Considering opening my marriage to Poly

LilBabyKitty

New member
My wife and I are considering polyamory, but we both know there are some issues to work out first. In February, she began working out daily with our mutual friend, who now loves and appreciates both of us. After a few months, it was clear that she had become attached to him and their relationship became intrusive as there was constant texting through the night, and she had started resenting our marriage because it meant she couldn’t be with him. She has been very co-dependent with both of us, and it finally came to a head in July when I confronted her about it, and she shut down and then insisted on a separation to work out our co-dependency issues. We have all had limited contact with each other ever since.

My wife was very deceitful through the course of this, always insisting there were no romantic feelings for him. However, after we separated, she confessed that she was in love with him and no longer had romantic feelings for me as a result of having sex with me out of co-dependence, while being shamefully and secretly in love with another. I never berated her or belittled her for having these feelings, I just wanted to find a way to work things out.

She hinted at wanting an open marriage at one point half-way through, but insisted it would be 10-20 years down the road, because she couldn’t see being with just me for the rest of her life. Recently, we have touched on the subject, but we know there are many issues we have to work out in our own relationship first, like recovering from co-dependence and rebuilding trust between each other. I am thinking that we should focus on re-connecting first, with quality time together, which we had lapsed on during the length of her working out with her friend.

Just to give some more facts, we have a 6-year old daughter and I have two other daughters that I get on weekends. This may complicate things a little.

She has stated that she wishes she could be married to both of us. I don’t want to suggest polyamory as a way to fix our marriage, I would rather establish that we still have romantic feelings for each other and rebuild our trust. Once that is established, we may consider adding him to our relationship. I have read a few books on polyamory, and realize there are some pitfalls here. Some feedback would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Welcome!

If she's still going through NRE... I'd let her get through that. And if need be.. Find you friends or Fwb whatever works for you. That will break you guy's codependency fast.. Lol. Having to focus on something independent of her... Only something for you! Then if you so desire... Work on reconnecting.
You'll get more responses... Just wait..;)
 
I'm sorry you struggle.

FWIW, this is what sticks out from your post to me:

  • You and her were married.
  • During the marriage, she was struggling with her feelings for gym buddy. So used sex with you as a pacifier (because of her codependence).
  • She started resenting the marriage because she preferred to be with the gym buddy
  • You and her are now separated.
  • She says she's in love with him and no longer has feelings for you.
  • She doesn't want to be with just you the rest of her life
  • She hints at Open marriage 20-30 years down the line.

I could be wrong, but to me it sounds like she wants to move forward with gym buddy while still having you around as the back up plan if it doesn't pan out.

If so, that might be great for her but I don't see how that is great for you.

I don’t want to suggest polyamory as a way to fix our marriage, I would rather establish that we still have romantic feelings for each other and rebuild our trust. Once that is established, we may consider adding him to our relationship.

Why? Do you especially want to be in a poly V thing? Like if this was not happening, would you pick out poly? :confused: Would you pick these people to do it with?

I think you could slow it down. You guys JUST separated. Be ok being separated for a while. Use the time to create a new stability, live life on your own for a bit. Pause, reflect. Think about what you want in the next chapter of your life.

If you still want to work on getting back together? Do that.

If it turns out that it you like and prefer to be on your own and only be coparents? Do that.

But don't make major life decisions when recently gone through all this stress. Give yourself time to get stable again first.

Galagirl
 
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I guess I'm accepting poly as a dynamic that will allow us all to be satisfied. She doesn't have a super high sex drive, so there would be benefits for me in the long run as well, if I chose to have other relationships. The person that she is in love with is a good friend, and we all get along really well.

My wife is a unicorn, she is the most amazing person I've ever met. I struck gold when I found her, so I'm probably spinning my wheels a little to hard right now trying to resolve the situation. It's tricky because she still sees me as her best friend right now, and has insisted that we will always be very close regardless of how the separation turns out. Last week she said she wished that she could be married to both of us, so I got a sense of hope there. I've been reading about poly for several months now, and the concept has grown on me quite a bit.

I know it's not time to make this decision, so I'm just trying to get some perspective from the community while I entertain the idea.
 
Hi LilBabyKitty,

It sounds like you are in the process of considering polyamory (and its possible benefits). It is wise of you to not use poly as a way to "fix your marriage," instead you are wanting to fix your marriage first, then consider polyamory. I hope Polyamory.com can be of some help. If you have any questions, let us know.

Sincerely,
Kevin T.
 
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