Open relationships are becoming more commonplace, with 1 in 5 Americans having experienced one at some point in their lives, according to a 2016 study. But just because more of us are experimenting with this kind of relationship, doesn’t mean we’re all cut out for it. And if the conversation comes up, some of us might find that it’s a hard boundary: monogamy, or no relationship at all. A woman on Reddit is going through just that experience now, and she knows exactly where she stands — but now she’s wondering (and asking Reddit) if she overreacted.
This 29-year-old wife has been married to her husband, 28, for seven years, and they’ve been together for nine total. The couple got married out of necessity (more on that in a minute) and our OP (aka original poster, or the person who posted the thread, in Reddit-speak) says their relationship has “flourished” over the last year. “Arguments are rare and we are pretty good at coming to understandings and apologizing when necessary,” she says.
That is, until OP’s husband came to her in October, out of seemingly nowhere, saying he wants an open relationship. OP had a strong reaction and made a quick decision, but now she’s wondering — and asking Reddit — if she did the right thing. So what exactly happened, and what does the Internet think? Let’s get into it.