Page Turner's Blog, page 138

Ask Page: My Partner Just Asked Me for STI Testing, Am I Being Slut Shamed?

Hi Page, 

I’ve been poly for about 6 months. I recently met a new partner. He has another partner (and so do I). Anyway, he asked me to get testing for STIs before we sleep together. I was so offended! Why would he do that?  A big part of poly for me has been accepting myself as a sexual being.  » Read more

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Nothing Makes a Bigger, More Lasting Impact on Me than Kindness

I have a friend who shows up early whenever I throw a party. Just a bit before it officially starts. And when he arrives, we pregame together while my nesting partner puts the finishing touches on the food. We sit and have a drink, catch up on old news.

My friend shows up early knowing that he’ll see behind the scenes.  » Read more

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You Did Break My Heart, But It Was Worth It

A few months ago, I fell in love with a new woman. I wrote about our first kiss in a piece called “Odds Are You’ll Break My Heart, But It’s Worth It.”

I’m usually fairly neurotic when I get into new relationships. Wondering if I’m doing the right thing by opening myself up to a new person.  » Read more

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PQ 16.11 — How do I handle my own feelings of jealousy?

PQ 16.11 — How do I handle my own feelings of jealousy?

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I’ve written quite a bit about the ways I’ve found to productively deal with jealousy. Recently, I put out this article, which is a good overview/summary of the best approach I’ve discovered.

Since I have the how-to covered (for now at least,  » Read more

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PQ 16.10 — How can I help support a partner who is feeling jealous or passed over?

PQ 16.10 — How can I help support a partner who is feeling jealous or passed over?

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It can be an incredibly difficult task to support a person who is feeling jealous or passed over — especially if our actions are part of the reason why they feel that way.  » Read more

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The Two Things That Are Hardest for Me to Teach

Hi Page, I just wanted to write and thank you for your blog and your books! You are such a good teacher. I do a fair amount of teaching myself, and I know that we all have our difficult spots. I was just wondering: What are the things that are hardest for you to teach?   » Read more

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What My D/s Relationship Is Really Like

“You two have a D/s relationship, right?” the man asks.

I stop in my tracks. Spin around. Look tentatively at my partner Justin.

“Yes,” I reply.

Justin and I are at a conference where we’re presenting together. Grabbing snacks in the hospitality suite at the end of a long day.  » Read more

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Feeling Loved and Being Loved Are Different

I recently published an article called “When I’m Asking Why You Love Me, I’m Really Asking What Love Is to You.” I was pleasantly surprised by how much of a positive reception it received from readers. And how much of a conversation that formed in response.

That post is about how I realized after I went through my divorce that even though my ex-husband said he loved me all the time that when he and I were talking about love that we were talking about different things.  » Read more

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What People Get Wrong When They Talk About Partner Selection

“How are you doing?” I ask her.

“I’m okay,” she says. And after a pause, she adds, “Considering.”

I nod. “Breakups are never easy,” I commiserate.

“Especially when you never saw it happening.”

“Well, it’s tough to know going in how things will pan out.”

“That’s just the thing…”  » Read more

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Comparisons Are Odious Yet Insidious and Near Ubiquitous, in Love and Art Class

Comparisons are odious.

–British proverb

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“And then you take the middle brush — or the small one if you want — dip it in some yellow paint, and it’s time for the gym class stroke again,” the instructor says. He turns back to the canvas,  » Read more

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