New to Poly: Can This Work?

cmurach

New member
Apologies for this being so long. :)

I and my ex-ish boyfriend have had a really difficult year (we have been dating for 5 years with one other 2 year long break-up). During the summer I was going through a high time of stress, he was unemployed/moving, and I felt as if I was doing all of the work within the relationship. I have a very deep desire to be desired and wanted, and he was not pursuing me or paying me any attention (I would always have to message him first, I planned all the dates, he seemed disinterested in sex, etc.)

I started to feel very bitter and angry, and instead of communicating with him, I shut down. I broke up with him, and immediately hit a rebound fling. My boyfriend was, understandably, devastated and betrayed by this, as he saw me as using him as a back-up option.

It's been 3 months since then. A few weeks ago we started talking again, and I realized what a horrible and immature thing I had done, and how I cared about him more than anyone else in the world. I really want to make amends; he really wants to as well, but fears he doesn't know how and won't be able to get over the anger and betrayal.

He would like to see from me 3-6 months of improvement (in communication, in maturity from both of us) before we make another attempt. He wants to be committed to a future with us, and we've been having a lot of painful, difficult, but necessary conversations over the last few weeks.

However, in the meantime, he wants to date around. He promises he is not looking for a relationship (as he is not over me and ultimately wants me monogamously), but doesn't want to be left "holding the bag." He is too afraid that I will abandon him as soon as he gives up his options.

I don't blame him for this. I think it makes sense, and if that's what he needs right now.... to date around before he's sure about me... I want to give it to him. But I am naturally monogamous, and I am having a really hard time emotionally with this. I am terrified that, despite his promise, he is going to fall for someone before he and I have truly worked through our issues.

Is there a way to make this work? I thought perhaps he could present himself as poly (while I will remain mono), so anyone he goes out with knows he's not looking for anything long-term or serious. However he's worried that will severely lower his chances, as he says he has a hard time getting girls interested as it is.

Any suggestions would be really welcome. I love him more than anything, am committed to making this work, and want to give him the things he needs to feel secure about us (time, and not feeling as if I am setting him up to fall.) Thank you!
 
By definition, poly is about having multiple relationships. Polyamory-multiple loves.
It sounds like what you are wanting is more of an "open relationship" where he can have sex with others but not have love and relationships with others.

Maybe read the book Opening Up by Tristan Taormino. (Spelling of last name may be off). It covers a variety of open relationship styles including but not limited to polyamory. It also details some important topics to consider and discuss.
 
Hi cmurach :)

You know, I do think that it's natural at times for long term relationships to start falling to pieces under pressure. Outside stressors, long-held resentments, poor communication, passive aggressive behaviour, and certainly unmet expectations. These things can sneak up without us even noticing.

The good news is that if you both see something worth salvaging, you can work together to achieve it. But it has to be together.

I have to say, it's not just you. On your end, it sounds like you could (and should) have communicated better and not been so rash as to break up. You clearly hit a rebound fling because you were hurt, lost and feeling destructive. I understand that this hurts your ex bf; but you were hurt in the first place. It's a chicken and egg situation.

From his side, at least as far as I can tell, he could have done some things differently too. Have each of you owned your mistakes and come up with solutions? Did you at all hint or try to talk to him before you broke up about his lack of attentiveness? Did he turn a blind eye?

Or was he genuinely a perfectly mature partner with perfect talking, listening *and* problem solving skills?

I have to be honest. Feeling rejected by your partner - feeling that they are not *present* in your relationship - can feel like a betrayal in itself. It's painful to feel that you aren't wanted. You didn't cheat on him. You didn't betray him. You were feeling out in the cold, with nowhere to go. Does he understand that part?

In terms of the improvements you are supposed to make over the next 3-6 months, are these measurable? Have you identified how you are going to communicate better? Have you talked about finding solutions? What about from his side, too?

You guys are facing a tricky situation now. I do understand why he thinks he needs options. However, I see a potential mess and heartache for someone... whether it's one, or both, of you two, or someone else who enters the equation.

In my opinion... you have around three options.

The first is to have a do-over on your relationship. Monogamously. Putting a time limit on it is fine and I do think this is a good idea. You could give it 6 months, with a review at the 3 month mark.

