A woman who invited her husband's best friend to join their relationship in a bid to save their "rocky" marriage has said their children love having an extra dad.
Homemaker Meghan Davis and deliveryman Brent Davis, both 34, welcomed the new addition to spice up their relationship when they started to feel like a "twinkle was missing" last year.
Despite loving each other, they found themselves needing time apart - until the idea of polyamory came to Meghan in a "lightbulb" moment.
After the couple met one day in May for a heart-to-heart and rekindled their relationship, Meghan confessed she had feelings for their mutual friend Beau Woodbyrne, 32.
They decided to form a "V" throuple - where the two men are not romantically involved with one another but connected through their love of Meghan.
Brent is allowed to have other romantic partners, but currently his wife is the only one in a second relationship.
Meghan says when she first approached Beau asking if he wanted to date her he initially laughed the idea off.
But a year later, the trio are wrapped up in "a new love adventure," Meghan says.
A longstanding believer in the saying "it takes a village to raise a child," Meghan says her kids having two dads is an unexpected bonus of the three-way relationship.
And the home-maker says that although she was unsure at first, the new addition spiced up her love life and has brought her sense of "relief".
Meghan, from Portland in Oregon, US, said: "When the idea of polyamory first floated to my mind, I thought it was totally nuts.
"Yet at the same time, it brought this feeling of relief.
"It made me realise that I had so much love to give and Brent is only one person.
"I could tell I was overwhelming him a bit with my constant need to pour love into him and my feeling like I was expecting too much in return.
"When I thought of polyamory, I realised it is no different than having several friends that I love.
"Nobody tells me to pick just one to love in other relationships. Why would my romantic love be treated any different?"
Meghan and Brent say that the introduction of Beau into their marriage has 'brightened up' their relationship and has brought them closer than ever before.
Fortunately, their two young children, aged 11 and 7, are happy to have Beau around, as it means there is one more person to hang out and play with.
The trio's families, whilst supportive too, have been sceptical about their relationship - not wanting anyone to get hurt as a result of things going wrong.
Online, most people react positively to the trio calling them "beautiful". However, some say that they "wouldn't be able to handle it".
Meghan says the leap wasn't easy to make, but now they have they're able to enjoy a "liberating" new way life.
People often become "a little uncomfortable" when the trio spend time together in public - but Meghan says the unusual relationship is about love like any other.
"It has brightened our relationship in ways we can't even explain," she said.
"It hasn't always been easy, but it has been centred around a truly beautiful love.
"The family members who do know have been supportive and loving but it has, of course, come with a lot of communicating.
"When in public at first, people seem a little uncomfortable, like they don't know how to react but once they see how much it works and makes sense and how much this is just about love, it just feels like any other relationship."
For those thinking about trying out a polyamorous relationship, Meghan, Brent, and Beau stress that having love for yourself first is key.
"If we could give anyone advice on trying a nonconventional way of loving, it would be to first find love and healing within yourself," said Meghan.
"Polyamory forces you to be introspective. I can't always go to Beau or to Brent to get my cup filled. I first have to check in with me.
"It is truly so liberating, the beauty and security we have found as individuals, has brought a brand new twinkle into our relationship.
"When we feel heard and validated, we are able to create space for vulnerability and when we are willing to be vulnerable, we can step into our bravery more easily, knowing truly who we are.
"This isn't the dress rehearsal for life, this is the real deal, so just let yourself love and be loved."
