Need encouragement/stage 1 advice

[TeaEarlGreyHot]

One of the things I liked about Sheehy's metaphor was the crustacean shedding it's shell. I've learned to be aware of my own "triggers" but we each have our own and sometimes passing through one phase to the next is neither clean, smooth, nor complete. Nor does it necessarily occur at the same time for a couple.

Sometimes people shed neither their "shell" nor their baggage. And when children arrive, the problems can intensify. Again, in my own expereince from years ago, the contrast between the before and after (our son's birth) could not seem more dramatic (unless my wife had really died).

What you've written sounds so familiar, both in what you write about what you feel you want to do (my ex-expressed much the same thing about being held back...she blamed me for that) and what you feel about being sexually ignored (that was my story then, and now).

As for your question to him about still being sexually attracted to you: you say his answer is yes. Have you told him to inform his body? (I know that is a bit tongue-in-cheek)?

It seems this passage is a tough one on couples and it does require a huge degree of honesty and trust.

The Captain