Ask Kari: My boyfriend wants an open relationship — what should I do if I don’t agree?

Dear Kari,

--Afraid of Losing Love

Dear Afraid of Losing Love,

First, I would like you to pause and re-read your question. If you have never engaged in an open relationship that involved being intimate with multiple people, nor even thought about it once, most likely it is not for you. One should never make their very personal intimate decisions based on someone else’s request. I can tell you from years of counseling both individuals and couples who have pursued such choices, rarely, and I mean rarely, does such a decision turn out to be as one anticipates it to be. That said, I would have further conversations about this subject matter with your partner, as well as researching the topic on your own before making your own decision. Just remember, a partner that truly loves you will not ask you to participate in activities that you do not want to do. They will respect you and your own choices in life.

–Kari