Money, parenting, sharing space, schedules, rental agreements… these may not be the sexiest and most exciting aspects of non-monogamy, but they are important. In fact, they’re common stumbling blocks, and can cause big relationship issues when left unaddressed for long periods of time.
Here’s the problem: we rarely get to hear about how other polyamorous people are handling the practical details of their lives. That’s exactly what our guest today, author and coach Laura Boyle, is out to solve. Her new book, Monogamy? In this Economy? Finances, Childrearing, and Other Practical Concerns of Polyamory, is based on a survey of nearly 500 polyamorous households and is chock full of the real-life experiences of families with more than two adults.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
— The most common size of polyamorous households (hint: it's not what you might expect!)
— Creative solutions for managing space constraints in shared living situations
— The importance of open communication about seemingly minor issues before they become major problems
— How to navigate the complexities of blending families and introducing new partners to children
— Practical considerations around finances, particularly regarding vacations and large gifts for non-nesting partners
— The parallels between polyamorous family dynamics and other "non-traditional" family structures like blended families
— Why it's crucial to discuss reproductive health and pregnancy scenarios early in relationships
— Our own experiences with solving these issues
— How relationship anarchy principles can benefit both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships
— Addressing jealousy in multi-adult households without overemphasizing or ignoring it
Resources mentioned in this episode:
— Laura Boyle's new book: Monogamy in This Economy: Finances, Child Rearing, and Other Practical Concerns of Polyamory
— Pre-order Laura’s book
— Laura's website: ReadyForPolyamory.com
— Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok: @ReadyforPolyamory
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Music: Dance of Felt by Blue Dot Sessions
