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Relationships

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:
Malificence · 24/08/2011 15:25

Is secondwife anything like secondlife? - you know, a completely made-up fantasy world where everyone talks crap to one another?

ScaredOfCows · 24/08/2011 15:42

Oooh lovely - I've just found this thread. Tis smashing to have something educational to while away an hour or so in the afternoon.

So, Secondwife what other forums (fora) are you a member of then?

SingOut · 24/08/2011 15:48

There's a really nice quote from Bill Bryson that might be appropriate for threads such as these, actually:

"You're confusing me with someone who gives a shit."

AnyFucker · 24/08/2011 15:49

SingOut...but what is your opinion on maxi skirts ?

Funtimewincies · 24/08/2011 15:57

OP, do you mean a subforum for people who feel compelled to make people take notice of them? That quote sprung to mind too Singout Grin. Sorry, but I'm as confused as the rest about why you felt the need to start this thread.

Maybe a blog would be your friend or try 'Relationships' for people in a similar boat if the OP is genuine and not just attention-seeking Hmm.

Iamjustthemilkmachine · 24/08/2011 16:01

If it is between consenting adults then whatever. I'd just like to know that i and his wife also could have relationships with other people.

PeppermintPasty · 24/08/2011 16:04

God I was having a shit day til I stumbled on this thread. Can I just tell you you're all rather magnificent and I love you. Thankyou.

Funtimewincies · 24/08/2011 16:13

Just to clarify, I mean a thread for people in similar relationships in 'Relationships' iyswim Confused, rather than a 'hey look at me and my alternative lifestyle' one, which is confusing.

mathanxiety · 24/08/2011 16:33

I will join anyone going on a field trip to Norway (taking in Berlin of course) and I promise I will regale you with my vast knowledge of 20th C German history. I also know a lot about the T-34 tank in case there's a lull in the conversation. I really, really love Abba, and I once found a completely anatomically correct carrot.

QuintessentialShadow · 24/08/2011 16:36

"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."

That sounds absurd.

Well, "we" were not really letting ourselves so much be overrun, as much as we were betrayed by Sweden, who interpreted "neutral" to mean they should let the German army march through Sweden to conquer Norway, while Sweden were holding their doors open and whistling while looking the other way.....
Russia, on the other hand, came down through Finland and kicked arse. Serious arse. (I preferred the Finnish "open door policy" )

However, the biggest mistake was possibly not guarding our mountain passes, thinking the Germans would be too Chicken to attempt coming that way!

QuintessentialShadow · 24/08/2011 16:38

Mathanxiety we need some german history, up here we only have norwegian perspective of the war, no account from german soldiers who served up here! There are so many half german children, born by women who fell in love with soldiers occupying their farms.

Thumbwitch · 24/08/2011 16:39

Lexi - I didn't realise that bicycles were considered to be an insidious weapon in the hands of furriners - how interesting! Can't imagine what their motivation there was. Unless your great-uncle (or was it two greats?) was in the Postal Service and it was a GPO bike, of course.

Thepoweroforangeknickers · 24/08/2011 16:39

"f---buddies"!! OP is a Daily Mail reporter.

Lexilicious · 24/08/2011 16:48

Sorry Quint, my knowledge of the minutiae of the diplomatic decisions of Norway and indeed Sweden in the dark days of WWII is shaky. I just meant at the point where Norway 'fell' in whatever sense.

I think the bicycle was all he had in terms of freedom and it had to be taken away to ensure he was just a little bit less privileged. I am not sure whether his siblings/wife were also required not to lend him a bicycle, scooter, pogo stick...

Now, polyamorosity on a pogo stick would be a good thread.

TobyLeWolef · 24/08/2011 16:49

'fuckbuddies' is an acceptable term Hmm

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 24/08/2011 16:51

errr Hello SecondWife...

A few people have suggested that to be a second wife you have to live in the same household etc. can I just point out that isn't the case in every culture where polygamy is practiced. Some cultures the wives live separately. My husband had a Nigerian friend with two wives who each had their own flat - I only realised he had two wives when he came to our house the second time with a different wife from the first time. Both wives were openly and formally married in Nigeria with equal status.

Secondwife - if he can't really acknowledge you as his other partner then I do wonder what your status is.

Thumbwitch · 24/08/2011 16:53

What, just the one pogo-stick? That would be an interesting balancing feat! But then if it were two pogosticks, your timing would have to be good - and since we're talking polyamorosity, that would probably be three pogosticks which increases the chances of mistimed bouncing quite a lot...

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 24/08/2011 16:53

Another aspect of Norwegian WWII history
Heroes of the Telmark

BikingViking · 24/08/2011 16:57

Bugger me this thread has moved on.

Going back to the gingerbread penii (sp?) I suppose you'd have to get the thickness right too so that it can bake at an even rate in keeping with the rest of the gingerbread man.

Re. Scandinavia and WWII, my grandfather was in the Danish Resistance. My mum remembers going to a farm on Sjælland with her mum to get out of the city and stay with relatives and her small child memory of the train journey is that it lasted 6 hours. Which is weird because the island isn't really that big.

BikingViking · 24/08/2011 16:59

Thumbwitch - that would take some co-ordination.

A synchronised-triple-pogostick-bonk

TheRealMBJ · 24/08/2011 17:00

Wow. I now nothing about the Norwegian (or Scandinavia in general tbh) position during WWII. Seriously un-educated in this regard. Blush

mathanxiety · 24/08/2011 17:05

Thumbwitch, the entire Irish Army was equipped with bikes during WWII. Here is one keeping an eye peeled for a naval attack. These ones are clearly AWOL And this one is a pacifist, possibly a Norwegian or whistling Swede. Private cars were requisitioned and decked out with armour and anti aircraft guns and the trains ran on turf briquettes.

Thumbwitch · 24/08/2011 17:06

at math! Grin

Biking - yer not kidding!

mathanxiety · 24/08/2011 17:08

Maybe the Danish trains ran on turf too, BikingViking? Irish trains would have got places quicker in WW2 if the passengers had got out and pushed.

Thumbwitch · 24/08/2011 17:15

Oh i don't know about that math - there would have been too much blether going on about the best way to push them and isn't it a fine morning after all, entirely too nice to be bothering with this train here Grin

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