Ask a triad - advice column

Yah, big +1 for what Magdlyn said, but for one thing:
you are dating two individuals who happen to be married
Actually, she's "dating" him, and the wife must ride along as a monitor/guard/chaperone. Therefore, it could be said she's dating the couple, but certainly not as individuals.

Reminds me of a snarky (but legally precise) definition of marriage: "Where two individuals become one, and that one is the husband." :eek: Or maybe "Some pigs are more equal than others."
 
We only have sex in a group setting. I am already missing one-on-one sex. When we talked about it before, I didn't realize that it would be a problem for me. I know the wife is only interested in having sex when the husband is also present. He would definitely have sex with me one-on-one, but the wife doesn't feel comfortable with us spending time alone this early on.

This system of thinking just doesn't make much sense to me. If my gf wants to have one-on-one with my wife, I'm ok with it, and she's ok if I do the same. I see this rule come up a lot. We are pretty new to this, but how can anyone be equal when someone gets to benefit from a special status that allows them exclusivity, as far as alone time goes? It's all about connection in the end, and you seem to be missing out on yours.
 
I'm feeling pretty sad right now. I've been group texting my partners and somehow we got into a pretty intense conversation. The woman is totally understanding of why I need and want to date other people, but her husband has gotten attached and doesn't like the idea. He knows it's totally ridiculous, but is just trying to be honest about his feelings. The thing is, I will never be able to date only them exclusively as long as it is always going to be in a three person setting. I need to feel like I am special and wanted individually. And yeah, sometimes I want to have sex where it is only about me and the other person. I told them that. But I left out the "and sometimes I think I should get to be with just one of you" part. I just don't know how to go there.
 
Give them a few days to digest what you *have* said. It would take some serious lack of awareness to not connect the dots themselves between 'I need one on one sex to feel good' and 'I need to date others outside this triad' and conclude that this is because the first thing is lacking in the current arrangement.

I hate to say it, but she's probably pleased with this development (you potentially seeking connection with someone else) as she's hoping it will create some distance between you and him, and he's unhappy with this arrangement because, like you, he'd prefer to increase the connection between you two. Ultimately this is an issue that they need to resolve themselves. It sounds like she's threatened by you and the strength of your connection to him, and only extreme bravery on her part (and lots of support and reassurance from him and you) is going to show her that that fear is unfounded. If in the next few days he expresses discomfort with the idea again, feel free to spell it out. 'I don't get this kind of relating in our triad, and since it's important to me and seems like something that is unwanted by you two, I feel I need to look for it elsewhere.' It might put the cat amongst the pigeons a little, but sometimes the pigeons need a bit of exercise.
 
It seems like it is something that is unwanted by you two.

Why address them as a unit? Maybe one wants to have one-on-one sex with her, the other seeks to control the relating by insisting on only threesomes.
 
I don't know if this is helpful, but I know my partner Real gets jealous when I have a new partner. He's worried I'll leave him for a live-in unattached partner. Perhaps your partner needs assurance about their place when the constellation you are in changes. Would check-in time about new partners be helpful? Perhaps a guide for adding new partners?

Whenever I am dating someone new, I give Real a heads-up, and plan a reconnect time soon after I have a date with the new person. This helps keep him from freaking out. Would this model work for you?
 
Last edited:
Why address them as a unit? Maybe one wants to have one-on-one sex with her, the other seeks to control the relating by insisting on only threesomes.

I figured addressing it as a unit issue would inspire them to figure out if it is a joint decision they've made, or something unilateral from one to the other. It might be a little passive aggressive in hindsight, but it doesn't seem right to approach it definitely as an 'I would like to have one-on-one sex with you guys, but she seems to be vetoing it,' when we have no idea if that's his preference too. Also, I might have missed it, but I thought that the OP wouldn't be averse to having one-on-one time with both of her partners, if that was something on the table.
 
And the drama continues....

So I was kind of letting things play out for a little bit, but this past week has been a little crazy. I stayed over with my partners on Thursday night, and while we were having sex, the wife got upset because the husband was spending too long focusing on me. This led to an all-night conversation about how she wants more affection from him in general. We were all lying in bed at this point. He kept reaching over and caressing me where she couldn't see it the whole time. Still, this eventually got resolved.

