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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Sister Wives? Not in my marriage!


Do you think you could share your husband?

With two or more other women?

Who are also his wives?

That’s exactly what is happening on the new TLC reality show, “Sister Wives”.



photo courtesy of Associated Press

 
I admit, I’m a fan of Big Love, the HBO show, a FICTION show, about polygamy in the Mormon religion, set in Utah.


photo courtesy of Wikipedia


But “Sister Wives” is REAL.

It premiered last Sunday night. Even though I’m not a big reality TV watcher, my curiosity got the best of me. I tuned in.

Here’s my take on the situation.

From the outside, the house just looks like one huge home, but really it is three separate homes that are connected. So the women have their own living space but can easily move from “home” to “home” without going outside.

The Sister Wives truly look like they get along and love each other. I can understand this IF YOU REMOVE THE HUSBAND FACTOR. Women can live together peacefully, doing things together. But honestly, how can they get past the jealous factor of sharing their husband? He divides the evenings amongst the wives - 3 nights with #1, 3 nights with #2, etc. On the plus side, the women have 4 nights a week to do what they want, but seriously, knowing your husband is literally screwing your neighbor? That’s hard to handle. For me, at least.

Husband (Kody) married wife #1 - Meri - 20 years ago. They have one child.
Then he married wife #2 - Janelle - 17 years ago. They have 6 children ranging from 5 years to 15 years.

THEN he married wife #3 - Christine - 16 years ago. They have 5 children ranging from 6 years to 14 years, with one on the way.

Truthfully the husband just struck me the wrong way. I didn’t like ONE THING about him.

NOT ONE THING

And now? He’s COURTING another woman!

WTF?

Exactly when does he have time to do this?

Did I mention that the girlfriend has 3 children from a previous marriage?

The show ends with the whole family sitting down together and Kody telling the kids that there is going to be a new woman in their life. Wife #3 explains that the woman will not be their new mommy just yet. Then it shows Kody and the "new woman", Robyn, out on a date. Kody makes a remark that "wives are comfortable with another wife; they are NOT comfortable with a girlfriend." So I guess he has to hurry up in the process of proposing.

I am NOT knocking the Mormon faith. But Polygamy stems from Fundamentalist Mormons who have broken off from the Mormons. Supposedly, the more wives and children you have, the better off you will be in heaven.

I try to respect all religions, but I'm sorry. I  am having a hard time believing in this. I just find polygamy an excuse for men to cheat on their wives. Period.

I wonder if it would be okay if the tables were turned and if the women could have several husbands?

24 comments:

Maude Lynn said...

How is he supporting all of these wives and children?

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Pretty nice gig for the male. Imagine how brainwashed these poor women are to accept this!! I feel sorry for the children that have to keep accepting new people into the heirem (sp?).

KaLynn ("MiMi") said...

Gives me the creeps! I almost have to go throw up when a commerical comes on!

I was wondering the same thing as Mama Zen, how does he support all these women and children? And Bonnie's harem comment! That seems like all it is! A harem!

Nope, not me. Couldn't handle it at all. Nope nope nope.

Unknown said...

I'm with Mamma Zen--how they heck are they all supported financially??? May be I could deal with it if the other wives did all the housework.....? Hmm, it's a thought.

Missy said...

I watched this and all I could think was "WOW!"
I don't believe that their lives go as smooth as they portrayed. With that many woman and that many kids, you know it is wild there!

The Utah authorities are now contemplating filing charges for bigamy.

Anonymous said...

I think most men are all like wow yea more than one woman...but I think the fantasy is proboly way better than the reality.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

They had a whole episode of this show without saying how the guy supported his family? I do not believe that! (Well, you know I DO believe what you and your commenters said, I DON"T believe TLC didn't bother to mention that little thing.)

Re. what Missy said -- Utah has said for a hundrred years that they are going to file charges against the polygamists, but it never happens.

I like Big Love (or did when we had HBO) -- but the idea of this show creeeeps me out. Still I hope you'll put up a follow up post once in a while to let me know what happens (I just couldn't watch it even if we had the channel while on our roadtrip).

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

They had a whole episode of this show without saying how the guy supported his family? I do not believe that! (Well, you know I DO believe what you and your commenters said, I DON"T believe TLC didn't bother to mention that little thing.)

Re. what Missy said -- Utah has said for a hundrred years that they are going to file charges against the polygamists, but it never happens.

I like Big Love (or did when we had HBO) -- but the idea of this show creeeeps me out. Still I hope you'll put up a follow up post once in a while to let me know what happens (I just couldn't watch it even if we had the channel while on our roadtrip).

