RAISING children takes a village and one married couple’s unique set-up proves just that.
The parents revealed they are in a “closed polyamorous quad” with another couple, with all four bringing up their kids together under one roof.
In their viral video, TikTok user Taya Hartless (@polyfamory) broke down the dynamic in her family home.
She explained that she and her husband Sean had never been involved in polygamy but became interested in the idea after “a few years” of marriage.
They took interest in the lifestyle while watching the TV show Shameless, which featured a throuple storyline.
However, the couple soon realised single women were hard to come by in the swinging community.
Instead, they decided to meet up with another couple, Tyler and Alicia Rodgers.
At first, the couples would meet up half way between their home towns, making 12 hour round trips to switch partners.
Their first night together, they attended an event before splitting into separate hotel rooms.
When it was time to go to sleep, they switched back to their spouses.
Eventually, both pairs realised they “wanted more and more” and decided to introduce their children.
Now they all live under the one roof, raising their five children all together.
Taya explained that each night the two men switch bedrooms, however she and Alicia remain metamours, meaning they aren’t romantically or sexually involved.
“I love her as the mother of my children,” Alicia told their TikTok viewers.
Sean and Tyler also maintain a strictly platonic relationship with each other.
Describing their unique set-up, Taya said they just “indulged in what our hearts told us and let our brains follow.”
Both couples say their children have easily adapted to the living situation.
What is polyamory?
Polyamory is the practice of having romantic relationships with more than one person at the same time, with the knowledge and consent of all parties.
It can refer to relationships where one person has multiple partners or spouses, or where all parties are in a relationship with each other, for example in a throuple.
According to You Gov, 6.8% of people in the UK have been in a polyamorous relationship.
In fact, Sean and Taya’s toddler even refers to Alicia and Tyler and his “Mama and Dada” while calling his biological parents “Mom and Dad.”
However, TikTok users weren’t sold on the idea of a quad raising a family together.
“I’m sorry for this little baby,” wrote one viewer.
Taya clapped back, informing the commenter that her child is perfectly fine.
“There are lots of babies that you should feel sorry for. This is not one of them,” she replied,
Another person accused the polyamorous quad of “confusing the little boy.”
