Hello, Petra here again with the same old story and a few questions. Actually, I'm not sure even what "poly" is; is it just something sexual or must it be more? I have accepted the label for our group, or "family" as I like to call it - two guys, three women and five children (so far, probably two more before we quit) from various combinations among the guys and women. Our family was not the merger of couples, but the accretion of individuals over the years. If you want to read more, I joined the Swingersboard ten years ago and have documented over the years how it all evolved. (Short version: I broke up with my fiance but never stopped seeing him, met a guy who was OK with it and married him, I got over my jealousy and found women for hubby to date (and explored my lesbian side), two of the women joined us, and we bought a large house and had children.
To me just because you like, have great sex with, and get along with another couple doesn't it poly, even if you're exclusive. It's a flavor of swinging. Poly requires that everyone in the group is equal and makes sacrifices for the others, and lives together. Here's my test: 1) Try a couples swap for a week; at the end does everyone feel good about it? 2) For a week live as an FMF, halfway through switching out the M; then live for a week as an MFM, switching out the F halfway. How do the dynamics work out? See how it feels when your wife is wanting him and you have to settle for sloppy seconds. See how the household works. 3) Are you willing to let your wife has his child? He let his wife have yours? 4) Most importantly, can you manage finances of this ménage à quatre? We've been there and done all that. It has many difficulties, but if you sacrifice to make it work it is worth it in every way.