A pregnant polyamorous woman who has a husband and boyfriend said her open relationship has actually helped strengthen her marriage.
Alexis Watts, 28, from Central Valley, Californiashe met her husband Christopher at a swingers event after the breakup of her first marriage.
She said she felt “something was missing” from her first relationship, so when she and Christopher, 35, reunited, they agreed to date other people.
The couple has been married for four years and are expecting their fourth child together in May – but Alexis also has a boyfriend.
She has been dating the other man, whose name has been kept secret for reasons of privacy, for two years now – and said the other romance helps her communicate better with her husband.
A pregnant polyamorous woman with a husband and boyfriend said her open relationship has actually helped strengthen her marriage. She is pictured with her husband
Alexis Watts, 28, of Central Valley, California, met her husband, Christopher (pictured together), at a swingers event after her first marriage broke up.
The couple has been married for four years and are expecting their fourth child together in May – but Alexis also has a boyfriend. She is depicted with Christopher and her children
Unconcerned: She’s been dating the other man whose name has been kept secret for two years – and said it helps her communicate better with her husband.
She claims that her lack of monogamy has strengthened her relationship with Christopher, as her boyfriend “meets needs that her husband cannot”.
“I always had the feeling that something was missing in my first marriage. I still had something to give and I struggled with polyamory, “she explained.
“I started swinging and met my husband, where we talked about polyamory and it was like magic, it just made sense.
“My boyfriend meets the needs that my husband can’t. For example, he is a therapist, so we have more in-depth conversations.
“We weren’t really intimate for very long because our emotional connection was so strong.”
The mother of three, who works as a mental health therapist, wants people to know that polyamory is not about sex.
“People think that polyamory is about sex, but it’s not, it’s about relationships and more love to give,” she said.
“We do not walk around with red heels and lipstick, trying to take your partner, we only want parties by agreement.
She claims that the lack of monogamy has strengthened her relationship with Christopher (pictured with Alexis), as her boyfriend “meets the needs that her husband cannot”
Alexis admitted that although she and Christopher are sometimes jealous of their partners, the emotion only “made them grow up.” She is pictured with her husband
Alexis admitted that although she and Christopher are sometimes jealous of their partners, the emotion has only “made them grow” in the long run.
She shared: “We envy, we are human and this is a natural emotion. It doesn’t have to be a bitter and protective emotion, it’s important how you deal with it.
“It simply came to our notice then. It is important to determine what makes you jealous and what you need from your partner. It is quite therapeutic.
Christopher is currently dating casually, but he still doesn’t have a long-term partner.
The duo said their family will always come first and that they have no plans to have children with other partners; although at some point they may have a “wife” in their home with whom they both date.
Alexis ‘boyfriend is also married to another woman and he and his wife have relationships with Alexis’ children.
She added: “My boyfriend is involved in my child’s life, but he is not responsible for them, he is more of a funny uncle.
“Even his wife loves my children and helps us take care of them, she is so excited when I bring them around.
Strong relationship: Christopher and Alexis (pictured together) said that their family will always come first and that they do not plan to have children with other partners
Speaking: Alexis often tries to use her social media to educate others about her unusual lifestyle. She is pictured with her husband Christopher
“They still don’t have children, but when they do, we will help them as much as they help us.
“We’re like a big family, so the extra support that comes with polyamory makes pregnancy easier.”
Alexis often tries to use her social media to educate others about her unusual lifestyle.
“I get a lot of comments and questions about lifestyle. “Some people are judgmental, but that’s because they don’t understand what polyamory is,” she said.
“I always answer politely and encourage people to ask questions politely.
“I didn’t have a dictionary of polyamory when I was growing up, because I grew up in a southern Baptist community.
“My family supports me, they were confused and wanted to make sure that in the beginning there was no phase, but now they are on board.
“I lost a set of grandparents, but this is not due to polyamory, but because my husband is black.
“We want to teach others about the way of life and make it more accepted.”