The second is the option that is being proposed. You stay mono, he gets to date others, until you've 'proven yourself' over the next 3-6 months. I really think that this is risky business. He's scared of being left holding the bag if you decide not to be with him, yet you're left holding the bag if he meets someone else. My worry is that if you both go into this with an imbalance in the power dynamic, that resentment will carry on. You're a team, not a criminal and keyholder. The ideas shouldn't be that you prove yourself, it should be that you do your part to communicate well and he does his. The other concern is that he could hurt someone else by getting involved with them while still being in love with you. That really isn't fair.

The third option is that you guys take an actual break and agree to see where life leads you in that time. When I've been stuck as to what to do with an ex, whether to continue, etc., those relationships have often ended on a 'break'. 6 months can make a big difference. You may find that life moves on and, actually, it's better than you thought it would be. On the other hand, you may find that you both can't stop thinking of each other and that with the space, you are in a better position to come back without resentment. However, this is different to him being poly and you being mono. This means an actual break, where you do not speak often, and you are both free to explore your other options; never having to talk about whether you've explored them, because you are free to do what you want to do.

Of course, you can go with the option that you wait for him to date around until he's made up his mind. You absolutely can do that. It is literally an option. As long as you are prepared for the chance that he might meet someone he likes and you might be waiting a while longer. However, as you say, if that is what he needs at this time, that is what he needs. You could choose to let him be; to let him go off and do his thing. But you two do need a clear agreement on whether this is a breakup, or whether this is a "let's review it in 3/6 months."
 
I thought perhaps he could present himself as poly (while I will remain mono), so anyone he goes out with knows he's not looking for anything long-term or serious."

Actually, poly is all about long term and serious. If neither of you are comfortable with that, it's pretty misleading to tell these girls you're poly :(

Also it will have the exact opposite effect you're wanting. .... which is attracting girls interested in a relationship.
 
Actually, poly is all about long term and serious. If neither of you are comfortable with that, it's pretty misleading to tell these girls you're poly :(

This is not even remotely accurate.

There is no time frame or depth of intimacy inherent in describing oneself as poly any more than there is in monogamy. Every person sees romance, love, and intimacy different and it is an entirely subjective topic.
 
This is not even remotely accurate.

There is no time frame or depth of intimacy inherent in describing oneself as poly any more than there is in monogamy. Every person sees romance, love, and intimacy different and it is an entirely subjective topic.

That's your opinion. In mine, poly is about building multiple, committed relationships. What the OP wanted for her boyfriend seemed more like an open relationship. .... casual encounters and dating around. ... she indicated she would object to him forming another relationship.

No relationship starts out as long term and serious, but poly means you're open to such developing. At least that would be my expectation.
 
No relationship starts out as long term and serious, but poly means you're open to such developing. At least that would be my expectation.

I just wanted to make sure it was clear the difference between stating what poly "is" and what poly "is to you". There is a solar system wide gap between these two things.
 
I don't blame him for this. I think it makes sense, and if that's what he needs right now.... to date around before he's sure about me... I want to give it to him. But I am naturally monogamous, and I am having a really hard time emotionally with this. I am terrified that, despite his promise, he is going to fall for someone before he and I have truly worked through our issues.

I am confused. Let me sum up as I understand it. (I could be wrong):

You guys broke up. You are processing previous hurt. You are thinking about dating each other again if hurts can be resolved.

At this time, he wants to continue date others while processing because he's not ready to commit to (to borrow an old fashioned phrase) "going steady" with you at this time or "building commitment" at this time.

And you want him to agree to "going steady" or agree to "building commitment" at this time with you even though past issues are not resolved yet? But you agree his want is reasonable and fair. So you have inner conflict.​

Part of the problem in the past was not being able to ASK for what you need.

You seem to need reassurance. How about practicing asking what you need then? Grow this skill? Here is opportunity.


Why not ask for reassurance on his behavior rather than reassurance on the final outcome so you can feel better NOW? Because he can reassure you NOW he intends to do and will do his best to process with you. That's his behavior. He can know that right this minute. He's promised he's not looking for relationship and ultimately hopes for a monogamous relationship with you. That doesn't seem satisfactory -- maybe you want more SPECIFIC behavior you can measure?

If you are more reassured right now if you could have a time frame... you could ask if he's willing to give you a small one. Negotiate. Ask if he's willing. Maybe something like...

