#non-monogomous

[theopenphotoproject]

I think also part of it is circumstance. I was a little bit of a late bloomer both sexually and romantically." - Nick "Making up for lost time?" - Celeste "Making up for lost time sexually and romantically because I feel the need to do that. I can’t envision what monogamy would look like for me, but also I understand there are some people who were wild and got it out of their system in their twenties. Since I very, very, very much didn’t, I think that non-monogamy is even more of a natural fit for me even though I don’t feel any jealousy or feel threatened by you dating other people. I think it’s a good fit for that reason as well.

Nick

11/2016

[theopenphotoproject]

Erin talking about jealousy 

11/2016

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Interviewer: Does jealousy every come up and if so, how do you deal with it? Erin: Usually it comes up with my local partner because he’s very popular. Usually I talk to him about it if it’s pressing, otherwise I go have a dance and calm down and try to address it myself. He never does anything on purpose to make me jealous, so I recognize that and I try to figure out what’s the root cause and I think everyone gets jealous at some point. Usually it’s because one person is not having needs met. Addressing that and figuring out how those needs can be met is super important.

[theopenphotoproject]

Anna and Brian enjoy the view atop Governor’s Island.

6/2017

[theopenphotoproject]

I started dating this guy when I was seventeen. I dated him for eight years and I cheated on him. As far as I know, and to this day I am still in contact occasionally, he was faithful.  After I broke up with him, I dated around a bit and I married the guy I ended up swinging with. We were non-monogamous our whole marriage. Now I’m in the process of divorcing him now after approximately eight years as well. I think I’ll probably always be non-monogamous; I clearly have no interest in monogamy.

Celeste

11/2016

[scarkroux]

[lifeworkspsych]

If you have been polyamorous for a while, you start to get used to answering certain questions (people usually ask about either jealousy or your sex life.) After six years of being polyamorous and two years of coaching people in non-monogamous relationships, I have yet to encounter a question, opinion, or critique of non-monogamy that I have never heard before. Every Q and A, discussion, and debate with friends, family, and random strangers has been a great opportunity to practice fielding all kinds of responses, and to help others do the same.

If you're non-monogamous, here's a useful way to respond to 8 common questions, criticisms, or judgments others may throw at you.