My oldest shot her first gun at age four. A little Cricket single-bolt action .22 rifle. She's 10 now and is going hunting with hubby this fall. I'm SO proud of her! All of our kids, 10, 6 and 4 know how to handle guns and what the safety rules are as well as what to do when they find a weapon unattended (an unlikely event in our home - our guns are on our hips securely holstered or in the safe at night). This in an opportunity to teach your son about safety. Not to point a weapon at someone, respecting weapons, etc...

And yes, it's just a toy

I also have an open marriage, and we're loving it, but before we opened, we discovered each others love language. Mine is Words of Affirmation and his is Touch. We weren't feeling loved by each other because I didn't know sex is an important way he feels loved and he didn't know that I wasn't just nagging when I told him I'd like him to ask me about my day when he comes home. Once we started exploring this, things improved dramatically. The book is called The Five Love Languages.

Open marriage doesn't have to be gross. There are many ways of connecting and finding love than having other sexual relationships. You could check into polyamory - but it sounds like he may not go for the idea. I personally like the idea of treating each other as though you're roommates and see how that goes. Down the road maybe you both will be more open to opening up? Otherwise, you're staying together for a noble cause, but ending up in misery with each other. If you believe you have one life here on earth, then think seriously about how you want to spend it.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but there are many people who are happily married and have emotional affairs, like me, except in my case my affair isn't hidden. It's out in the open and my husband and boyfriend (both of whom I love dearly) are completely aware of each other and are even friends. We're polyamorous, which means having more than one love. We were married for 16 years before my husband brought up the idea of being with someone else. I was his first. I knew that he loved me and he agreed that if I had a relationship as well, he could handle it fine. And going on a year, we're doing great. I've discovered that I have a slightly kinky side that my husband isn't comfortable with, so he's fine with me doing that with my boyfriend. He's also had a girlfriend. The biggest issues for us are making sure we are completely transparent with each other, communicate effectively and make time for each other so no one feels neglected. If you're interested in learning more about polyamory and you think you're SO would be too, you can check out "Opening Up", "The Ethical Slut", and "More than Two" All excellent reads on open marriages and polyamory.

Keep in mind too, that love isn't finite. It only grows. I have three kids - when the 2nd and 3rd were born I didn't love the first one any less. The same can happen with men and women