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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

New member with unusual lifestyle.

275 replies

Secondwife · 24/08/2011 11:29

I joined up yesterday but I have lurked on here for some time now. I've not found a sub forum for introductions so I'm using this post here to introduce myself and my somewhat unusual life, and living arrangements.

As my username suggests I am a Second wife to my OH, but not in the conventional sense as we are not married and can never be. Most of you will find this very hard to understand and accept as it breaks the 'norm' with regards to relationships but we are in a Polygamous relationship. He is early 40's and is married to his wife who is the same age, and they live together without children as that is their wish. I am early 50's and live 40 miles away from them in my own home. I have three teenage children from a previous marriage and support myself and my children with the bare minimum of financial help from their Father, to which they do not see and do not recognise as a 'Father'. He left when they were all still very young, the youngest was only months old as he suddenly decided being married and a parent was not for him.

My OH was a very distant friend for many years although I was well aware that his wife did not have a huge sexual appetite. He struggled with the not wanting to cheat on her, but really needing a sexual outlet. I was celibate but frustrated and some how we became for want of a better word 'Fuckbuddies'. There was strictly no emotion between us and sex was good but that was all it was. Over the years it seems the OH began to fall in love with me and my children without my knowledge, and it was a huge shock years ago when he finally confessed he loved me/us. Over the years of us being fuckbuddies his wife grew to understand what was happening between us and she was relieved that she did not have to have sex when she did not want it and that he would not be leaving her for us, merely we would share him. And so it began... I am called his secondwife in gest by her and he spends some of each week at each home. He makes no financial contribution to my household other than paying for the odd take-away to cover food that he does consume at my house,. We go on family outings together as a proper family and my kids call him 'Dad'. That is their choice, it has never been pushed onto them, they realise which man in their life loves them and has time for them, and which does not.

The only downside we have so far discovered is that we can never 'out' ourselves to family and friends. As far as they all know we are all just good friends such is the social frowning that happens to people who wish to live a polygamous life. It is not something that any of us set out to do, it just sort of happened and it works for us.

OP posts:
JanMorrow · 24/08/2011 14:37

Secondwife Secondwife, if you want to be in a monogamous relationship, why are you not in one? Otherwise, good luck there.

SaulGood · 24/08/2011 14:37

I'm thinking a cocktail stick might help. Or bake them separately and add on with apricot jam after the fact

Threatened? Are the polys invading then? Good. I know a lot about WWII defences.

Any more sockpuppets going to spring up and accuse us of being uptight bastards?

CognitiveDissident · 24/08/2011 14:40

Gertie

That's easy, you just whittle them out of lemon peel.

ChickenBalls · 24/08/2011 14:41

I think I've just worked out what a 'sockpuppet' is and I love that term for it!!!

Grin
CognitiveDissident · 24/08/2011 14:44

this thread is moving too fast for me. Are we on gingerbread penis transplants, home-made lemsip or the Maginot Line?

Badtasteflump · 24/08/2011 14:45

My favourite has to be Sweep.

Secondwife · 24/08/2011 14:46

For those who think I've been upset and run away, I have not. I've just let the thread run for a bit.

As I stated I posted this as a Intro thread, I feel when you join somewhere new you should post a hello and something about yourself, that is the way it is on other forums I frequent. The reason I posted the details I did was that I may in future make a comment which goes against the norm, this is by way of explaining why. Also seeing as it is relationship based this is why I chose this part of the forum. I see not rules saying I cannot do this and no Mods have deleted this thread so far.

I'm not in the least bit surprised by all your reactions. People can be so judgemental when faced with a situation out of the norm, but I thank the few of you who have been open minded enough to say 'each to their own'.

