Just watched about 10 minutes of Sister Wives. Because 11 minutes would have been too much. TLC claims this show is "educational" and can help us learn about this alternate lifestyle. Here's the thing, I don't need to know how polygamy works. I know how it works, but I don't understand it. I love my husband and I'm very territorial, so if he were to come home and say "Ya know, honey, I really do love you but this marriage is missing something... how's about we try another wife?" I'd probably poop myself. Even besides that, what's the functionality of it?? This guy looks like he's about to lose his mind going from one side of the house to the other (oh yeah, the wives all have their own parts to this special house, so it's not even "one big happy family") taking care of kids, paying bills, yadayadayada. Why would ANYONE chose this kind of stressful, hectic lifestyle?
Now I know that this is just a different culture than mine and this is what they've been raised with. If I had been raised wearing bubble wrap as clothing, I'd probably never think it was weird. But no matter how I cut it, I can't get over the fact that this lifestyle appears to be based off of a superficial need for more. This guy can use his beliefs as an excuse to seek out a newer, younger model. I refuse to believe that his family "needs" another wife because my marriage does just fine with one. My parents have been married for 33 years and it hasn't been easy, but they have needed anything but another woman to make it work.
And another thing I can't wrap my head around is WHY is it ok to need more wives but not more husbands? This could easily be flipped and it'd be JUST as ridiculous. But that's not allowed. Men can seek out what they need, but the wives, oh no... they are committed to this difficult life of splitting their time with other wives and are left to deal with their personal problems on their own. Almost every other minute on the show, one of them is crying, and the minutes that no one is crying, someone is admitting something negative they feel about this lifestyle. I feel so bad for these women, but again- they've chosen this. Why is beyond me. And I have a theory about Meri, the first wife and the only legal one. They married knowing that this was the life they would lead. And she'd never admit it, she claims to support this but everything about her expression screams, "SOMEONE SAVE ME!!!" I have a strong feeling that this woman hates this life. If my suspicions are correct... who could blame her?
And the kids!!!! These kids are just expected to feel okay with this!!! This can't be a normal upbringing. The kids are literally thrown into a community pot, and the wives can just grab them as needed. Oh, you need a self-centered teen, you say? I'm pretty sure we've got one or to of those lying around... you need a cute, snot nosed toddler? We've got 6! This can't be healthy!!!
As I said, this is a a culture that I just don't understand. I respect other religious beliefs but this just doesn't seem religious to me. I don't see how polygamist men are anything but self centered and strive to get what they want. They provide for their families financially but are not expected to provide the basic relationship needs to their wives. I try to look at everything with an open mind... but this is just nuts. Pure insanity.
On a side note, terrible shows are usually easy to spot, if by nothing else, by the caliber of commercials that come with them. Example: I saw an infomercial while watching this show for "Pajama Jeans" which are basically blue stretch pants with the stitching printed on them. As if I needed any more reasons to change the channel, but it's like a car wreck. You hate to look, you know you shouldn't, but you just can't help but stare with that quasi horrified/confused look on your face. Hey, if TLC put it out there for all to see, stare away, rubber neckers, stare away.
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