Throuple Parenting: A Team Approach to Raising Three Kids in San Diego
In a unique family setup, Eric Blackcloud II, 40, Tatyana Brown, 33, and Lexi Bowman, 26, are navigating parenthood as a throuple, raising three children together in San Diego, California. By parenting as a cohesive team, they ensure there is always a spare pair of hands available when needed, making their approach to family life more collaborative and supportive.
The Formation of a Polyamorous Family
Eric, who works in pest control, and tattoo artist Tatyana first met 11 years ago, starting as friends before falling in love. After Tatyana opened up about her bisexuality, the couple decided to cautiously explore non-monogamy. It was around this time that Tatyana reconnected with dog groomer Lexi, whom she had met previously. Initially platonic, their bond deepened within a month, leading to a "deeper connection." After taking another month to discuss openly and ensure everyone felt secure, the trio agreed to explore a relationship together. Lexi now lives with them full-time while maintaining her own space for work.
Navigating Family and Social Reactions
Becoming a throuple raised eyebrows for some, with mixed reactions from their families. On Lexi's side, her mother was protective about the age difference but became more comfortable after spending holidays together and seeing the stability of their home. Eric's family, however, has found it more challenging to adjust, with his mother struggling with the new dynamic. Tatyana's mother, familiar with polyamory, was initially concerned about the children but eased after witnessing the normalcy and comfort in their household. The trio has also lost some friendships, though others have come around after realizing the relationship is thoughtful and not chaotic.
Daily Life and Responsibilities
In their home, responsibilities are shared to maintain a smooth functioning household. Tatyana leads in the kitchen, Lexi takes care of the garden, and Eric handles heavier maintenance tasks. School runs and homework are managed by Tatyana and Lexi, while finances are a shared responsibility, with plans to formalize this further with a joint account. They operate as a team toward shared goals rather than assigning strict roles, and they include their children in this structure to teach contribution and support.
Introducing Lexi to the Children
The transition of introducing Lexi to the children—Oliver, 13, Sage, 7, and five-year-old Naiomi—was handled slowly and naturally. Meet-ups were kept normal, with no big announcements, allowing the kids to bond organically. Oliver asked thoughtful questions about stability, while Sage and Naiomi were curious about fun activities with Lexi. Over time, as Lexi showed up consistently, their comfort grew, and they accepted the new dynamic positively.
Managing Jealousy and Strengthening Bonds
Like any relationship, jealousy has surfaced, particularly early on when they lacked a structured check-in system. It manifested subtly around time and attention, especially when Eric returned to full-time work. Instead of ignoring it, they treated jealousy as information, having honest conversations about time-sharing, finances, and needs. Building common hobbies, such as playing Pokémon GO, and scheduling family time and date nights helped. Tatyana believes this has made her more emotionally accountable and even strengthened her bond with Eric, as parenting feels less overwhelming with shared support.
A Fuller Family Life
Tatyana notes that life isn't necessarily easier but feels fuller since Lexi joined the family. They emphasize that their relationship is built on structure, accountability, and care for the children at its center, not representing every polyamorous relationship but showing what works for them. Through teamwork and open communication, this throuple has created a stable and loving environment for their three kids in San Diego.
