"Root for the Home Team"

The Stranger (Seattle)

Here's another wise, succinct poly column from Mistress Matisse, a regular in one of Seattle's alternative newsweeklies.

As I approach the three-year anniversary of my relationship with Monk, and the eight-year anniversary of my relationship with Max, I'm quite happy about how smoothly my poly love life is functioning. After 15 years of practice, it's nice to be getting it (mostly) right. But I don't take all the credit — that has to go to the people I'm doing poly with. There's a key to successfully conducting multiple love relationships: You all have to root for each other.

...In my poly universe, Monk really wants my relationship with Max to be happy and good. Max's other partner Puck smiles when she sees Max and I being all kissy-face with each other. And I regularly remark to Monk — and everyone else — how awesome his wife Tammy is, and how glad I am he has her. And we don't just say the words — we all make sure we're acting in ways that support our lovers' lovers.

That may sound unbelievably altruistic to you, but there's some of what I call "enlightened self-interest" on everyone's part....

Read the whole column.