My Husband Said, "We're Suffocating". At First, I Was Terrified, Then I Suggested an Affair

Marriage requires certain compromises. These may sometimes involve career decisions or changing habits, and they can even extend to the bedroom. Our reader, Edyta, revealed that she and her husband have been in an open relationship for years. However, this arrangement doesn't work for everyone.

We’ve been married for 12 years and have two daughters (12 and 10 years old). We lead a pretty normal life: we both go to work, take the girls to school, pick them up, do the shopping, cook, and ride our bikes. Everyone gets along great. All of this is thanks to a rather controversial decision we made years ago.

problemy w związku - zdjęcie ilustracyjnefot. pexels.com/zdjęcie ilustracyjne

My Husband Said: "We’re Suffocating." I Suggested an Affair

Raising young children took a toll on our relationship. We grew distant, and it became difficult to communicate. After hours of arguments and hurling accusations, we were so exhausted that we finally began to talk calmly, without emotions. It turned out that our dissatisfaction stemmed mainly from our sex life. We just weren’t compatible in that area. But what could we do? We had a family, and we loved each other despite everything. After all, the bedroom is just one aspect of a relationship, not the whole thing.

I remember my husband holding his head in his hands and saying, "We’re suffocating." At first, I was terrified, but then I started to think. "What if we allowed ourselves to have an affair?" I suggested. My husband said that things couldn’t get any worse, so it wouldn’t hurt to try. Initially, we thought it would just be a one-time thing to relieve the tension. But it quickly became clear that this arrangement worked for both of us.

We Didn’t Hide That We Occasionally Date "On the Side"

We’re adults and can live as we please, so we didn’t hide the fact that we occasionally date "on the side." The problem arose when the news reached our parents. And that’s when the interventions began. First, they tried threats, then pleading for us to reconsider. Unfortunately, it didn’t change much. We still love each other, we’re still together, and we still sleep in the same bed. Contrary to what one might expect, this decision has strengthened our relationship, and we’re closer than ever. We’ve stopped snapping at each other and growling. Everyone’s happy. Isn’t that what marriage is all about? Regards, Edyta.

What do you think about open relationships? Do they have a chance of success?