Open relationships are often seen as a truly mysterious, impossible-to-understand (never mind navigate!) thing. But the truth is, healthy open relationships are much like healthy monogamous relationships in that they involve strong communication, respect, and understanding.
?Open Relationship? Is a Blanket Term
It?s important to know, right off the bat, that even the term ?open relationship? encompasses many, many different types of non-monogamous situations. For some, this means each individual in the couple is able to have some ?one night stands? outside of their relationship, while for others it can mean establishing whole, romantic relationships with other partners, or even including another partner in a relationship with both members of the couple. None of these examples is right or wrong?they are all about what works best for the couple and their outside partners?it?s just important to start here so we know that there is no ?one way? to have an open relationship.
Communication
One of the absolute most important things to have in any kind of relationship, but perhaps most especially in an open relationship, is strong, consistent communication. Some non-monogamous folks choose to have one ?primary? relationship and other ?secondary? relationships, where their primary partner is a spouse, life partner, or someone to whom they are committed in whatever way works best for them, and their secondary or non-primary partners are something they may still be very much committe...