QUOTE(Ronan.The.Accuser @ May 24 2019, 06:03 AM)
Are you all married? With kids? We used to have hot sex when we were young. When I said hot sex I mean pretty naughty sex. In the car, basement, etc. it’s just that after marriage and kids, everything went down a lot. I helped out around the house whenever I can. Bring her out sometimes. We grew more religiously and I guess, that’s when reason 2 comes in.
Sex drive can be maintained or sparked. Some women naturally have higher sex drive, while some have lower. Some women stay high and active (no matter how long they are married), while some women become less active when they are older or after they have kids. Even if it's the latter, there are still ways to reignite that spark and mood.
Yes, time, children and other hassles in life can wear a marriage out... all the more reason for couples to establish
relationship rituals. There are couples who have been married for 10, 20, 30, 40 years... and still have hot sex with their spouse, despite having children already, busy with work and handling family issues or financial issues. There is a time and place to focus on your kids, to do chores, to feel tired and wanna rest... and there's a time for your spouse, too. Time management 101.
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Explanation on what relationship ritual is:
Just last night, I saw my FB friend posting about how she and her husband just had their daily walk at the beach, although they've been married for 18 years with 2 kids. That's their relationship ritual. I know she is still in love with her husband, because her face still glows when talking about him.
Then, my another friend who's in her 50s, I know every Thurs night is her date night with her husband of 20 years, and they have 2 children together.
As for me, this is what I do:
Whenever he comes home from work, I go to the door, greet him, give him a kiss, take his bag in, serve him a cup of water, and ask him if he wants to have dinner first, or shower first. I let him have his quiet time coz I know his job is stressful.
This is a small detail which most women don't do (whether they are still dating, married or have kids or not), but I do, because I want to be the first person he sees when he gets home. It has always been this way, and will stay this way.
Another relationship ritual that we have since first day of dating is vacation planning. We don't do last-minute birthday celebration or anniversary celebration. All these are planned 3-6 months ahead, including preparing gifts. Our wedding was planned 1 year 8 months ahead. It has always been this way for years, and will stay this way for years to come.
Once relationship rituals are established, they are 99% permanent... because habits are powerful and difficult to change.
I may not have been married for as long as you are (because you're definitely older than me), but people know me as a relationship and marriage counselor. My recent case was to help a woman improve her marriage with her husband of 18 years, because they are like cats and dogs together. Wife also rejected sex from husband, and wife was stagnant after marriage. I talked to her about all these, and she realised what went wrong, discussed with her husband and mended the marriage.
I write long replies here, because from your writing, you stay loyal to your marriage, treasure your wife and want the marriage to work out and last for a lifetime, otherwise you wouldn't have felt so frustrated and angry inside when there are other easy ways out. So, for you, you can choose if you want to take in my advice or not, among all the forum replies here. I leave it to you to decide.
Conclusion: The surface issue is time, children and lack of (interest in) sex.
The deeper issue here may be:
- lack of emotional intimacy (When was your last heart-to-heart talk with her, and hers with you?)
- sexual boredom... if it's always the same positions in the same bed for the past 10 years.
- stagnant life... if there are no hobbies or interests together; wife is always at home, husband is always outside.
- unresolved anger from previous arguments... coz women have excellent memory and hold grudge
Only you know which applies to your marriage.
Perhaps it's time to identify destructive habits, and form new and healthy relationship rituals. Please discuss with your wife and find out more, and then renew the romance in your marriage. Leverage on the power of good habit (in this case, relationship ritual), and your marriage will even become stronger.
This post has been edited by Ralna: May 24 2019, 11:29 AM