Doesnt seem fair and i feel left out.

Kim000

New member
So I'm looking for advice, me and my husband are new to poly, I know that I am polyamorous and he still not quite sure. This is kind of a long story so bear with me. We kind of started opening up a few years ago when he came to me saying that he found a girl he really likes and he would like to pursue a relationship with her. At the time we were not open but it's always something that I wanted so I had no problem with that. He was still kind of self-conscious and not sure how he felt with me being with somebody else, so I kind of held off on meeting anybody or trying to start a relationship so he could I don't know how to say it get a head start and feel more comfortable with the situation. It ends up not working out between them that well she had another relationship that she was trying to work on so they ended up just being friends. And then we also stop trying to find other relationships because he couldn't be with her so he didn't really have much ambition to do this. They have still stayed friends for the past year and have gotten to know each other more as friends. I had somebody that I really liked that I used to work with my husband did not like him and when I brought it up that I would like to talk to him and get to know him my husband got really mad and was offended that I chose that person. So I as well just stayed friends with him as to respect my husband. Now a year later I brought it up again because I really am poly and I do want to have more relationships than just my marriage, he still doesn't understand why I want this and he seems to think that it's because he's not enough. I've tried so hard to explain to him that that's not the case and that I love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him like I always have. We have three amazing kids and we've built a wonderful life together that I love. But that doesn't change the fact that I am polyamorous. And it's not just something that I can stop being. When we got together I was very young I was only sixteen and he was 19 we've been together for 13 years and we have grown up together. But we have grown into just being a couple, neither of us know who we are without each other, and that just doesn't seem right to me. I love him and I love who I am with him but I know that there is more out there to learn. Anyways so I brought up opening up a relationship again and he was kind of a lot more understanding this time and he said he doesn't fully agree and he doesn't fully feel the same way but he is willing to try. Him and let's call her "L" have continued to be friends this whole time and I know that he has some kind of feelings for her, I have now started talking more relationship-wise since I brought up wanting to open our relationship. Which is totally fine with me and I have no problem with the relationship that they have or can have. I personally don't like her too much but I'm definitely the kind of person that can be mature and get over that if she makes him happy. Now the part I'm having trouble with is the person that I want to see is the person that he does not like. When I brought up wanting to start to get to know him my husband got very mad and offended again that that's the person that I chose. And I understand that he doesn't like him but the reason he doesn't like him is also very silly to me. We used to all work together and there was one time when this guy ended up calling into and we had to figure out how to have one of us go in to cover for him. And mind you this was three years ago. I'm personally I just feel like that is a silly Grudge to hold over somebody when that's the only problem you have. After my husband stopped working with us me and my friend.. let's call him "B" still work together for about 2 years and of course working together constantly we have become pretty good friends so I've gotten to know him and I know that he's not a bad person but my husband just doesn't understand that. It makes me kind of feel like my husband just doesn't like him just because I liked him. So in my eyes it's kind of like we're in the same situation but for some reason to him I'm in the wrong and he's fine. It seems the same to me because he met L at work and I met B at work. They're both somebody that we knew from work. They are both somebody that we have previously brought up in this situation. They're both somebody that neither of us really like. They're both completely outside of our friend circles. But he tells me that I'm wrong because he didn't like him before we opened our relationship and I don't like her because of the way she treated him the first time we opened our relationship, so it was after. Now I have no problem with him seeing her, and like I told him if their relationship does get serious I have no problem welcoming her into our lives. But he has flat out told me I can not see B as more than a friend and if I were too that he will never speak to me again. So I'm just having trouble understanding how I am so wrong in this. He is so mad that I mentioned "B" this time we we opened up...again. He keeps saying how I wanted to do all this just because of B. But that is not true. I am poly and I want to be open regardless because that just what I believe in. But I can't lie and say I'm not extremely sad that he feels this way. And I would really love to talk to B as more than a friend...but not at the sake of my marriage. I kind of just feel like it's not fair and I feel like a child who isn't getting what they want. But I can't help but be so sad over it. And I feel like it's something I would do for him but he can't do it for me and that hurts as well. Am I wrong to feel like he very well could give B a second chance ? Honestly they would probably get along well if he put his grudge aside :(
 
Hi and welcome.

Firstly, you'll still be in the edit window so would you please go back and put in some paragraph breaks so that this is easier to read.

Secondly, you could actually be honest with your husband that he actually isn't enough for you. You identify as poly and consequently feel the need to have multiple loving relationships, each with their own nuances and qualities.