The next morning, the wife and I had a long conversation in which she told me that they, especially the husband, really have strong feelings for me. So I feel good after all of this. I know that things aren't always going to be smooth, but it seemed like everything had gotten all worked out.

Then Saturday night we all went out together. We originally hung out with a bunch of people that my gf/the wife went to high school with, so for a good amount of time my bf/the husband and I ended up just talking to each other. He brought up the conversation I had with the wife. He also mentioned that she said that if he ever found himself to be in love with me, our relationship would have to end. Apparently she told him that I was aware of this. But I definitely wasn't!

I don't think I have to explain why that upset me. This led to about 24 hours of depression for me and a nice long talk between the three of us. I addressed my concerns, all of which were addressed, except for how I am not allowed to be alone with my bf. (I didn't even mention having sex with him when she is not there, after all that has gone down). I have really started to fall for him and it kills me that I can't be with him one-on-one. I also feel like he makes his feelings for me more well known when the wife is not around (for the five minutes she is in the shower or something). I can't even text or call only him. And I feel like there is so much that he and I need to say.

And of course, the wife talks about how much she trusts me, and knows that I won't do anything when she's not around, but it's literally all I want to do. Going crazy here...
 
First of all, thanks, everyone, for this thread. I read through it and there is some really great advice here! :) Being in a unicorn position myself (in the positive sense, though), I can relate somewhat to tribabe's situation, so I am gonna first post some thoughts for her, and then make another post for some advice for myself.

@tribabe, that sounds like a quite toxic place to be, to me. The toxic part comes mostly from the original relationship of your partners. Have they actually, as a couple, thought through and discussed things before involving you in the scene? Their behavior doesn't sounds very empathetic towards you here, whether they actually mean it or not.

I believe starting a new relationship with only one person requires a lot of maturity and understanding of thyself, and in situations when there is more than one person involved, it can be even more demanding, from the personal development and understanding point of view.

It sounds that you are still quite young (23yo) so I assume that they as a married couple are (1) been together for some years already and (2) perceive themselves as more experienced in building relationship in general, and their own in particular. Thus it may be easy to fall for "their way to do things" in building your three-way relationship together, but it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. It's good that you have expressed your needs clearly.

Hopefully I'm not jumping into assumptions, but from your last post seems that it is the wife who feels insecure and threatened by you.

He also mentioned that she said that if he ever found himself to be in love with me, our relationship would have to end.

This sounds like a very big red flag. If not love, then what's the whole point of having all three-way triad relationship? I'm assuming that's what you really want.

Is this married couple also new to polyamory and just opening up? It may be scary for them, as well, and bringing to the surface a lot of inner insecurities as they also try to defend their old dynamics.

If you really want the relationship to work, there are a lot of open discussions to go through. You said it's a new triad, but haven't quite indicated how long you've been in it together. Have all three of you discussed the time, the pace, what it takes for each individual to build trust between each other?

Also, you're falling for the husband, but what about the wife? I'm not trying to point out that it must happen that you'll fall for her too, but whether or not you become romantically or sexually attracted, there's a lot you can both do to build a bond based on mutual respect, trust and compassion, and as a result it will be easier to further develop a bond with the husband.

Most importantly, don't let you yourself, your needs and your feelings get belittled in this situation. At the moment, with all the rules and couple privilege, it sounds like the couple is doing so. Be brave and discuss with them whether they actually want to be with you authentically in a supportive and flourishing way, or just keep you as an entertaining addition to facilitate threesomes. If it's the latter one, they're not worth your time and effort. But if they want to get to know the real you and how to be with you, then you can try to help each other work on everyone's insecurities.
 
My husband and I are in a triad with our girlfriend of 2 yrs. We were not looking for a triad or to open the marriage. We kinda just all stumbled into it together. We were all friends for 10 yrs prior.

None of us knew what to do or how to go about things. We did start off with only group texting among the three of us, and only group sex, no alone time or alone sex with our girlfriend.

After 6 months, we started having alone dates with her, and after about 10 months alone sex. We transitioned to private texting, but still do group texting.

Most of our dates are as a group. Most of your sex is as a group. We all enjoy one another. But we do make time for alone dates and alone sex too.

It took some time and talking to get there. But we made it. Just wanted to offer you some hope that things can change.