"Ok, you date other people. Cool. But could you be willing to give me 1-2 weeks of you not dating anyone and telling me about it? Because these recent convos really took it out of me emotionally. I'm not ready to deal in more challenging emotional stuff right away. Could we call a time out? What is a reasonable breather space to you? I'm not asking for going steady or anything just... breather space here before we continue processing here."​

The point of DOING the process is to determine the outcome. That part he can't reassure you on. He can't read into the future. Neither can you. Limit of the Universe. :eek:

I'm also not reading where the polyshipping part comes in here at this time. That's where I am confused. :confused:

To me it sounds like you are fearful that you might not get to date him again. And it is true. You might not. But then again... you might!

Rather than "what iffing"... you could focus on what you have going on right now: You are engaged in conflict resolution. Resolve it. THEN level up.

Here's the toggle variables that I can see. (I could be wrong.)

  • You do not reach resolution. And part ways and not be friends.
  • You reach resolution. And part ways and not be friends.
  • You do not reach resolution. But agree to be friends anyway.
  • You reach resolution. And be friends.
  • You do not reach resolution. But agree to date anyway.
  • You reach resolution. And agree to date.

You could not connect things that don't have to be connected.

You could treat each portion of it separately rather than taking them on at once so it is "baby steps" and not "scary leaps."

Because you could deal with (conflict resolution and return to right relationship) first.

Before you get to move on to the next stepping stone to discern whether or not you will build a NEW relationship and what shape that might be:

  • Parts ways?
  • Friend relationship?
  • Dating relationship?

Can't level up til you complete the previous floor, right? Could consider that reality as "the price of admission" here.

I know it could feel "ugh" in limbo, but you could exercise some faith. 5:1 odds there that you will at least get a partial green or a double green one and not a red. So to me? The odds are looking pretty good for something green in there. Which is better than before -- broken up and not speaking, right?

Could that adjustment in your outlook help make the wait more bearable? And help you be more able to focus on the job of conflict resolution and discernment?

Talk, sort it out. You both can do this.

Hang in there!
Galagirl
 
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Is there a way to make this work? I thought perhaps he could present himself as poly (while I will remain mono), so anyone he goes out with knows he's not looking for anything long-term or serious . . .

Excuse me??!!!??? Where did you get the idea that polyamory only means short-term and nothing serious? There are lots of ways to practice polyamory, and many poly peeps are quite committed, serious, and in long-term relationships. Sure, many poly peeps are into casual sex, but there is a wide range of preferences and practices within the framework "polyamory."

What strikes me about your statement is that you make poly seem like fluff that doesn't matter and so he should present himself that way to avoid falling for someone - and potentially hurting you.

I say, if he wants to date around, that's his choice and you can either accept that and work on YOUR relationship with him, or walk away if you cannot accept it. But if you are going to stick around, you have no business telling him how he should present himself to other women he wants to date. That is his dating life, not yours. However, I have to say that while reading your first post, I just thought the whole situation sounds like a disaster, and full of control issues -- so I am inclined to wonder what the heck benefit it will be to either of you to get together again. Be careful and go slowly. Maybe you should date others, too.
 
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He says if I date other people, he will absolutely be done with me. He says I broke his trust and destroyed him by abandoning him for a fling, that that if I am trying for a relationship with him, I have to be single.

Last night he also reneged on several of the things he said. He said I have no right to have any kind of demands, expectations, reassurances or guarantees from him because of how much I hurt him. So he refuses to not pursue a relationship with someone else, he refuses to put any kind of restrictions around anything.

The truth is, I am naturally monogamous. And up to this point, he has been to. He also says he wants to be monogamous in the future. I just have no idea how to handle this. I feel very scared and worried that I am doing this without any kind of net. I feel like I am conceding absolutely everything, and aside from "seeing" me he isn't compromising in any way.

Any help or advice is welcome....
 
Sounds like he's still pretty untrusting of you and processing disappointment.

He just reneged out of the blue? :confused: Or HOW you phrased your request triggered him into emotional hooha kind of response?

How old are you guys? Was this his first break up? Has he been cheated on in the past with someone else? How long ago was this? :confused:

No judgement -- just trying to figure out where his emotions might be at. :confused:

Because YOU didn't cheat. You broke up with him. Moved on. From what I understand so far the emotional "volume" seems more than it merits here.