Barb said...

No. Just NO. It's totally not right and I'm creeped out about it too.

Brian Miller said...

how can you say that bonnie...that means like 4 times the headaches...smiles.

Karen said...

That guy must have a heck of a job! I'd love to get some Truth Serum into the wives and see what they *really* think!

Teresa said...

yuck. ick. double yucky-ick.

Now, I've said I need a wife to help me around here, but I don't mean literally... Just figuratively.

They gross me out, too and the guy gave me the creeps.

betty said...

first time visiting your blog; when I was on Donna's blog (Discovering the Purposes of our Lives) I saw your blog title on her list of blogs so I just had to come over and check out what you wrote. I saw this show advertised and was considering watching it just because I knew it would be "interesting" to say the least but then the more I thought about it, it is just such a wrong concept about what marriage should be, between one man and one woman as ordained by God. So I thought "why bother watching that rubbish and wasting my time" I'm glad I went with my "gut" and didn't watch it. I think it would have bothered me too much I'd be yelling at the TV inappropriate words through the show. I wonder if they agreed to do the show so they could get financial support because I'm with the other commenters, what does he do to support all the wives/children. You know who I feel the most sorry for, the children.........what a terrible example the wives and husband are showing to them; sad.

betty

Kathy's Klothesline said...

I think it was the Today Show I saw these deviants on. The women work, too. They said so. I think it was Meredith who asked how they suported that many children. I would have asked that and a whole lot of other questions. I don't share well. Like you, I wasn't all that impressed with the man and wonder what those women were attracted to. When does he have time to date????? Which of the ladies forfeited er night of passion with Mr. Wonderful? Maybe he's not all that graet in the sack and they welcome more wives ......... just sayin'.

Ed said...

Mormons are freaks.

Why would he want THAT much nagging.

SquirrelQueen said...

That is taking sharing way too far. I haven't seen the show but I did see a commercial for it and thought the guy was creepy. Echoing Mama Zen, how the heck does he support his families? How does he find time to "date"!

Ewwww!

Anonymous said...

I think one mate, male or female is enough...jeepers :)

Valerie said...

The whole set-up makes me want to puke. I can't see how (or why) a guy needs to have so many wives and kids. We have a Morman church near where I live but I think that's only for 'spreading the word' ... I hope to God my hometown isn't turned into a Utah.

Gail said...

I watched it out of curiosity too. I was not impressed. It just justifies the cheating by being married to all of them.

I can see lead wife has adjusted. You can feel the pain in her. The others are currently spitting out children so they must be popular.

I am sorry but I can't condone this, It's like, to me, Hey, Daddy did crack so let's do it and it's okay because the family is druggies.

I refuse to watch it! If we all refuse, the ratings will fall and he cannot afford any other wives!!

I am pretty open-minded but this bothers me. It is just a smaller commune and remember how they were condemned.

A New England Life said...

I haven't even watched the show and the guy creeps me out! Every time I see women like this all I can think about is how they are so subservient. It just freaky.

Angel Rogers said...

Well, as as a practicing Mormon, this, in no way, is our religion so to the person who said Mormons are freaks, make sure you know what religious group you are talking about. Of course, even though our church has not practiced polygamy since 1890, it is still associated with it. We are in the 21st century people, check your dates!

As for the show, it is just another network trying to sensationalize itself to get ratings. Too bad it chose such a poor topic. If enough people would quit watching junk like that, networks would be forced to actually produce something worthwhile.

becky said...

To Mama Zen- lots of times, it's the government that support this lifestyle through deceit on the part of the polygamists (read under the banner of heaven)
Pat - absolutely no way I'd share my husband... ur, if I had one! I don't know one religion where a woman gets more than one husband, but several religions go for the multiple wives thing. I think it's sick & wrong.
And yes, I think you are right... fundamentalists are pretty nuts, no matter the religion, be it Islamic Faith, Christianity, Mormonism, whatever.
Have you read "under the banner of heaven," written by Krakauer on the Fundamentalist Mormons? I got about 1/2 way thru it... enough to know I didn't want to know anymore. I'm surprised there is a reality show- their society is generally pretty secretive.

jeff campbell said...

It is an intriguing concept, yet hard to figure how it all works. The man has to have a lot of "love" to spread around. Best not to try and figure out the mindset that goes along with this.

SLAYER273 said...

ACTUALLY I WOULD LOVE THREE HUSBANDS WORKING FOR ME. HAAAAAAAAAAAA