However, it also seems like this guy is on your husband's "messy list" (even if you haven't specified a messy list - people you really couldn't handle each other dating, like coworkers, relatives, etc.) and you could respect that this is the person that he just can't deal with. Go meet new people.
 
When we got together I was very young I was only sixteen and he was 19 we've been together for 13 years and we have grown up together. But we have grown into just being a couple, neither of us know who we are without each other, and that just doesn't seem right to me.

Sometimes people cook up all sorts of drama because they really want to split up but don't have the heart to be honest about it.
 
Hi Kim,

I agree with you, it is unfair for your husband to forbid you from pursuing something with B, when you are willing to have him pursue something with L. But, he has a history of subjecting you to a double standard, as per your previous thread here. I know you love him, but I have to say he pushes you around a lot, at least that's what I've seen from him so far. Anyway he has raised an ultimatum with you: If you ever pursue anything with B, he (your husband) will break up with you. And you have made your decision: You will never do anything that would jeopardize your marriage. So, it is over between you and B, before it even started. You might want to make peace with that reality. I think maybe venting here is one (necessary) step in the process of making that peace, so I hope you can get there. I'll say it again: I think your husband is acting unfair toward you. Such is my official opinion based on what you have posted so far.

Sympathetically,
Kevin T.
 
I'm sorry you struggle. I hope you feel a bit better for the vent.

I think you could be honest with husband. That you are happy with him and the family. But you want polyamory and would like to explore having more than one partner, and he cannot magically make himself be more than one person. So you want to try opening again even though the previous attempt didn't pan out. And negotiate new terms for the next opening.

That said? I don't think husband not wanting you involved with a coworker is unreasonable if you still work with this guy. To me? There's enough people in the world to date without going after the messy ones. You might talk about "messy people lists" with husband. You probably would not want husband dating your parents, siblings, best friend, boss, coworkers, kid teachers, etc. He probably has his messy people list. Where it's just too weird or if things went wrong it would be a big ol' mess. Who would those people be?

Maybe you both agree on your next opening attempt "No dating coworkers -- too messy. We learned from before!"

And there goes both L and B then. Crossed off. Problem solved, move on to other people.

Why be so stuck on these two? He's not forbidding you to interact. He's just asking you not to see him as more than friends.

Now I have no problem with him seeing her, and like I told him if their relationship does get serious I have no problem welcoming her into our lives. But he has flat out told me I can not see B as more than a friend and if I were too that he will never speak to me again. So I'm just having trouble understanding how I am so wrong in this.

You aren't wrong. Neither is he. You just don't feel the same about this dude. Because you and husband are not copies of each other.

He is so mad that I mentioned "B" this time we we opened up...again. He keeps saying how I wanted to do all this just because of B. But that is not true. I am poly and I want to be open regardless because that just what I believe in.

So rather than bang head on wall, how you stop talking to husband about B? So the circle conversations/arguments can stop?

Because...

But I can't lie and say I'm not extremely sad that he feels this way. And I would really love to talk to B as more than a friend...but not at the sake of my marriage.

You sound like you already know you don't want to chuck over your marriage just to talk to B as more than a friend.

If you feel sad about not getting to pursue this crush? You can talk here if you want to air out some.

But I think you could stop talking about it with husband because it doesn't sound like esp. productive conversation.

Detangle some.


I kind of just feel like it's not fair and I feel like a child who isn't getting what they want.

I get that it's a bummer, but ultimately if you want to negotiate open/poly relationship with DH? And he's only balking at this one person he dislikes? But otherwise willing to go there and try another opening attempt?

I'd consider paying the price of admission. Just don't pursue this dude, and seek other people to poly date instead. IME, when there's no energy going into it? Crushes fade.

And I feel like it's something I would do for him but he can't do it for me and that hurts as well.

Is this your expectation in the relationship? That everything has to be quid pro quo?

People have their personal limitations that they have to work within. If he is hitting one of his... why's that upset you?

Galagirl
 
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Please, pretty please, create paragraph breaks.
 
I honestly think that your husband's objection to B is just a veneer over the top of not wanting you to actually date... but that's an easy thing to figure out. Make yourself some online dating profiles, meet someone new, and if this really is about a dislike of B in particular, rather than dudes in general? That will be obvious. If it's just that he doesn't want you to date... well, he's gonna have SOMETHING he doesn't like about every person you're interested in, and it'll start to be obvious.
 
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