‘We’re a happy family’: Throuple open up about unique household

An Adelaide couple have shared the unexpected way they became a throuple after one party fell for their best mate.

An Australian “throuple” have opened up about how they became a polyamorous household – after one half of a couple fell in love with her best mate.

Adelaide couple Dee, 30, and Dennis, 36, were in a monogamous relationship for seven years, and had two children together, now aged five and two.

While she had not planned it, Dee ended up developing feelings towards her best friend of two years Amy, 31, which complicated things.

After a deep discussion, the couple agreed that Dee could start dating Amy, alongside having a relationship with Dennis.

But after two months, Amy – who has a five-year-old child of her own – and Dennis had began having feelings for each other, due to spending so much time together with Dee.

The three of them then decided in April 2021 that it was time to become a “throuple”, a term used to define a romantic relationship between three people.

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The throuple, Dennis, Dee and Amy. Picture: Supplied

The group now live together in one home with their three children, where the three adults share one king-sized bed and parent their kids equally.

“Dennis and Dee were together first, and monogamous from May 2015 to April 2021,” Amy told news.com.au.

“Coming into their relationship was not planned. It is something that developed quite naturally.

“Dee and I were best friends for two years, and feelings developed there. A discussion was had with Dennis and Dee about polyamory as an option.

“It wasn’t something we’d discussed, but we were very open to it. Dennis suggested that Dee starting dating us both.

“Then after a month or two, Dennis and I began having feelings for each other, which lead to a bigger conversation about us dating as three.”

While Amy and Dennis are new to polyamorous relationships, Dee has previously been in one.

The throuple said that jealousy can permeate their dynamic at times – especially during sexual situations – but added this is something that they are working on.

Dennis and Dee were together first. Picture: Supplied

Amy and Dee fell for each other after being friends. Picture: Supplied

“We all sleep together, and I sleep in the middle,” Amy explained.

“We turned a kingsize ensemble sideways to allow for more space. We’re all short, so it works.

“Sexual relationships do exist between us, both separately and together. This is something that brings up a lot of feelings and insecurities.

“We are still working on reassuring each other where needed and having talks about boundaries.”

With both parties having their own children, the three of them had to take this into consideration before entering into a polyamorous relationship.

Amy says all the kids are happy with the set up, and they all treat each other as siblings, while the three of them parent equally.

“Our children are now siblings, and they have adjusted really well to the dynamic,” she said.

“To them they don’t know any different. For our 2 year old in particular, she calls Dee and I both mum. Our 5 year old boys fight like siblings, but they love each other.

“We treat the kids equally, they are all our kids. They drive us crazy but they keep life interesting.”

The throuple parent their kids equally. Picture: Supplied

The throuple say that their relationship is very healthy and balanced, and have hit back at the negative misconceptions about polyamory.

When asked about what some of the biggest false beliefs that people have, these were centred around ideas about intimacy.

“It’s not just a sex thing,” Amy said.

“Intercourse is more complicated than anything else within the relationship. This takes real work.

“To acknowledge insecurities, really break down those walls, and have deep and honest conversations with both partners, which is vulnerable and hard.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that by loving a second person, you love the first person less. This is so untrue.

“Love if an infinite resource. Just because I love Dee, and have started a relationship with Dennis, it does not mean I love Dee less.

“It doesn’t work that way. I have feelings for them both.”

Amy and Dennis fell in love shortly after she and Dee began dating. Picture: Supplied

Amy, Dennis and Dee all sleep in the same bed. Picture: Supplied

Amy added that while being part of a throuple relationship is what works for her and her partners, it might not be for everyone.

“Poly can be hard. Having to consider a third person’s feelings in a relationship, when you’ve never done it before, is unfamiliar, we have had to adapt,” she explained.

“It isn’t for everyone, but it makes sense for us.

“We compliment each other in different ways. There are so many variables to the dynamic when it comes to interests. We all share different things with each other.

“I get to date my two best friends. We are a unit, it is supportive and I love that.

“We also get double the cuddles. Who doesn’t love that?”