open relationship
Nightline attempts to show the many faces of infidelity, but really only reveals two.
Pastor Ed Young belives that if you want to have an affair, you certainly should... with your own spouse.
"Primarily, [sex is] for pleasure. Secondarily, it's for procreation. And when you have a man and a woman making love, then you're going to hit on all cylinders. And when you don't, when you step out of that relationship, the result is going to be chaos." Spiritual Sex: 10 Erotic Commandments
Jenny Block, who's in an open relationship, has a completely different perspective on the whole matter. Read more from Jenny Block here.
"[My husband] wasn't so upset with my … Read More
A journalist goes under cover on AshleyMadison.com to figure out why married men cheat.
The first time we met The Ashley Madison Agency was on network television during a commercial break. Amidst jingles for fabric softener and liquid eyeliner, the booming phrase "Life is too short. Have an affair!" jerked us into consciousness. Life is too short? Have an affair? Is this cheating or a second helping of dessert? Cheating Keeps Us Together
We've written about The Ashley Madison Agency—a dating site for itchy married folks—and have always meant to check it out for giggles. After all, what kind of person advertises his/her infidelity online? Are they … Read More
Jenny Block answers your questions about relationship dynamics in an open marriage.
Thank you all for your comments and questions about my recent blog "Open Marriage Benefit: A Three-Parent Household." I thought that this week I would answer one of the questions I received based on that piece.
MaliMali asked, "Is she mainly your girlfriend? Is it like he comes home to two wives? Have you ever shared a boyfriend in your marriage?"
Jemma is actually only my girlfriend and not my husband's. Although the two of them are very good friends. They have a lot in common, in fact—food, wine, books, theater. It's nice because she is often over in the evenings … Read More
Jenny Block discusses the benefits of an extra partner during the bad economy.
Sometimes I forget things. I don't mean my keys or why I went into the kitchen, although I forget those too. I mean I forget bigger things. I forget to be thankful, to marvel, to bask in my life and the people I live it with.
This economy has driven my husband out on the road. He's working as a consultant. He leaves on Sunday afternoons and comes home on Friday nights.
When he was home, he did the grocery shopping and the cooking. He got our daughter up and out to school in the morning and off to bed at … Read More
In an open marriage, what happens if your husband or girlfriend falls in love with someone else?
A writer from AOL interviewed me a month or so ago. The interview was posted on their health page for a week or two and then when a piece on polyamory came out on Newsweek.com, AOL moved my interview to their homepage. Within a matter of minutes, my inbox was bursting with comments and questions; the interview itself had more than 1500 comments posted on it. I would love to be able to email every single person individually, but since that would be humanly impossible, YourTango.com has been gracious enough to let me answer questions and reply to comments … Read More
Meet Robyn: a polyamorist, suburbanite and mother. Could she be your next-door neighbor?
What would you do if you found out that the mom you shared carpool duties with was a dominatrix at night? Or what if that cute couple next door wasn't really a couple—but a threesome or a foursome? How would you react?
Well, you better get used to it, because all across America, in sleepy suburbs just like yours, moms are hiding secrets. In Part 3 of momlogic's "Secrets in the Suburbs" series, we pierce the veil of secrecy surrounding the mysterious and often secret world of polyamory. In Relationships, Does "Normal" Exist?
Meet Robyn. She's … Read More
Going where no man has gone before, noisy love, crushes when you're already coupled.
Love Bytes: three must click sex, dating and relationship links.Star Trek v. Star Trek porn. [Buzzfeed]Is there a limit to how loud you should be in the sack? [Lemondrop]She has crushes on other guys. Her boyfriend's just fine with that. [Em and Lo]It was my roommate's 21st birthday a few Fridays ago, so my roommates and I decided to throw her a massive birthday party at our apartment. My boyfriend opted to chill in my bedroom for most of the night, while I mingled with the throng of intoxicated co-eds crowding our kitchen. Several … Read More
A modern-day polygamist explains her side of the story.
"Non-traditional." A popular catch-all phrase that seems, in common usage, to mean anything that differs from the mainstream. It also describes a large portion of my life.
My upbringing was entirely unremarkable, and certainly included nothing of this sort. I was first introduced to such alternative relationships in college when a female friend of mine and I knowingly decided to share the same boyfriend. No, not a threesome, just going out with the same guy. It was partially a matter of convenience, and partially the fact that we were close friends. We both liked him very much, didn't want … Read More
Jenny Block's girlfriend got upset after seeing "normal" friends on Facebook. But does normal exist?
I've been really lucky. I have parents who have always told me that just because everyone else is doing it, does not mean that I have to do it too. I have a husband who has been willing to cast aside any pre-conceived notions he had about love and sex and marriage and relationships. I have a girlfriend who has let go of any socially contrived expectations in the name of being happy by following her own path instead of a path that others have prescribed for her. But last night, something happened.
You see, although I have been lucky to … Read More
Open marriage blogger Jenny Block responds to the essay, "Monogamy Is Good, And It's Here To Stay."
"Monogamy Is Good, And It's Here To Stay." I was leery about this piece the minute I saw the title. But as soon as I read it and saw the word "fad" used to describe the kind of relationship that I have been deliriously happy in for years (and the kind hundreds of other people I have met have been in for decades) I knew I was dealing with a classic case of fear and misunderstanding—a dangerous mix. I thought I might simply reply in the comments section, but I quickly realized that I had way too much … Read More