If these are HARD limits that will never change in time for him? Then it is what it is. I do not suggest you get back together with him, hard is it might feel.

If these are SOFT limits for him for X amount of time, for him to regain trust in you and you are willing to serve that time to make amends for the past before these limits are lifted, that's another thing. How long of a time? Just the 3-6 mos? Then reassess?

If so, if that amount of time is worth it to you, then maybe you do meet his requests.

Maybe he's got jealousy fear? If so, maybe reading this together could help?

http://www.practicalpolyamory.com/images/Jealousy_Updated_10-6-10.pdf

Galgirl
 
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I'm 28 and he's 26. We've been dating since he was 19. We broke up for 2 years in the middle there. We were not in contact; I dated other people, he did not. So I'm essentially the only person he's dated since freshman year of college. He hasn't been cheated on in the past, but both of us suffer from a similar problem of not feeling good enough for our partner and so always terrified they'll leave us.

Part of the reason I wanted to give us another shot is because I feel like I've wrestled down some of that insecurity. This summer, I pushed him away because I was so sure he was going to reject me. Now, I don't feel that way. I feel I am worthy of love, that someone would be lucky to have me, and that in a relationship I wont' push someone away out of fear of rejection.

He won't set any kind of limits. He says any kind of time limit is an expectation I have no right to set, because of how much I hurt him. But he says he doesn't know what sort of amends I'd have to make, what things I could do to regain his trust. He essentially just wants me to keep working at, without reassure, promise, or any kind of feedback from him. Essentially, to "just see."

Is that fair, do you think?
 
You may find it useful to read this thread: Monos Who Claim to be Poly - Why Do I Care?
I thought perhaps he could present himself as poly (while I will remain mono), so anyone he goes out with knows he's not looking for anything long-term or serious.
The trouble with using a word that already exists is that people tend to assume that it still means what it meant the last time they heard it. He can identify as poly if he wishes to, hell, he can identify as an aardvark if he chooses, but if he's not a complete douche he should explain to any potentials that his definition probably doesn't match the one with which they are familiar. It's not ethical to pull a bait 'n switch if he's really mono and just out to sow his wild oats.

That said, from what you've told us this situation has "Disaster" written all over it. It sounds not so much like he wants to date for a while, but that he wants to rub your nose in the fact that he's doing it. These women that he hopes to lure in with the poly label aren't going to be relationship material, they're weapons he can use against you.

Edit:
Is that fair, do you think?
No. In my opinion it's not. Are you going to spend the rest of your life trying to make restitution for something you did when you weren't even in a relationship with him? That's complete and utter bullshit. If you act like a doormat he'll keep treating you like one.
 
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You may find it useful to read this thread: Monos Who Claim to be Poly - Why Do I Care?

The trouble with using a word that already exists is that people tend to assume that it still means what it meant the last time they heard it. He can identify as poly if he wishes to, hell, he can identify as an aardvark if he chooses, but if he's not a complete douche he should explain to any potentials that his definition probably doesn't match the one with which they are familiar. It's not ethical to pull a bait 'n switch if he's really mono and just out to sow his wild oats.

That said, from what you've told us this situation has "Disaster" written all over it. It sounds not so much like he wants to date for a while, but that he wants to rub your nose in the fact that he's doing it. These women that he hopes to lure in with the poly label aren't going to be relationship material, they're weapons he can use against you.

Edit:No. In my opinion it's not. Are you going to spend the rest of your life trying to make restitution for something you did when you weren't even in a relationship with him? That's complete and utter bullshit. If you act like a doormat he'll keep treating you like one.

Why do you think they won't be relationship material, but weapons? Not saying you're wrong, just curious why you think he isn't genuinely trying to see what's out there and experience other things? Or that he isn't genuinely trying to move on, and that I'm just a back-up option?

I get what you're saying about me not cheating. I think he believes I did, because while we were broken up in the summer, we were also still talking and hanging out and occasionally hooking up. So I think he saw it as a temporary break-up, with us getting back together once stuff was "figured out".... much the way I'm seeing it now, I guess.
 
I agree with Emm, this won't work, he wants to hurt you and he is using other people to do it, this is SO far away from what poly IS (and I don't think anyone would disagree with that particular generalisation!

