Just Wondering

Especially since most of their polygamous counterparts must be living together. And if they believe God is commanding this lifestyle in order to teach women something, why are they seeking to avoid it?

I mean that Kody’s “wives” lived in one household until they were monetarily able to do otherwise. Now, living apart seems preferable to them and they feel abused by the suggestion that they return to a house that will even allow them to run their own kitchens and sneak through separate doors. I see that this is contrary to what the Principle requires, but my larger point is that the women have lived apart and found it superior. I think that is quite human and truer to the feminine nature. IMHO as always.

It’s interesting that when polygamous “wives” aren’t absolutely forced by necessity to behave like polygamists, they behave like monogamists.

“I've never seen Meri as upset as during the recent TH's on the couch with the others.... she really looked like she'd like to smash Janelle in the face as Janelle playfully flirted with Kody.” Exactly!!!! She looked positively angry. But I suspect that Meri and Kody’s divorce was a true split. I think Meri responded to “Sam” because she was free to do as she pleased - as long as she was discreet. I think TLC scavenges their plots from online forums and social media, so this show has basically become a weekly sitcom where Kody and Meri are doing what has to be done, like Lucy and Desi on the last years of I Love Lucy. Only not as classic. I think the somber new intro plays into this trickery. And now they have Kody quoting his dissenters and pretending to want a big house so they can all live the Principle as it was intended. TLC and the Brown LLC are officially throwing us bones.

Wondering why Meri thought it okay to discuss her grievances at what was slated to be a light, fun ladies’ luncheon. If this is typical, it’s no wonder they all looked tense beforehand. Unless of course, TLC told them upfront. Either way, rude!

Is it possible that Kody first met with Nathan about the castle because he wanted to be able to tell the ladies that a minister felt it was a good move? Could this be considered spiritual abuse?

Yes. It’s always nice to make it about yourself when posting birthday wishes to others.

And Lularoe would too.

And didn’t Kody say it was completely normal for plyg children to share rooms?

I wonder if Janelle knows the correct spelling of her sister-daughter’s name:

I wonder if Kody asked the conductor to ring the bell and announce that Kody has four “wives”.

That is an excellent point. How do they work out Kody’s rotation on Christmas Day??

Ah ha. The video above is the reason Kody prefers Robyn over the others. There is an obvious difference in the maturity levels of Kody’s ladies. One of the many drawbacks of polygamy is that someone new is always going to expose or highlight the previously undetected or overlooked flaws of the originals - especially if the originals were unavoidably halted in their natural emotional development due to the inherent stresses and distractions of polygamy. These ladies were sitting ducks when Robyn came along. And really, all Robyn had to do was not be completely nuts.

I’m wondering if all that business about Meri’s house was just contrived to add suspense to an otherwise boring processs. Mary had to know she wasn’t getting in by Christmas.

Is Kody now smaller than his wife and his girlfriends?

I think true self-acceptance would favor a warm, genuine smile, not a prescribed, trending facial pose. I wonder if Mariah realizes what her frantic search for healing reveals about the dynamics of her upbringing. Her pain seems genuine because she returns to it continually, even in the midst of seeming personal abundance. It appears her raising was beyond the garden-variety familial dysfunction. She spent her birthday in tears. Kody (and maybe a couple of the other adults) can’t be thrilled with her open emotional wrestlings on social media, which only spotlight uncomfortable realities. Maybe Mariah deserves a good many special coffees and avocado toasts. I often consider that were it not for the reality show, she might’ve been the poster child for Mormon polygamy - as one of her sister’s sister wives. Her current situation seems preferable since it at least allows her the distance and the freedom and the funds and the time to search for actual Truth at some point. I hope/pray she has an actual chance.

A bit off topic, but aren’t these folks “living this lifestyle” according to their religious faith? Why then do they never give any shoutouts to God and junk? Or do they?

I get what Mariah is saying about being grateful that your body parts work properly and about being thankful that we get to experience the world through those parts, but let’s not pretend that after all is said and done she has not arranged this bathing suit photo to promote what she feels most comfortable displaying - and concealing.

Robyn has to be there. Who else would’ve fiendishly placed Janelle and Meri on the opposite ends as visual anchors?

Just saw that HGTV produced an episode of a series called House Full of Spouses with the Dargers. Wonder if Kody is angling to be on this show??

With the extra weight, Janelle may be the lady least likely to leave this situation. As it stands, she has guaranteed companionship at least twice a month. But if she left, she might feel required to drop some weight before entering the dating pool, which is a fairly common human attitude, I believe. In other words, Kody really has no choice in the matter whereas the alternative is a big unknown. Btw, I am eating tons of ice cream as I write this, so...

Exactly. But I also wonder how Meri felt while Kody was hoovering around with Christine before her entrance to the “marriage”. Meri was the last person Christine should’ve expected to validate her feelings. Knowing that Meri had to watch these women angling for positions in her husband’s willing bed makes me wonder why I expected her to behave rationally at all. I get that she signed up for it, was raised in it, but is anyone really equipped to handle this situation with grace. It appears that one shatters off in a hundred directions and just pieces together what one can find of the leavings. What a mess. I also believe Kody chose the obviously-intrigued Janelle, but had her make the formal request required in their sect. Kody was probably not exactly bowled over by Janelle (or Meri either really), but he could generously afford to give the gift of himself to these charitable causes, what with the prospect of plenty more wives in the future. I think the church and life itself put the kibosh on those dreams. Stealthy as I think Robyn is, I am realizing this is just how this game is played. These ladies adopt the only available roles and humanness takes it from there. What. A. Mess.

These ladies explained that it’s creepy for a man to pursue more women, yet the whole point of polygyny is for a man to have more women - since it it his natural inclination. So to legitimize this practice the wives pretend their husbands are not desirous of other women until she finds him one? It seems that the only way to remain consistent is to allow the men to pursue as many women as they want. If it’s not wrong, it’s not wrong and if it’s holy then who dares put a cap on it? Besides, will four lovers cause a man to never look aside again? Not according to their own principle, which means these men are expected to exert some form of ongoing self-denial anyway. Kody once referred to a man with ten wives as a “jack wagon”. He was admitting that having ten women was inappropriate. Where’s the line then and who drew it? Because, really, if it’s better for a man to be faithful to a very small number of women (when he naturally wants lots more) then it’s best to be faithful to one.

Robyn being surprised Kody can’t commit to just one home. On a show about polygyny?

It appears one of the fruits of The Principle is enmeshment.