![\"\"](\"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/dno\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Dear-Bella-pic2.jpg\" "\\"Dear")
My “significant other” and I met when we were 16 and it was a total whirlwind of love. He was my first experience being in love and he was the first person who had sex with me. We went back and forth being together and not, throughout the years.<\/p>\n
When we were eighteen we got a place together and then things just went from bad to worst. We fought all the time and he began demanding weird sexual positions and role playing, including anal sex. I stoutly refused to give in to those demands and he decided to move out.<\/p>\n
We didn’t talk for a while, and when we did finally talk again it was for him to tell me he had found someone else. We had sex one last time then and afterwards I realize I was pregnant for him. Eventually his other relationship ended due to infidelity on both of their parts.<\/p>\n
We now have two children. However, as recently as 6 months ago, we broke up again. Now we are living together again; parenting our children together; having sex together; and sharing the same bed.
\nI don’t know if we’re working things out since it was previously agreed that we would do this and have an “open relationship.”<\/p>\n
Is this the right kind of relationship to have? I am stuck and confused. I want the best for the kids, letting them know that they have both parents around. I am confused.<\/p>\n
Please help.<\/p>\n
Searching and confused.<\/p>\n
Dear Searching and Confused,<\/p>\n
Relationships are based on love, trust and commitment and I believe you will agree with me when I state that these no longer exist in your relationship and it is time to break this habit that you are clinging to. You need to find someone whom you can love, trust and be committed to and he reciprocates the same to you. You need happiness and stability for your children.<\/p>\n
The children cannot be used as a reason to hang onto this unhealthy relationship. Your unhappiness can affect them and cause more harm than good to them. Provide for your children a secure loving environment free of the hostility and negativity of the relationship you are describing. You can both be pillars in the lives of your children, living separate lives in which you are happy and loved.<\/p>\n
Bella<\/p>\n
Have a problem? Write to Dear Bella at dominicanewsonline@gmail.com. Dear Bella is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. All letters are subject to editing and the editor has the right to not publish an article if it does not meet the company\u2019s editorial standards. Also, the advice given is not necessarily expert advice, and is basically an opinion, therefore we accept no liability that result from giving any opinion. As such we encourage you to seek the advice of a professional counselor.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"My “significant other” and I met when we were 16 and it was a total whirlwind of love. He was my first experience being in love and he was the first person who had sex with me. We went back…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":32649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dear-bella"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n