I just did better as a result of my last fall.
I'm wondering how to relate to marital intimacy. With lots of little kids, we really are quite tired all the time. I felt bad, just because of my lust addiction, am I expecting too much? Are we pushing ourselves when really ought to be just getting some sleep.
So, it was liberating to realize that it's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out.
BUT THEN, my yeitzer went overboard. "Well, since you're so tired, maybe it will be months before it's really reasonable!"
I heard, yeah, maybe it won't work out as often. But MONTHS?!
Due to this big tzaddik Yeitzer Hara, I think I stopped our plans a couple of times when my wife was actually interested. Yes, tired. But interested.
I realize now that, for the sake of a healthy marriage, this is necessary--regularly.
THE MAIN PROBLEM, I THINK, WAS THAT I WAS MAKING ALL THESE CHESHBONOS IN MY HEAD AND KEEPING THEM TO MYSELF. Recently I was having another one of these debates with myself. Are we too tired? Am I just going crazy because I'm a lust addict? Instead of deciding on my own to give up, I just spoke it out with my wife: "I know it got late, and we're tired. BUT, I'm really interested. What do you think?" And we managed to accomodate our needs.