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Juliet has been in love with David for 6 years; however she has also been in love with Jonathan, for one and a half years. The young woman spoke to her lovers with an open heart; they understood her need to stay in both relationships, as they both fulfil her needs in different ways.
Jonathan, who lives on the other side of London, only sees Juliet two or three nights a week but appreciates these moments of complicity which do not deprive her of her freedom. Juliet’s official concubine, David, has found it harder to accept the situation, before realising that she had been glowing during the past few months and that this new balance made her very happy. Lola, their daughter, is still too young for the moment to understand the situation, but they will not hide the fact that « mummy has two lovers » from her when she will be old enough.
Françoise Simpère, a french writer, believes that « younger generations have seen their parents break up in divorce and are therefore more realistic about love. No, lifetime monogamy is not natural. Yes, one can fall in love many times without necessarily dumping one’s partner ».* Everyone preserves their independence, and sexual exclusivity is not required. Communication is essential, so that jealousy does not become an issue.
Open relationships are nothing new; Simone de Beauvoir and Jean Paul Sartre had already opened the way. Paul Bocuse (french celebrity chef) has spent his life with three women for four decades, having lunch at one’s place, drinking tea at another’s, having dinner with the other one. Is this life style just a French thing? Far from it. In the US, poly lovers even have a magazine « Loving More », and a Poly Pride. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett have an open marriage and don’t hide it, this lifestyle is in fashion.
What are the boundaries? Having an open relationship does not give the right to make someone suffer and only works if the people concerned agree with the situation. Juliet believes that it is « just a way to address questions of love and desire which is less taboo than the usual way ».
Author of « Guide des amours plurielles », Editions
