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[Netzach]

Netzach hit the nail through the dick on this one. (Just had to. Sorry.) (Kinda.) This guy was classic doormat. Most everyone here would've been rolling their eyes and saying "grow a backbone!" When the submissive wife was enforcing HER rules in the house, she was aggressively people-pleasing, trying to anticipate the husband's needs, and still maintaining her own personality. He just seemed like a beaten dog. That was my perception...apparently one of two, so none of you can say I'm wrong!

I can't recall ever reading an msub father on this board sharing how his kids interacted with him, which is a pity because now I'm really curious. There's still such a stigma if the Man Of The House...isn't.

Well, my slave is an interesting case - dad of two, separated and friendly with his ex, who's probably as submissively oriented as he is in bed. (that works - not.)
I think the kids have a very warm, trusting relationship with him and both seem to enjoy the cranky old leftist guy's opinions and insights. I don't think that either kid ever felt that H lacked parental authority. I think H is a good parent, in a non-traditional but not overly permissive 70's kind of way. The fact that his 16 yo daughter spends a lot of time hanging out with him speaks very well, I think (how many 16 year old girls will be seen with their father in public?) Had he had a very dominant wife to raise these kids with, it would be really an interesting thing, but he didn't at all. He had to hold things together a lot so I think the "authority" defaulted to him, but without disastrous results in parenting terms.

 

[Netzach]

My dad was the head of the household, who worked full time and made most of the decisions.

My mom was a stay-at-home mom who raised me. (I'm an only child) She was not 'submissive' per say, as my parents acted as equals in every department other than out-of-home work, but I -do- strongly identify with a more 'traditional' family life picture in -my- head, where the man works and is the head of the household, and the woman raises children, cooks, cleans, etc.

I think it's pretty natural to formulate an ideal picture in your head compared to what you were raised with, right?

Or antithetical, either way you have strong feelings. I remember the revulsion I felt as my mom began dating and showed that same deferential stance with her boyfriends and her willingness to like whatever they liked and lose or ignore whatever she might want or like. I went into SM with the "I'll kill myself before I submit" frame of mind.

My natural curiosity eventually got the better of me, and the enjoyment I get out of being tied up eventually got me to relax and try stuff, but I've definitely always fallen more to this side of the line. The not-mom side of it.