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Sister Wives (PICTURE): Could You Survive a Polygamous Marriage?

Robyn Sullivan and Christine, Kody, Meri, and Janelle Brown taste potential wedding cakes at a bakery.
Robyn Sullivan and Christine, Kody, Meri, and Janelle Brown taste potential wedding cakes at a bakery. (TLC) TLC

(CBS) What's it like to be one man with three wives? Does it sound like a fantasy come true or a nightmare you can't escape from?

"Sister Wives," a new show on TLC, attempts to get to the bottom of this unusual arrangement.

The show examines Kody Brown, his three lovely wives - Meri, Janelle and Christine - and their 16 children. Also, wife number four, Robyn Sullivan, and her three kids are on the way.

According to Kody, his children have benefited.

"The children have all bonded with all the mothers," he says "And they have all bonded with one another in the sense of siblings."

"It's so much fun because our kids have so much diversity and so many different options and so many different ideas," says wife Meri.

"Instead of one day of Christmas, our Christmases lasts three days," says Christine. "We all have our traditions and we all wanted to keep our own tradition."

Kody chimes in with a big laugh, "Notice that it's three traditions. My traditions don't matter at all."

Apparently, the foursome has made peace with their unusual lifestyle.  They have been at it for 16 years - longer than many monogamous marriages.

"I like to think that I am in charge," jokes Kody.

"He's so not in charge," interrupts first wife Meri, with a laugh. Meri is the only legal marriage for Kody. The rest are spiritual.

Kody says he is polygamous because of his faith. He calls their arrangement "accelerated personal development."

As for sex, Kody says he takes turns with each wife on a "schedule," but the ladies never sleep together.

Polygamy yes. Menage a trois - no that's immoral.

Catch the show at TLC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Can a polygamous marriage be a health marriage?


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