Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage by Kody Brown, Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, Robyn Brown Read Free Book Online

lawyer, but he would ditch work to take his children skiing. It seemed to me that every moment he was home, he was involved in some activity with one of his kids. It was clear that his children were the center of his world. I remembering thinking how badly I wanted a dad like that.
    I’d seen the way Kody interacted with children—there were always kids around the ranch, and Meri’s parents’ house was often filled with them. I’d seen how loving Kody was and how much fun he could be. He even made time for kids not in his own family. He was energetic and caring, always willing to get down on all fours for any game the kids dreamed up. Kody seemed like exactly the father I had in mind for my kids.
    More than anything, I had fallen in love with the polygamous lifestyle. I loved the idea of a sisterhood, the notion of companionship, and the possibility of a family that could grow in so many different ways. I saw so much potential in polygamy.
    Kody was an obvious choice for me, but not because of any conventional notion of romance. I have never, ever been someone who’s interested in sappy goo-goo eyes, chocolates, flowers, and sunset walks on the beach. The idea of cooing and cuddling doesn’t agree with me.
    I’m sure there is a combination of things in my nature that makes me think this way. On the one hand, I’ve always been independent and happy to spend time on my own and do my own thing, so I had never felt the need to bind myself to someone on an intimate level. In addition to this, I think my early failed marriage disillusioned me somewhat, solidifying my notion of matrimony as something both pragmatic and practical. I wanted a strong husband who would be a wonderful father to my children—I always envisioned that I’d have a large numberof children. I wanted a man with whom I’d have an intellectual connection, who would be happy and willing to have long discussions with me. I wanted a companion, a friend—and if I found these things in a man, I was certain intimacy would develop from that.
    Even though Kody was quite young, he was the most emotionally intelligent man I knew. He was leap years ahead of all the other guys his age. He was the best guy I knew in the polygamous lifestyle I’d become infatuated with. So why wouldn’t I want to marry the best guy out there?
     
Kody
    After Janelle’s experiment with the teepee, she visited regularly. Meri and I were living in Montana and Janelle sometimes stayed over at our place. One evening, after the three of us had spent the day together, just as we were getting ready for bed, Janelle made an unusual request. “Meri,” she said, “can I have a moment alone with Kody so that I can talk to him about something important?”
    I suspected what was coming, but Janelle was going about it strangely. She was still in her cowboys and Indians phase—that night she was dressed like a cowgirl in jeans and a khaki corduroy shirt, her hair pulled into a high ponytail.
    At the time, Meri and I were living in a cabin with a giant living room and two small, unpleasant bedrooms. Meri went to bed, leaving me and Janelle sitting on the junky furniture I’d picked up at a yard sale.
    Janelle was forthcoming. “I think I belong in your family,” she said.
    I was flattered and pleased, not to mention relieved. Monthsearlier I had told Meri about my interest in a relationship with Janelle—but it was more of an impromptu suggestion than a serious proposal. So it felt proper that Janelle should make the official opening move. In many ways, it’s more appropriate. After all, I was a married man. I should not be making moves on women. That would defile my relationship with Meri.
    Quite often in our faith, it’s the woman who approaches the family she is interested in. I think people are surprised by how often the woman makes the opening move. If a woman finds a family to which she feels spiritually connected, typically she builds a relationship with the first wife or wives,