redpepper
Active member
http://cdn3.libsyn.com/polyweekly/P...25&nva=20100311053325&t=029db68b9ddf62a2f2b3e
I just listened to this.
Good to hear your voice Joreth. If you are still among us.
It seems that there is no debate between primary/secondary descriptions of relationships and describing relationships as not being of a primary/secondary nature. There are just differing experiences and some things for new comers and sometimes us veterans to poly need to think about. What there is to think about is in terms of prescribing rules/boundaries for new relationships coming into our lives so as to not hurt and/or damage a new person in our lives sense of self, ego and worth.
There were several points made in this pod cast that I wanted to point out.
1. There is a struggle sometimes for people in several poly relationships, where there was no established relationship to start with, to vie for top dog relationship. These folks want to have claim to the primary positions and that can be hurtful and dangerous to all the other relationships.
2. A person entering an established relationship that has been looking for a "unicorn" of sorts sometimes has prescribed rules/boundaries to follow where by the "unicorn (or other)" must fit these rules/boundaries in order to fit. This can be unappealing for a person entering an established relationship and it can be hurtful and damaging to that person to find out they are investing in a relationship of this type of nature.
3. Some relationships that are established, and looking for other partners are compassionate and respectful (two words I love oh so much it made me so happy to hear them!) to new partners and do their best to not have fear attached to the new comer but welcome them and are warm to them in order to make them feel they are wanted and worthy of as much attention as anyone else involved in that relationships life.
4. This fear that some couples have when opening their relationship is often based in their "fear of losing" the partner they have. It is very common in my opinion and seems to be a first step when a couple open up their relationship. As is the assumption that a new partner will meld into the relationship that already exists and will somehow become some version of the fantasy that the couple had in mind.
5. It is important to go with changes in relationships and morph into a future with ones partner and newly established partners. There needs to be respect for established relationships, but not to the detriment of those who have not been around as long. Those people and those relationships are just as valid and vital, just different.
So this is what I got from this... Anything else to add that I might of missed? Any thoughts on how this affects your view of primary secondary?
For me it makes me feel confident that anyone that enters our relationship can feel welcomed and accepted for who they are and what they may bring to our lives.
I still have a primary established relationship that for me means that I take my son as my primary concern and therefore who parents him with me is my primary partner (s). That does not mean that anyone else will be kept separate or be loved any less because of that commitment to raising him. There will be time restraints, but that is it. I can respect that every relationship I have is different from the next and just as valid.
My love may be deeper for someone over another because of that love is more established, but there is no secondary love for me.... in fact I would prefer to say that in light of this new discovery for me I would never have a secondary... only primaries and possible primaries. Going by my own definition of my son being my primary responsibility and commitment that is. (Does that make sense?)
I just listened to this.
Good to hear your voice Joreth. If you are still among us.
It seems that there is no debate between primary/secondary descriptions of relationships and describing relationships as not being of a primary/secondary nature. There are just differing experiences and some things for new comers and sometimes us veterans to poly need to think about. What there is to think about is in terms of prescribing rules/boundaries for new relationships coming into our lives so as to not hurt and/or damage a new person in our lives sense of self, ego and worth.
There were several points made in this pod cast that I wanted to point out.
1. There is a struggle sometimes for people in several poly relationships, where there was no established relationship to start with, to vie for top dog relationship. These folks want to have claim to the primary positions and that can be hurtful and dangerous to all the other relationships.
2. A person entering an established relationship that has been looking for a "unicorn" of sorts sometimes has prescribed rules/boundaries to follow where by the "unicorn (or other)" must fit these rules/boundaries in order to fit. This can be unappealing for a person entering an established relationship and it can be hurtful and damaging to that person to find out they are investing in a relationship of this type of nature.
3. Some relationships that are established, and looking for other partners are compassionate and respectful (two words I love oh so much it made me so happy to hear them!) to new partners and do their best to not have fear attached to the new comer but welcome them and are warm to them in order to make them feel they are wanted and worthy of as much attention as anyone else involved in that relationships life.
4. This fear that some couples have when opening their relationship is often based in their "fear of losing" the partner they have. It is very common in my opinion and seems to be a first step when a couple open up their relationship. As is the assumption that a new partner will meld into the relationship that already exists and will somehow become some version of the fantasy that the couple had in mind.
5. It is important to go with changes in relationships and morph into a future with ones partner and newly established partners. There needs to be respect for established relationships, but not to the detriment of those who have not been around as long. Those people and those relationships are just as valid and vital, just different.
So this is what I got from this... Anything else to add that I might of missed? Any thoughts on how this affects your view of primary secondary?
For me it makes me feel confident that anyone that enters our relationship can feel welcomed and accepted for who they are and what they may bring to our lives.
I still have a primary established relationship that for me means that I take my son as my primary concern and therefore who parents him with me is my primary partner (s). That does not mean that anyone else will be kept separate or be loved any less because of that commitment to raising him. There will be time restraints, but that is it. I can respect that every relationship I have is different from the next and just as valid.
My love may be deeper for someone over another because of that love is more established, but there is no secondary love for me.... in fact I would prefer to say that in light of this new discovery for me I would never have a secondary... only primaries and possible primaries. Going by my own definition of my son being my primary responsibility and commitment that is. (Does that make sense?)
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