Poly stories - Poly parenting
Treehouse NDSM,
T.T. Neveritaweg 55-57,
Amsterdam
Other than the nuclear family, known from television and the instructional guides our surroundings hand us, poly parenting may look a bit different. Breaking the rules is exciting, but what do you see when picturing an ENM family? A kitchen table with four middle-aged lovers, sharing pasta and value systems with a child on lap? A woman zipping up her dress and handing cash to the babysitter before heading out for date number three this week? How about the pregnant couple, who, overcome by nesting hormones, is not sure what to do with the unicorn? Or, yourself, with no child wish, developing a crush on that cute parent?
Poly parenting might be a question of the more the merrier - and then some additional questions. Eyebrows might raise and demand explanations, lovers may or may not (want to) be involved, children may or may not know. What to do when perspectives, wants and needs change throughout the years?
Since there is no clear guideline on parenting in an ethically non-monogamous structure, endless possibilities lie ahead for exploration. How do others handle this situation? What have they learnt? What has surprised them? Let’s come together and design our own family tree.