort it out though. I suggest you start "doing no."
Galagirl