Those who think I am some hard done by wench, I am not. I like having my own space some of the time, I can spend time with my children and then time as a 'family' when we are not alone. I've always wondered how many wives have husbands who work away from home - how do they not know that he is not up to something similiar. At least in our case we all know where and what is going on.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 24/08/2011 14:49

I want to know what colour your hair is when you introduce yourself, and whether you think maxi dresses will still be in next summer

a lecture about your humdrum sex life is of absolutely no interest to me

BecauseImWorthIt · 24/08/2011 14:52
Biscuit
TheCrackFox · 24/08/2011 14:55

But your situation isn't out of the norm - men have been having a wife and a mistress since the dawn of time. You are just living a typical surbanan lifestyle. Yawn.

tethersend · 24/08/2011 14:55

AF, I'm pretty sure maxis dresses will be out next summer, but I think the maxi skirt will endure.

Also, I think inflated senses of self importance and delusions of edginess will be massive this season.

Malificence · 24/08/2011 14:57

Aaah, so what it really boils down to is, you're all bitches and your husbands are probably shagging away from home any way. Thanks for that.

Bless at thinking you're in any way a family.

AnyFucker · 24/08/2011 14:58

Secondwife could be an autumn trendsetter then...

I have a maxi skirt. Fab. I had a funny feeling that maxi dresses were pretty last year ackshully, hence I have barely worn mine this summer. Apart from the shite weather of course, which hasn't helped at all.

TheRealMBJ · 24/08/2011 14:58

Ah, I see. Setting the scene

Good thinking.

Btw. I know of many long term mistresses who are very happy with the way they are living their lives. And that is fine. It seems to me though that you are not really content with your set-up and would somehow like to romantise or justify it by making it a unique lifestyle.

It is not. It is very common, really.

Anyway, back to your children. I thought it interesting that they choose to call him dad but you have to keep it secret. How does that work? Do they never mention their 'dad' to their friends or the family? Confused

And come to think of it, his wife knows and is happy with it but your family and friends don't? Weird.

AnyFucker · 24/08/2011 14:59

Yes, setting the scene will be very helpful when posting in the baby names topic, for example

AnyFucker · 24/08/2011 15:01

"well, for sure I am a second wife (did I tell you the story behind that, btw?) but I think your choice of Gertrude for your darling new baby is a trifle outre ..."

tethersend · 24/08/2011 15:01

Maybe him and his wife are the same person?

Now that's alternative.

TheRealMBJ · 24/08/2011 15:02
Grin
GertieWooster · 24/08/2011 15:04

Maybe a sad indictment of the heaviness of my gingerbread persons that I'm envisaging a very large penis to support its weight or maybe I've been single for way too long and envisaging very large penises

Op the relationship board is full of the devastating effects that affairs have. That is what your relationship is; you are a mistress - nothing more, nothing less. Who knows what cock and bull story your non-OH gives his real wife.

Nothing wrong with Gertrude Grin

TheRealMBJ · 24/08/2011 15:08

Although Trudy is pretty awful as a nn. I would prefer Gert.

I'm envisaging the penis at only a slight angle to the rest of the man, like a semi. Then it can be used as a hook, so it just rests on th edge of the cup, no?

AuntieMonica · 24/08/2011 15:11

the thought of gingerbread men with semis has kept me giggling all through a veryy strained lovely impromptu visit by my parents

ty MN Grin

mouldyironingboard · 24/08/2011 15:16

Secondwife, is there a good reason why he can't get a divorce? He doesn't have children with his wife so it could be quite a straightforward matter. It would be better for your DC to be more open about your relationship.

Lexilicious · 24/08/2011 15:18

Just going back a bit to page two, I have a mildly interesting factoid about Norway and WWII...

My great-great grandparents were Norwegians who pitched up in the North East in 1901 with their first child. My Great-grandmother was about the 9th of 11. Come the Norwegian decision to allow itself to be overrun by Germany in WWII, my Great great Uncle (the norwegian kid, keep up) was required to show himself at the town hall in Co Durham and reliquish his bicycle. Because he was, after 40 years, now considered an alien.

Fin.

GertieWooster · 24/08/2011 15:18

You see I was imagining an anatomically-bizarre 90 degree angle so the man could stand upright, a semi makes much more sense.

Pamplemoussse · 24/08/2011 15:21

who gets to wash the skiddy pants?