He cannot use others just to get back at you and you cannot allow yourself to be used that way. If he is too immature to forgive you without this destructive behaviour than you are probably better off without him. He just wants to cause you the same sort of pain he felt but it is BS I am afraid. Cut your losses and tell him to sling his hook and enjoy the look on his pathetic weasly face when he realises you have called his bluff and taken control back into your life!

Wanker!
 
Why do you think they won't be relationship material, but weapons?

Because that's the way you've been describing him and your relationship with him; I have only your words to go on. As for the cheating/not cheating side of things, either he gets over it or he doesn't. Personally I don't think he has any right to hold something you did while broken up against you, but emotional responses aren't always logical. You can't change what he feels or how he acts, but it's up to you to decide if you're going to put up with his behaviour and spend the rest of your life apologising for it or not. I wouldn't, but I'm not you.
 
Because that's the way you've been describing him and your relationship with him; I have only your words to go on. As for the cheating/not cheating side of things, either he gets over it or he doesn't. Personally I don't think he has any right to hold something you did while broken up against you, but emotional responses aren't always logical. You can't change what he feels or how he acts, but it's up to you to decide if you're going to put up with his behaviour and spend the rest of your life apologising for it or not. I wouldn't, but I'm not you.

I don't mind apologizing for it. I just don't want to be punished for it, if that makes sense.

If he wants to pursue other people while making me his primary, I think I can work with that. (I'm sorry if I am making a complete hash of poly philosophy; I am very new to this.) I think I could even be okay with him sewing his wild oats if there's some certainty of him making me a priority or coming back to me.

I am okay with spending a few months, heck, even a year, working to rebuild his trust in me. But in the meantime, I don't want to be punished... When I say punished, I mean him insisting I work on rebuilding trust/the relationship with him putting in no effort whatsoever, because his focus is on other people for a monogamous relationship.

So far as I can tell, he isn't planning on being poly in a long-term or dedicated way (which, for me personally, would be tough but if that's what he wanted, to have me as a primary partner and someone else as a fellow girlfriend, I could come to deal with that.) To me, that feels like he's using me as an option/emotional outlet while testing out other girls. Which means he isn't putting any effort into us. So I'm doing all the work, and everything is on his terms. Heck, it even bothers me at the thought that I'm working on stuff, and the girls he's going out with think he's interested in a relationship, and have no idea I'm in the picture.

He's either lying to me, or lying to them, is my perspective.

I apologize if my thread has kind of gone wandering. I came here really thinking this could be a potentially poly thing. But our latest conversation seems like poly would just be a smokescreen.
 
After reading through the thread, here is my two cents:

1. He is apparently not willing to own any part of what caused you to break up with him in the first place. Regardless of whether it was poor communication, stress, etc., there were two people in that relationship, and one of the partners - you - felt neglected. Has he acknowledged any of that? If he is viewing that situation in the light of his behavior was the pinnacle of perfection and you just up and freaked out, you have a much bigger problem than the one at hand. You two have reached no mutual understanding as to the original problem. If I have understood this correctly, it is both immature and narcissistic on his part.

2. He is not willing to be in a committed relationship with you at this time.

3. He has no idea whether he ever will return to wanting a committed relationship with you, has no idea what you can do to make amends (although like the others, I am not sure what you are making amends for), nor a time limit for when he will make up his mind. He just expects you to hang out and wait indefinitely. Whether he realizes it or not he is punishing you. He is setting you up to feel like he did, rather than just learning from the experience and growing up. It's really very childish. And I guarantee, if it goes on to too long it will only breed anger and resentment in you. This is the path to more pain.

4. One of you needs to be an adult here, and it sounds like it probably needs to be you. If it were me - and you are not - I would calmly explain to him that you are sorry for the pain you caused him, you have learned from it, you are disappointed that he he cannot forgive you, and you hope dating works well for him, but you are not going to do an indefinite penance. If he finds forgiveness to please let you know.
 
If he finds forgiveness to please let you know.
And then, and this is the important part, do whatever you feel is best for you, not what is least likely to retroactively piss him off if he does decide to get back in touch. Otherwise you're just extending the punishment period indefinitely for the benefit of someone you're not even dating.
 
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