Well, I am glad that I got a response form you. And I take everything to heart, with a grain of salt, that is.
I did talk to him the evening I posted that latest response on this forum. He responded kindly. He is not exploring anything with anyone on HIS choice right now too. We have an agreement... something both of us decided we wanted to build trust in each other... So, It is not one sided. When he kissed her, he thought about it for a couple of weeks so that when he talked to me he would know what he wanted more clearly. He is building trust in me as well, and based on our last conversation we are still on the same page. He used the words: How can I go outside of this when my home is not organized.
She is at the beginning of a divorce, and since I have read and agree that other relationships DO affect the relationships already in place, AND having been through one myself, this worries me... Also, there is a child in the picture. The timing seems wrong to both of us.
I am a firm believer that life is not fair, and that NO ONE can place a time frame on how long they are "supposed" to feel insecure, not ready, whatever... 3 weeks is virtually NO time, especially for two people who do not see each other frequently due to work, etc. I also don't want to spend all my time with him talking to him about these issues because I need to remember why I am doing it in the first place - that is ENJOY ourselves when we have time with each other, and not be stressed out all the time. If I am not in the same place he is at whatever point in the future, fine. I don't want to rush things or do something unhealthy (react to the fear of losing him instead of doing this for myself) just because of that. I don't want to lose him, but at least I know that I will be moving at a pace that is constructive to me, and that will LAST with me into another relationship.
I am completely aware of how destructive these feelings of insecurity are... Which is why I bring it up... I recognize it. What I need help with is not recognizing it, but dealing with it. I want to know if anyone has any idea how to do that.
The trip - this trip is all about confronting my fears and such. The worst that could happen if we stop to see the OW is that I will get distracted from the real purpose of this trip. It is NOT about Ouroboros. It is about me and moving past something (lots of things, actually) with him so that I don't carry so much from my past relationship into this one. This is already a HUGE deal for me, and I really want to focus on one psychotic issue of mine at a time. This is how I deal. And - I think it will be very good for us.
I want to do this with him because I want to. That's it. It is not based on fear, on trying to please him, or whatever... I want to do it because I do. Because I know already that I operate emotionally as poly... I have always been in some way or another... The thing that we are BOTH realizing is that Theory and practice are 2 different things. We like doing this together because we learn from each other and support each other even when we act irrational.
Does that clear anything up?
To answer the last question first: YES IT DOES!
THANK YOU!
I know it's a pain when someone new (like me) pops on, wants to participate, and doesn't know what the heck the situation is. It occurred to me JUST now I might have gone to look at the personal summaries and seen if yours was there. I didn't. I apologize. I am ADD. I am working on getting it more functional, but haven't gotten used to checking the personal summaries yet!
Now, on to what you have said:
Her being in the middle of a divorce screeches bad timing to me. (Of course, my whole marriage was built on bad timing, so who am I to talk?) It seems like it would be MUCH better, ESPECIALLY if she has a child. There is even more risk, because if her ex finds out she's doing the poly thing, that could be used against her in court. So it seems like all the way around, the TRULY loving thing to do would be to back off some.
I think your trip is a good idea. I keep thinking "Why can't they both see the friends AND both have dinner with this woman (and possibly child)?" It seems reasonable to me for him to want to "check in," but it also seems VERY IMPORTANT to the possibility of a future for it to be done in a way that PROMOTES the agreement the two of you have made, helps you to face your insecurity (in regards to her) by having a small, safe and controlled setting (dinner at a nice restaurant would be perfect) where small talk was possible, but it's not likely to escalate to a sexually suggestive situation that could be a step too far.
I agree, 3 weeks is SHORT time. But I think what clicked for me is that in any given week, a step should be made that progresses the issue, for any issue, not just insecurity or jealousy. For example, in our communication counseling, each week we address an issue on Friday. Then we talk it over through the weekend. During the week we do our "homework assignment" for working on the issue (like empathetic responses, in our case) and usually on Wednesday the two of us go out and bring up what we KNOW to be a difficult topic and try to use the steps to work through the topic to a resolution. Then on that Friday we go back to the counseling, discuss how it worked (so far, it's been excellent every week), what progress we made, and what the next step is.
In terms of jealousy and insecurity-- are you going to be secure after 3 weeks? Probably not. But I guess my question is, are you actively pursuing it? One thing that can't be done is you can't be more secure with THEIR relationship if you and he avoid it altogether.
But that doesn't mean he needs to sleep with her in your bed! As if!
Maca and I are dealing with HIS insecurities. Right now, he's just starting out (we're in week 3 to be exact!) and the first week after we talked, and I told him I wasn't able to do the mono thing any longer, and was from here on identifying myself as his wife and C's girlfriend, I devoted 90% or more of my time to Maca. I verbally asked C, "Are you doing ok?" and he said, "Yes, Ma'am. He needs you right now." That was the whole of C's and my intimacy.
Week two we all sat on the couch together and talked lightly about the kids, our family life, stuff that wasn't HEATED or HEAVY. One of those days I held C's hand. It fired up Maca's insecurities. C and I reassured him that he was NOT being replaced, that he was special to me, preciously important in our family, etc.
Week 3, the guys go out to dinner and talk SERIOUSLY about the intricacies of the past (it's a disaster), make some peace with past mistakes, work out some terms for now in the situation between the two of them.
Two days later, the three of us go out for drinks, dancing and just had a good time. I kissed C on the cheek and flirted LIGHTLY with him (nothing I wouldn't do, even with my family) and dirty danced with Maca and some girls while C took pics.
Maca felt loved, respected by us both, and more confident.
Slowly but surely, he's facing things and seeing that he's NOT "at risk" of any of the things he feared.
So, at week three, have we "solved it"? Heck no. But we're making wonderful strides. We aren't still at that same spot where it's, "That makes me insecure, so it needs to stop."
Does that make better sense?
Very true about theory/practice!! Very different. We're getting a lot of laughs out of how many things are easier, that we thought would be hard. But of course, some things are harder.
Example in next post!