Sister Wives

[Dragonlady]

I don't watch the show (except for once catching just part of it) but it gives me the willies. It takes a very different kind of person to enjoy this type of relationship and I'm not sure any of these women are that kind of person. As much as I don't like the idea of multiple partners, I think I could hande it easier if it was open on both sides. But the way it is with good ol' Kody having a harem and the women devoted to him only, just rubs me the wrong way big time. :nono

[libgirl2]

I had the feeling that Oprah was trying to keep the focus on the women. And Kody didn't seem real happy about it.

Why of course not! He likes being the center of attention!

[J.D.]

Just heard on local radio that Meri lost her job because of the show.

[straycat80]

Just heard on local radio that Meri lost her job because of the show.

That's true. They talked about that on Oprah. And Kody is having some problems at his job too because of the show.

[maude~flanders]

That's true. They talked about that on Oprah. And Kody is having some problems at his job too because of the show.

Good!

I hope their little game of trying to get the public to accept their ILLEGAL lifestyle so they can get the laws changed for them - and every crazy out there who wants a harem - backfires in their faces!!!!

[J.D.]

I had an interesting chat with a friend of mine yesterday who grew up in this family. She and I have been friends for a few years and I knew she grew up in this lifestyle and that she ran away at 14 or 15. She lives a "normal" life now in Salt Lake City. She's still close to her family, but would never go back to that way of life. Let's call her....."friend". Another one of our friends (friend 2) got in on the conversation.

Her grandfather was the "prophet" until recently. Most of these people come from the Allred family. Allred is the predominant surname in the "clan". And that is common knowledge here. (They are not affiliated with people like Warren Jeffs, and others like him.)

Here are some bits and pieces of our conversation:

I brought up the fact that this family was going on Oprah today, and this is the subsequent conversation. Of course I'm not mentioning her name, but she is fine with me talking about it. I also brought up some of the concerns that have been addressed here.


friend: hehe my relatives JD? They crack me up

JD: yes, they embarrass me!

friend: yup....christine is such a drama queen. She always has been.

friend 2: wait... you are related to them too?

friend: yes....meri barber is my cousin. Christine Allred is my cousin.

second friend: LOL right on

friend: kody is from wyoming...didnt know him too well

JD: that show is over the top

friend: and the newbi wife is from montana

friend: i knew her x husband

JD: what's up with the new girl anyway.....she seems to have had some trauma - serious

friend: her husband was bad news He got WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY into the porn world and got sicko pervy. He wanted her to do things

JD: yikes

friend: he worked her emotionally bad

JD: yeah, I wondered why every conversation made her cry

friend: yeh....shes an emotional wreck, I feel bad for her...Christine is gonna be a pain in the ass to her.
Christine ALWAYS had to be center of attention

friend: regardless shes not first wife

friend: they are getting a LOT of sh** from the clan, They are pissed they went public. They dont like the attention.

JD: yeah, I've been reading some of that

friend: which is why they got pissed when i was on the radio talkin bout it.

(friend was on a local station where she interned and was interviewed about her previous lifestyle)

JD: really? Wow. It's not like you were lying. And you were speaking from personal experience.

friend: yeh...but they dont like ANY attention. Cuz a lot of them are in HIGH positions in SLC and no one knows. Or they are afraid of it hurting or losing their businesses.

JD: hmmmm - so this show definitely hasn't helped. Out of staters that I know are confused by the whole idea.

friend: yeh...the "prophet" told them not too. I think it was for the money.


I hope this is helpful in shedding some light on what is going on inside.

[PWS]

Interesting! Thanks!

[J.D.]

Thanks. I tried to remember some of the questions/issues that had been brought up in this thread, and she addressed most of them I think. Weird how it's all about the money and not the "religion". Do they think they are fooling us with that? I mean, my friend got in trouble for talking about the "religion" and the higher-ups are concerned it might ruin the businesses. Most polygamist-owned business are construction-related. (Sounds to me kind of like another group of people I've heard of.)

I'm still disturbed by the amount of positive attention this family gets when out in public. They may not be treated like rock stars (their words) by their peers, but they are by resident outsiders. Again....embarrassing.

And it makes me wonder if this is how the Gosselins' disaster began. Wait for the freebies to come rolling in. Although I'm sure they didn't pay for Kody and Meri's dinner at La Caille - either TLC or the restaurant comped it. Ugh. Here we go again.

[maude~flanders]

J.D. - Thanks for the inside info! That is really interesting! Is there any more that you can tell us about the community, such as how many children follow in this pattern and how many don't, or what happens with the teenage boys, or if there are marriages of very young girls? (Those are just a couple of things I wondered about, but I'm sure there are tons of other questions that we are all wondering about.) If you have insight into this lifestyle, we would love to hear more!

[J.D.]

J.D. - Thanks for the inside info! That is really interesting! Is there any more that you can tell us about the community, such as how many children follow in this pattern and how many don't, or what happens with the teenage boys, or if there are marriages of very young girls? (Those are just a couple of things I wondered about, but I'm sure there are tons of other questions that we are all wondering about.) If you have insight into this lifestyle, we would love to hear more!

It's interesting to me how much I thought was common knowledge everywhere, but come to find out, it's just us locals.

I'll have to ask my friend some of the details you want to know (but she is having a baby this weekend, so that may take a bit), but when I do, I'll let you know. This friend ran away at 15, she didn't like it there, but now she and her family have reconnected and they accept her choice. That seems like a step in the right direction.

I've heard stories about how the teenage boys are kicked out to the "regular" community at about age 16, but as far as I know, that's not true. Although the way the math works out....who knows.

Of note: I was talking to her in a local chatroom where be both spend a lot of time - but she is comfortable talking about it (obviously), so I'm sure she'd be happy to answer any further questions. I tried to ask her some of the questions that have been brought up in here, and I hope that helped. And yes, I've met her and her husband several times, along with their kids....so she's not some imposter from a chatroom.

Disclaimer: I was raised LDS/Mormon, but moved away from it at about age 16. I didn't change locations, just my religious path. But the state is so predominantly Mormon, it's impossible to ignore.