More Than Two Essentials - Böcker

Educators are often overworked, underpaid and at the crosshairs of every cultural debate. Teachers dedicate themselves to creating safe, nurturing environments for students, but are themselves subjected to levels of personal scrutiny practically unseen in other professions. In some careers, keeping a picture of your loved ones on your desk isn't worth a second thought. For teachers with nontraditional families, it can come with the risk of becoming a political football. Informed by her firsthand experience as a nonmonogamous educator, Ashley Speed examines the typical objections raised about nonmonogamous people teaching children, how to refute them and how to navigate some of the difficulties of being a nonmonogamous teacher in today's stormy political waters. It also offers practical advice for administrators and parents who want to support nonmonogamous teachers, and tips for teachers on how to make their classrooms friendly for kids from nonmonogamous families.

Nonmonogamy can assume many shapes, none of which can claim to be a 'safe' model of intimacy. Even the most casual of connections requires trust, and where there is trust, there is the potential for betrayal. Intimacy, exclusive or otherwise, can be exploratory or confined, collaborative or autonomous, but one thing it can never be is risk free. Yes, there is cheating in nonmonogamous relationships. There are other forms of betrayal, too: the cliquish injustices of in-group bullying, the violation of having personal information shared by a trusted partner, the humiliation of seeing someone who claimed to love you 'trade up' for a partner with more social, sexual or plain old economic capital. Trust can be broken, and in turn break people, in a great number of ways. Nonomongamy and Betrayal not only unravels the varieties of betrayal that can occur in nonomongamy, but explores pathways to recognition and healing.

Heteronormativity and misconceptions around sexuality and gender expression persist even in nonmonogamous communities. Queer and gender-diverse people can find it intimidating to navigate dating and socializing in these scenes. In Nonmonogamy and Queer Inclusivity, Mx. Nillin Lore, author of the award-winning How Do I Sexy? A Guide for Trans and Nonbinary Queers, encourages cisgender and heterosexual nonmonogamous folks to consider their own preconceptions and provides them with practical advice on how to do better. By intentionally organizing more inclusive events, fostering respectful spaces and actively supporting marginalized community members, nonmonogamous folks of all genders and sexualities can create stronger, more diverse and safer nonmonogamous communities. Lore draws on their personal experience and observation as an educator, event planner and outreach worker to provide an introduction to queer identity, challenge some of the myths and misconceptions about gender diversity, and provide guidance on how to make nonmonogamous social gatherings a little less scary for all.

Romantic groups can face many of the same challenges as friend groups or professional circles, but these more common group structures are far better understood in the wider culture. Romantic groups that include multiple partners and metamours can be intimidating and initially appear tricker to navigate. Yet they can also provide more diverse support structures, allowing each person to provide according to their abilities while being supported according to their needs. Nonmonogamy and Group Dynamics explores how to navigate issues in romantic groups and how to come to a compassionate understanding of others and ourselves. A practical handbook founded in real-life experiences, it addresses shifts in group structure, comparisons among members and differences in prioritization, and offers communication strategies and tips for resolving tension. By encouraging the reader to consider their roles and responsibilities and to reflect on their own expectations, this helpful guide empowers the reader to work toward what they want and need from their romantic groups.