A POLYAMOROUS family of six have revealed how they make their relationship work while raising two teenage sons.
Kel Macettare, 41 and Bruno Cordisco, 42, were high school sweethearts and swore to be monogamous for the rest of their lives as they raised their sons, Henry, 19 and Hector, 13.
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But their vow didn’t last and they decided to try something new to spice up their relationship.
And now, the couple have their own respective committed relationships outside of their marriage.
“The love we have for each other remains, but we’ve learned that it can coexist with other bonds,” Kel, a content creator, told NeedToKnow.
“And that doesn’t take anything away from what we’ve built together.
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“Me Bruno and I have lived under the same roof for 19 years.
“We have built a relationship model based on dialogue, affection, and clear agreements.
“It was a process. At first, I wasn’t ready for polyamory and even considered ending the relationship.
“But everything happened with a lot of respect. We learned to truly listen to each other.”
The couple started exploring by going to swingers’ clubs together and soon got swept up with other people.
Kel now dates Diego Machado, 37, who lives in their family home and Bruno is with Jennifer de Faria, 21, who visits them regularly.
But how does their version of a traditional family work?
She said: “We have two bedrooms.
“On the weekends, Jennifer comes to our house to stay with Diego, and she stays in my room.
“That’s when I go to Bruno’s and stay in there, as that room is just for us two.
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.
“It’s compassionate [set up].
“Bruno usually cooks and does the grocery shopping, and Jennifer helps with these tasks.
“Diego handles the laundry and the guest bathroom.
“Kel cleans the floors, and the kids also have responsibilities.
“Henry does the dishes, and Hector cleans the cat litter, takes out the trash, and wipes the sink.
“Everyone helps out.”
When it comes to parenting, they all communicate their opinions and share the responsibility.
Kel said, “Decisions among the adults are discussed privately to maintain consistent authority.
“We’ve always raised them based on partnership.
“And they know they can argue their points responsibly.”
Though they have faced judgment and curious looks, the family members emphasise that their structure works precisely because it doesn’t rely on ready-made models.
Bruno, from Brazil, added: “People think it’s chaos, but there’s a lot of communication here.
“We don’t romanticise it. It’s emotional work all the time.
“But it’s worth it.”