Celebrate diversity!

Via SF Gate

Two women named Melinda and Dani Phoenix and the man they both consider their husband, Jonathan Stein, are in a polyamorous relationship and parenting two babies together under the same roof.

Melinda and Dani began their relationship as a lesbian couple and became domestic partners in 2010. A year later, Jonathan joined them as the third partner and the three married last summer in a ceremony that is not legally recognized.

Now they’re sharing their story to raise awareness about polyamorous families and hope that some day these arrangements can be widely accepted and legally recognized. With children entering their picture, they feel gaining support from the community is more important than ever.

Melinda delivered her first child, Oliver, in a water birth on September 6, 2014, with Dani and Jonathan by her side.

A month later, Melinda and Jonathan supported Dani in the birthing tub and welcomed Ella Lynn on October 11.

Now the three are working as a team and sharing the responsibilities of caring for two babies. While many new parents are sleep-deprived and overwhelmed, this trio are gliding through parenthood as they take turns with childcare, diaper changes and nighttime feedings.

“We split things up,” Dani says. “We’re all working hard and well as a team.”

“Melinda and I both breastfeed. He’s my son and she’s my daughter and vice versa. We share that responsibility and that love with them.”

In addition to nurturing two new babies, the three parents are working various degrees of part-time hours outside the home. Dani has a low-key dog-walking service, Melinda runs her own healing studio in Oakland called East-West Collaborative Health and Jonathan keeps busy as a self-employed carpenter. Together, they earn enough money to cover household expenses.

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HT: NRO