Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

After 11 years of marriage my husband suddenly wants to practice polygamy

161 replies

Ladylibra21 · 04/12/2023 06:16

Before my husband and I got married and even for years after we both made it clear that we were only interested in a Monogamous union. We both agreed that we would never want to share what we have with with another party male nor female. I even asked him at one point if he ever had a threesome in his past and he said it was never something he ever wanted or was interested in trying. I know not all men have a fantasy of a threesome but some do so I was curious to know. He told me that he went to a strip club before but he didn’t see what the hype was about and was not interested in returning. We have had conversations about polygamy and my stance on it has never changed. It’s a lifestyle that just isn’t for me and I don’t like the idea of sharing my partner. It was always something we mutually agreed on.
However after over a decade together my husband all of a sudden wants me to be open to the idea of practicing polygamy, having threesomes, and going to strip clubs with him. I am completely in disbelief about this. He told me that people in marriages are allowed to change their minds about things and that the wife should just mold to whatever the husband wants and support him. He thinks me having a “sister wife” would be beneficial for me and that she could also help me around the house. In reality I believe he only wants to practice that lifestyle for his own selfish reasons and it has nothing to do with me. I told him that he knew I was monogamous before we even got married and that If he wanted to be polygamous he should have entered into a relationship with someone who shares his morals. I flat out said that if he wants to live that type of lifestyle then we need to divorce and he needs to find someone else compatible with this new person he claims to be.
I feel like I am in a bad dream. I understand people can change but he just completely did a whole 360 on me. If he was always like this why would he lie for this long and then flip the script on me like this. I don’t even know who he is anymore. I feel like he doesn’t care if I am miserable as long as he gets what he wants and is happy that is all that matters. I don’t have anything against anyone who wants to practice polygamy and have threesomes but you cannot lie about who you really are, get with someone who does not want to live a lifestyle like that, and then later on down the line try to force them to change to your beliefs. That is a horrible thing to do to someone. I feel sick, hurt, and very angry. I haven’t told anyone in my personal life because I just don’t have the courage to do so yet. He thinks I am overreacting and this is just a normal situation! I just wanted to get someone else’s opinion on this because he keeps trying to make me believe I am just acting crazy. I really don’t even know what to do at this point.

OP posts:
CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 04/12/2023 07:09

Knowing this was a line drawn in the sand years ago, could he be suggesting it precisely to end the marriage?
maybe he is currently having an affair, and wants you to look like the bad guy by leaving??

CantThinkOfAUsername100 · 04/12/2023 07:10

What about countering his offer with a “brother husband”? Someone who can help him with all the manly jobs around the house and can partake in threesomes?

cerisepanther73 · 04/12/2023 07:11

Don't go there,

i was with a guy for almost 10 yrs who had adult daughter in her very early twenties who did the female version of pologramy,

she was with a tidy guy who was good to her, she later on started to become friendly with another guy,
her orginal partner reluctantly went along with her idea of polygramy set up , at first it seemed to be ok well looked like that to outsiders but later down the line she started to get closer to the guy who she was in friends with benefits situation with,
guess what?
no surprises she ended up, ditching her longer term partner for this new guy,

lemmein · 04/12/2023 07:12

So, he wants to add another woman in your relationship for him to have sex with and to help you clean up? Hmm

Id get the ick so bad from this numpty that it would be the end for me.

There's no way after a decade he's suddenly turned into a misogynist prick - I bet if you look back there's many, many examples of him having zero respect for you. I'd put decent money on him already having an affair and this is just him wanting you to give the nod to it.

You deserve better OP than someone who thinks women are just handy holes and domestic appliances.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 04/12/2023 07:15

Well it’s a topic that has never come up during my marriage. But this is your marriage and I think You are right about the real reason. No doubt about it.
What would happen if you were to say you wanted a ‘Brother Husband? Would he happily do whatever Brother Husbands do while you were having sex with the other one?
Suppose he got bored with Sister wife no. 1? How would you feel if he wanted another one?
His views about women being there to serve him, to bend to his will show you just who he really is. He has always wanted this.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 04/12/2023 07:18

Are you from a culture where polygamy is common, OP? It seems surprising that you've had so many conversations about it previously. I have been with DH for the best part of 30 years, and I don't think we have ever talked about it even once...we both just know that we're in a relationship that doesn't involve any third parties.

The thing that worries me in your post is the assumption that "the wife should just mold to whatever the husband wants and support him". I'm guessing that it doesn't work the other way around.

Honestly, he has made his position clear and he doesn't respect your wishes. You will be far better off without him.

cerisepanther73 · 04/12/2023 07:20

his obviously checked out or checking out emotionally in this relantship,

better off officially separating divorcing bit later down the line...

He just wants his 🎂 cake and eating it,

you entered into exclusive relantship not a open relantship

even in open relationship or swingers set up there has to be mutual agreement, consensual on both sides of the equation for that to work...

morethanspice · 04/12/2023 07:27

This was a marriage ending situation for me. I definitely didn’t sign up to it and my husband’s constant pestering and coercing made me hate him. In the end it came out he’d been having affairs for years and had a long term other partner
Ive almost recovered from the mental and physical breakdown caused by this.

SauronsArsehole · 04/12/2023 07:30

9 times out of 10 when a man suddenly asks this he has another woman ready to pounce or is already having an affair.

as to the ‘another woman to help you around the house’ what’s wrong with him pulling his finger out and doing his fair share?

leave the bastard.

