There's a subtle -- but distinct -- difference between "ultimatums" and "boundaries."

"I forbid you to sleep with another man!" is an ultimatum. It's OTHER-focused, it's controlling, and will come across as such.

A BOUNDARY, on the other hand, goes like this: "Look, you're a grown woman, I'm not going to tell you what to do. What I DO think is only fair to let you know is that I will not remain in a marriage where my wife has unilaterally decided to invite a third person into it. I won't be my own wife's backup plan."

That is YOU-oriented.

There is an excellent example of this, by someone who stated it far better than I can. I'll try to find it and copy it here.

As for having unprotected sex with someone who is in an active affair, that's just foolish, dangerous and irresponsible. I don't think Chatterbug is saying anything that Won't Stop's own doctor wouldn't tell him.


Starsky


M57 W 57; D30 D28 S24 S20 GD7 GD2 GD1 GD5m GD1m
BD 5/07; W's affair 5/07-8/07

At the end of every hard-earned day, people gotta find some reason to believe. (Bruce Springsteen)