Open relationships aren’t for everyone. I know myself well enough to know I couldn’t find happiness in one, and that’s okay. I’m in a monogamous marriage now, and if my wife ever asked to change that and open our relationship up, I’d be gone. Not because I want to lose her, but because I owe it to myself not to agree to something I know would make me deeply unhappy.
It’s normal to be 19-21 and to be curious about what else is out there. It’s also normal to have a shit ton of anxiety about “giving up” a partner to explore that curiosity, so an open relationship can seem like a compromise or a best of both worlds scenario. But while I know this will probably be unpopular, I really think pursuing open relationships have become a trend lately rather than a genuine, respectful exploration of non-monogamy. Polyamory and non-monogamy should start with a sincere interest/desire to have an open, ethical relationship, and to be successful it requires a lot of self-awareness and honesty.
But more and more, people are considering them as an “alternative” to infidelity, which just … isn’t apples to apples at all. And you can’t sidestep the damage infidelity caused by just slapping a preemptive “open relationship!” label on what you and your partner have. If your partner is just coming at it from a selfish, insincere place to try and avoid the consequences and guilt after infidelity, they have no business making this request of you.
Relationships (especially in your early 20’s) are messy, complicated, and constantly changing – which is why it’s critical that you identify and communicate clear boundaries for what you need in a relationship and what will make you happy, not just what you are willing to suffer through to hopefully be with your partner in the end.
If being with other people and knowing your partner is with other people won’t make you feel secure, comfortable, and happy, then you need to walk away and find someone that aligns with what you are looking for.
Your situation sounds more like a FWB relationship. While looking for others.
OP, have you ever heard of a river n Egypt called “Denial”? Because you seem to be deep in it and I'm sorry but the harsh reality is your wife trained your infant/toddler son to call her best male friend “Dada”. That same male best friend is spending literally HOURS at your house everyday and he's there when you come home. Your son and wife spend more time with him than you do. You need to get your son paternity tested, a prenatal test for the one in your wife's belly, get that guy out of your life, and get in touch with an attorney. This behavior is not only incredibly shady, but just outright wrong and not okay.
Ask your wife if your situations were reversed, how would she feel?
How would she feel if your kid called your female best friend mama? How would she feel if she worked all day, then came home and your hot female best friend was at your house, playing with the kid, maybe cooking you some dinner?
I'm telling you man, the only time a kid will accidentally call a man who isn't his father “dada” is if he's looking at his uncle and they're twins, or someone told him to call the not father Dada.
Yes, it is 100% a trust thing. He can say it's not. But he's lying. The reason he's uncomfortable is because boys and girls are going and one flirts with the other. He said that.
It doesn't matter how Hannah acts. Or how anyone else acts. You are you. You are not Hannah or anyone else. He doesn't trust you enough that you will say no and not flirt or sleep with anyone like Hannah might.
No, I will not say he is controlling. He said he's not comfortable with you going. He didn't say you can't go.It's perfectly acceptable to open up and talk about what you are comfortable and uncomfortable with in a relationship.
Your options are go and have fun and don't sleep with everyone like Hannah will.
How long has he had the ring? Did you and he have a conversation about when/how you will get married?
You should not have left this entirely up to him. You started out enthusiastic and happy about the ring, but his delay is making you tense and annoyed.
You and he bought into the media-manufactured expectation that there has to be a orchestrated ritual Romantic Proposal that The Man has 100% control over when it happens, and The Woman sits around waiting for it to happen.
Two people should have a private conversation about agreeing to marry one another. Getting engaged should not be about bolstering the jewelry-and-wedding industry, or creating a scripted event to post on social media.
Why do independent adult women and men think The Proposal is necessary, or even a good thing?
Wouldn’t it though? Why did a woman who was such a pest have his personal phone number?
Open relationships aren’t for everyone. I know myself well enough to know I couldn’t find happiness in one, and that’s okay. I’m in a monogamous marriage now, and if my wife ever asked to change that and open our relationship up, I’d be gone. Not because I want to lose her, but because I owe it to myself not to agree to something I know would make me deeply unhappy.
It’s normal to be 19-21 and to be curious about what else is out there. It’s also normal to have a shit ton of anxiety about “giving up” a partner to explore that curiosity, so an open relationship can seem like a compromise or a best of both worlds scenario. But while I know this will probably be unpopular, I really think pursuing open relationships have become a trend lately rather than a genuine, respectful exploration of non-monogamy. Polyamory and non-monogamy should start with a sincere interest/desire to have an open, ethical relationship, and to be successful it requires a lot of self-awareness and honesty.
But more and more, people are considering them as an “alternative” to infidelity, which just … isn’t apples to apples at all. And you can’t sidestep the damage infidelity caused by just slapping a preemptive “open relationship!” label on what you and your partner have. If your partner is just coming at it from a selfish, insincere place to try and avoid the consequences and guilt after infidelity, they have no business making this request of you.
Relationships (especially in your early 20’s) are messy, complicated, and constantly changing – which is why it’s critical that you identify and communicate clear boundaries for what you need in a relationship and what will make you happy, not just what you are willing to suffer through to hopefully be with your partner in the end.
If being with other people and knowing your partner is with other people won’t make you feel secure, comfortable, and happy, then you need to walk away and find someone that aligns with what you are looking for.
Your situation sounds more like a FWB relationship. While looking for others.
OP, have you ever heard of a river n Egypt called “Denial”? Because you seem to be deep in it and I'm sorry but the harsh reality is your wife trained your infant/toddler son to call her best male friend “Dada”. That same male best friend is spending literally HOURS at your house everyday and he's there when you come home. Your son and wife spend more time with him than you do. You need to get your son paternity tested, a prenatal test for the one in your wife's belly, get that guy out of your life, and get in touch with an attorney. This behavior is not only incredibly shady, but just outright wrong and not okay.
Ask your wife if your situations were reversed, how would she feel?
How would she feel if your kid called your female best friend mama? How would she feel if she worked all day, then came home and your hot female best friend was at your house, playing with the kid, maybe cooking you some dinner?
I'm telling you man, the only time a kid will accidentally call a man who isn't his father “dada” is if he's looking at his uncle and they're twins, or someone told him to call the not father Dada.
Yes, it is 100% a trust thing. He can say it's not. But he's lying. The reason he's uncomfortable is because boys and girls are going and one flirts with the other. He said that.
It doesn't matter how Hannah acts. Or how anyone else acts. You are you. You are not Hannah or anyone else. He doesn't trust you enough that you will say no and not flirt or sleep with anyone like Hannah might.
No, I will not say he is controlling. He said he's not comfortable with you going. He didn't say you can't go.It's perfectly acceptable to open up and talk about what you are comfortable and uncomfortable with in a relationship.
Your options are go and have fun and don't sleep with everyone like Hannah will.
Or listen to your boyfriend and stay home.
I vote go have fun.
How long has he had the ring? Did you and he have a conversation about when/how you will get married?
You should not have left this entirely up to him. You started out enthusiastic and happy about the ring, but his delay is making you tense and annoyed.
You and he bought into the media-manufactured expectation that there has to be a orchestrated ritual Romantic Proposal that The Man has 100% control over when it happens, and The Woman sits around waiting for it to happen.
Two people should have a private conversation about agreeing to marry one another. Getting engaged should not be about bolstering the jewelry-and-wedding industry, or creating a scripted event to post on social media.
Why do independent adult women and men think The Proposal is necessary, or even a good thing?