Polygamy and Polyandry

Well, this is always a fun thing to blog about. I came across polygamy tonight as I was reading another blog and that led me onto some other interesting reads. Usually, I really try to have an open mind about stuff, and by that I mean that I try to read what is presented to me without first having preconceived notions and judging it before I read the first two sentences. I read two full articles, one about a man who grew up in a polygamist family and how his mother escaped and how he tried to untangle himself from that religion/way of life. The next article I read was about polyandry, the practice of one wife and two husbands. It was never really defined as to why they are practicing that life style, and I couldn't figure out if the person writing the article was a wife or husband. I just couldn't figure out how that relationship works. Polyandry is not very common, but there are dating websites out there for people looking for wives to engage in a polygamist relationship. Not so much for guys though. Apparently, it's more common in Tibet to live that lifestyle, so if you are looking for an extra husband, maybe you want to try the Tibet personal ads.

When I read stuff like this, I think back to a great essay I read in high school. It was about wanting a wife. It was written by a wife, and went something along the lines of how she wants a wife for herself to run errands, cook meals, do laundry, and help her remember every last detail of every day that wives are responsible for. Believe me, there are days when I do want a wife. But, for the sake of the polyandry article, I entertained the idea of having another husband.

First, I thought it might be nice to have an extra husband: extra money, extra guy to help move stuff around, extra guy to do dirty jobs that are just too gross for me to handle (like Simeon's poopy diapers). My current husband could have a buddy to hang out with. He'd have someone to play his computer games with that I just don't have any interest in. Could you imagine the BBQ's?!

Then I remember these not so nice things about marriage to a man. The laundry. They have bigger clothes and therefore take up more room in the washer. They are more stinky. They can be more demanding than even my children. What if the second guy was a picky guy? While Curtis never has nagged me about our house being a mess on a bad day, what if the second husband did? That'd be World War III right there. What if he treated my kids I already have differently than say a child the second husband and I conceived (thank you, Curtis for pointing out that thought, as that had not crossed my mind to this point)? It was at this point that all visualizations came to a screeching halt.

No, I don't think polygamy or polyandry is for this family. While it is something I'm interested in learning how those dynamics work, I'm not about to try it out myself. I, quite honestly, don't know how anyone makes a relationship like that work. Wouldn't the original spouse be somewhat territorial? I just don't think I could share my husband with other wives, nor could I share myself with another husband.

Well, those are some things for someone else to worry about. In the meantime, on those days my imaginary extra wife isn't around to help me out, I'll just pick up the slack tomorrow.