Open Relationships

An open relationship denotes a relationship (often between two people) in which the participants are free to have sex with multiple other partners. The catch however is, that there are certain rules to this relationship that need to be followed. For one thing, you are not allowed to fall in love. If you sleep with anyone else, it’s just supposed to be a fling, a one night stand. You can’t get emotionally attached, and if you do, you have to cut off the chord immediately with that person. Also, you are not allowed to keep any secrets from your primary partner.

If you are wondering how you can tag a relationship as “open” if it has so many rules then remember this–if it weren’t for these rules, and the readiness of the couple to respect each other by following those rules, open relationships would simply demolish. The rules are the sustaining factor. Here are some very important rules you need to follow if you are in an open relationship:

Honesty:
Yes, honesty is the best policy. This is the most important rule of all. You should be honest about your fantasies and sexual desires. Remember, if you can’t tell your primary partner such things out of the feeling that he/she won’t like it, then your relationship will never work out. If you feel he/she wont respect the thoughts that take place in your mind—no matter how odd or socially abnormal they may seem—there’s no chance they will be able to understand or tolerate your unruly sexual behavior.

Talk about your date with your partner before it happens:
If one of you is planning a date, then you will have to tell the other about it. You should talk about it first. The idea is to keep jealousy at bay. Also, if you end up having sex then it’s important that your partner is aware of that. Remember, the key to this relationship is—communication.

Practice safe sex:
If you are in an open relationship and are planning to sleep with multiple partners, then it’s only important that you use protection. It’s your responsibility to insure the sexual health of your primary partner. Men and women both should keep a good supply of condoms handy so that they are not tempted to go in without the rubber.