There were tears and some arguments, etc., but we all loved one another enough to make sure we all were happy and getting our needs met. It can happen.
 
And the drama continues...

You called it.

This is a case study in "How To Not Do It" and "How To Create and Maintain Drama."

What's your plan here?
 
Last edited:
It's y'all's crossroad!

It's time to let/help her grow, if she's willing, or say good-bye and don't look back. For everyone's happiness, growth, path... Whatever makes sense to each.

My 2 cents.
 
If there are any triads (and why not other poly-folks?) I would like to ask for some comments/advice on triads.

Some background:
For me, polyamory is somewhat familiar, in theory. I have dated people who were in open relationships, have had experience of multiple (separate) partnerships going on, etc., though mostly on a casual level, which never really escalated into long-term relationships. Most of the guys I've dated separately were also quite mono, not ready to commit to anything more serious, and that suited me perfectly, since I wasn't up for committing myself more in the relationships, either. Until recently, when I tried to deepen some of the casual bonds, but just to figure out that we worked better as friends and not partners. Also I am bisexual, so girls are not out of the field, either.

Well, long story short, recently I met a couple and got very attracted to both. We are still getting to know each other. Things are starting to roll very nicely. This whole thing about dating a couple is quite a new for me, and for them, as well.

I tried to google for some other people's experiences, but most of the texts and advice on triads are directed to couples planning to open up, or their new partner, as to warn of unicorn hunters, or transitioning from a V to a triad. But how about when the "unicorn" takes the initiative? Any experiences or stories to that? That's exactly what happened, since I was the one bringing up the idea to date together.

Any thoughts on how to approach a couple? :D
 
Hi Riafi,

From your description, you're already taking the right approach towards approaching this couple. All I would add is to take it slow, and communicate a lot with them along the way. Hopefully they'll be willing to date you as an equal. A triad is always a tricky balancing act. Also you can't guarantee that you'll fall in love with both of them equally; it's up to them to be understanding about that.

Sincerely,
Kevin T.
 
Blunt honesty! Seriously. Communication is so key here, and being vulnerable. But this has to be all three people. If it's not, you will hit road blocks. We do not unicorn hunt, but have been in a few triads because of being approached.

We are in two triads at the moment, one platonic and one sexual. The platonic one-- she approached me as a friend, met my husband and we just all got along really well. The second one-- she approached my husband, and then I came into the picture because she was interested in me too.

We swim in very deep poly circles, so maybe this is why it's very different. I dunno. We go to a lot of events and know everyone, so being friends with everyone helps a lot.


Soooo... If there are any triads (and why not other poly-folks) I would like to ask for some comments/advices on triads.

Some background story:
For me polyamory is somehow familiar in theory, and I have been dating people who were in open relationships, have had experience of multiple (separate) partnerships going on, etc. though mostly on a casual level, which never really escalated into long-term relationship. Most of the guys I dated separately were also quite mono, and not ready to commit for anything more serious and it suited me perfectly - since I wasn't up for committing myself more into relationship either. Until recently when I tried to deepen some of the casual bonds, but just to figure out that we worked better as friends and not partners. Also I am bi-woman, so girls are not out of the field either.

Well, long story short - recently I met a couple who I both got very attracted to. We are still in the getting to know each other phase, and things are starting to roll very nicely. This whole thing about dating a couple is quite a new for me (and for them as well), so I tried to google for some other people experiences - but most of the texts and advices on triads are directed to couples planning to open up or their new partner as to warn of unicorn hunters, or transitioning from V to triad. But how about when the "unicorn" takes the initiative? Any experiences or stories to that? Cause that's exactly what happened since I was the one bringing up the idea to date together.

Any thoughts on how to approach a couple? :D
 
Hello Happytriad. I'm not being critical, but there are countless threads with many people in similar environments relating to this. What is it about your advice that you feel you needed to start this thread that countless others lack? :)
 
I don't know happytriad's reason for starting this thread, but it certainly has proven to be a popular thread since then, and many people have received good advice here and/or been helped. (Just sayin')
 
Hello Happytriad. not being critical, but there are countless threads with many people in similar environments relating to this. What is it about your advice that you feel you needed to start this thread that countless others lack? :)


Wait, are you saying there are oodles of threads/posters living in "successful" triads?
 
Back
Top