BuddyBuddyBumBum · 04/12/2023 07:32

He told me that people in marriages are allowed to change their minds about things and that the wife should just mold to whatever the husband wants and support him

ICK

Tell him you’ve changed your mind about being his wife. I’d bet my hat he’s got another woman on the go already.

Coffeeandanap · 04/12/2023 07:34

I’m so sorry, this is awful. You’re not crazy & he’s being a dick.

I had a similar situation to you, mine wanted to open the marriage up after I’d always made it clear I was monogamous. I’d discovered he’d cheated throughout our entire relationship despite him also claiming to be monogamous & would never do that.

When the cheating came to light, that’s when the open marriage conversation was raised by him. He tried similar to yours, kept watching videos about how he was the normal one & monogamy and marriage is just a social construct.

It drove me to such a sad place & I stayed around longer than I should have.

Based on my experience I would advise you to leave, the marriage you thought you’d entered into is dead. I don’t see how you can come back from this, you’ll always be looking over your shoulder & holding your breath waiting for him to push it again (if he does indeed drop it when he realises it’s a deal breaker for you).

You deserve to live a peaceful life, alone or with someone who truly matches your values.

Again, I’m sorry, it’s a really horrible situation. Do tell your family in real life, you’ll need support to get through and out of this.

BirthdayRainbow · 04/12/2023 07:35

Ask him how he'd feel if you did want to welcome another partner in, but a male one..

MsDogLady · 04/12/2023 07:38

@Ladylibra21, his sudden desire for polyamory and threesomes is clearly all for his benefit and gratification.

I think he’s already cheating or has someone in mind to bring into your marriage. His attempt to normalize having 2+ women by pushing the idea of your gaining help around the house is appalling.

After many years of monogamy and exclusively sharing love and life experiences, I would divorce my H if he pulled this stunt.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 04/12/2023 07:39

Is it polygamy, or polyamory he wants? One is illegal, the other is not.

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 04/12/2023 07:39

Nope. Nope. Nope.

If he'd been open about this side of him at the start, likelihood is you wouldn't have married him as its not what you want. I don't understand why you had so many conversations about it in the past though? Has he brought it up, or you? Or is it common practice in your/his culture/church to have "sister wives" and you were checking he didn't buy into that?

PansyPolly · 04/12/2023 07:40

Threesomes and polygamy are very far from the same thing.

HappyCamperTent · 04/12/2023 07:40

Watchkeys · 04/12/2023 06:34

that the wife should just mold to whatever the husband wants and support him

This would mean divorce, for me, regardless of the polygamy thing. Who does he think he is? Your boss? Does this reflect his general attitude towards equality?

This!!

spellingwasp · 04/12/2023 07:42

In reality I believe he only wants to practice that lifestyle for his own selfish reasons and it has nothing to do with me.

100% correct!

I haven’t told anyone in my personal life because I just don’t have the courage to do so yet.

Do it. What have you got to be ashamed about? You need their support and believe me you'll have it! I don't think anyone in your personal life wouldn't be on your side over this.

He thinks I am overreacting and this is just a normal situation! I just wanted to get someone else’s opinion on this because he keeps trying to make me believe I am just acting crazy.

Some men who are having affairs also want to make you believe you are crazy when you are suspicious. Mind games.

I really don’t even know what to do at this point.

I think, deep down, you do. This thread will help you work through your feelings and shock. Then, tell people in your personal life. Then, it's time to make a plan.

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. Were there other signs of your husband's selfishness before this announcement? This isn't just someone changing. He can change if he wants, but he is telling you that you're crazy and not caring that you are unhappy. I suspect he's always been on the selfish side.

YireosDodeAver · 04/12/2023 07:43

Yanbu at all that the kind of lifestyle he wants isn't for you.

He is NBU that people and their needs change. It's a nice fantasy that a marriage is forever but it doesn't always work out like that.

All you can do is let him go, with love, choose an amicable divorce where you both get a fair share of the assets and a fair opportunity to restart your lives, and let him pursue what he thinks will make him happy.

You do not owe him the sacrifice of your own needs and wishes. You never promised him that. You swore to live two people as one partnership but he wants to break that and do something different. It's ok to forgive him and let him di so with other willing partners. It is not ok for him to break it and expect you to accept that, change your expectations and stay with him.

SunsetGirl · 04/12/2023 07:43

I know quite a lot of polyamorous people, and this is not the healthy way to be in a polyamorous relationship.

Plus the insinuation that your husband/house/lifestyle are such a catch that the other woman would want to live there and... cater to his needs all the time? Gross.

IdealisticCynic · 04/12/2023 07:45

“He thinks me having a “sister wife” would be beneficial for me and that she could also help me around the house.”

Is that what he thinks women are ‘for’? To have sex with him and clean his house? I would absolutely leave a man with such a view.

39and · 04/12/2023 07:46

Leave him. What makes him think anyone would be interested in this gross setup anyway?

Gointhruhell · 04/12/2023 07:46

CantThinkOfAUsername100 · 04/12/2023 07:10

What about countering his offer with a “brother husband”? Someone who can help him with all the manly jobs around the house and can partake in threesomes?

Haha yes my thoughts. An ex once hinted at a threesome and I said 'great as long as I fancy him'. Changed his mind funnily enough.

Ollifer · 04/12/2023 07:50

Yeah I'd definitely start sending him pics of potential guys you could bring into your marriage, to help him do all the man jobs around the house.

jobono · 04/12/2023 07:52

tell him to take a hike, if he wants to be polygamous he can do it by himself. Honestly what a selfish prick.