A lot of people ask me how long to wait before introducing a new partner to their kids, and the answer is always that it depends a lot on the relationship you envision that partner having with your child. Think about the conversations and decisions that need to happen to make sure the introduction is in your child's best interests, rather than an impulse driven by convenience or NRE.

Sharing personal information about yourself can feel scary and vulnerable for parents. You want to make sure your child has age appropriate information without oversharing, or maybe you're afraid they'll be angry or confused. Dr. Hague and I dive into considerations for how to have those conversations in healthy ways.

What happens if I break up with someone I've introduced to my kids? Will the loss be traumatic for them? Is there any way they can continue a relationship with this other important adult? We're exploring resilience, creative relationship structures, and how to tell your children something has changed.

Creativity and non-traditional relationship structures aren't new ideas for polyamorous parents, but how can we bring those ideas into centering children's needs and transforming family relationships when parents break up or de-escalate a relationship?

Opening up an existing relationship might be full of excitement, or it might be full of fear, but for parents, there's an added concern about the effect on kids. If we open up, will our relationship change? Will the way we parent together change? Ultimately, will that hurt our children?

For monogamous, escalator relationships, introducing a partner to your children is Big Deal- there's an assumption that this person will eventually live with you, become a parent to the children, and be a very important part of their day to day lives. It's only natural to get stuck on the weight of that kind of partner introduction- but it closes off all the creativity of polyamorous relationships.

Probably the single most asked question I get from parents is "Should I tell my kids?" The answer is... maybe. David and I talk through when you might want to, when you definitely shouldn't, and how to think about making the decision.