Larron Armstead admits that when he and his wife Jennifer "Started this journey...we didn't exactly know what we were getting ourselves into." After bringing a third person into their relationship, life got a little complicated.
Something Was Missing
After several years of marriage, Larron and Jennifer Armstead's lives were as stable as could be. But they couldn't deny the odd feeling that something was missing.
"We didn't know what to expect or what was to come," Jennifer said of the tale. When she and her husband chose to open their hearts to someone else, it set off a rollercoaster ride they could never have expected and truly put their marriage to the test.
First Meeting
So where did it all begin? Well, first, we need to go back to the day these lovebirds met. This was before their 10-year marriage and the controversy that has surrounded them in recent times started. Before, things were pretty simple.
In fact, Larron and Jennifer's love story was a very straightforward one. They met in 2005 when both were only 18-years old. But even at that young age, they knew from the moment they crossed paths that it was meant to be. Almost instantly, they hit it off.
Wedding Vows
Soon enough, the two young adults were a committed couple and already looking to the future. It was the kind of relationship where it seemed only natural to take the next step, and though Jennifer didn't know it yet, Larron was already making big plans.
And in 2007, after another beautiful evening spent by her boyfriend's side, Larron took a knee and asked Jennifer the most important question of her life. They were engaged immediately, and 3 years later, they finally tied the knot. Life seemed simple…for now.
A New Addition
And for now, they made the most of their simple life. Mr. and Mrs. Armistead settled comfortably into married life, and soon enough, they began planning the next step - i.e., starting a family. In 2012, their prayers were answered when Jennifer gave birth to Austin, their first son.
Things were only improving for Jennifer and Larron, as they also took to parenthood with ease and aplomb. Life was turning out exactly as they had wanted, and their little family was going to grow even more. But, not solely because of the incoming children.
Four More Kids
Sure enough, over the next 7 years, another 4 children joined the Armstead family. First came Aydon, their second son, and Aerolynn, their first daughter. Then the next 2 arrived, as the family soon became a thriving young bunch of 7. The future was looking bright and bountiful.
But Jennifer and Larron still had no idea what fate had in store for them. In their future, another person was waiting, and both husband, wife, and their 4 children would find their lives turned upside down. Now it's time to introduce the third part of this story.
An Online Meeting
That third person was Amia, a young woman who caught the eye of our happy husband and father in 2019. While he was scrolling through Facebook, he noticed a person he'd never seen before. Larron was captivated by the young woman in the photos on his screen.
According to the husband, something about Amia Munningham was captivating; he just didn't know what it was. Larron had never met her before - all he learned from her online profile was her name, age, and job. Amia was a 27-year old consultant. But he did know one thing - he wanted to learn more.
From Amia’s Perspective
So, the father of 4 sent this perfect stranger a friend request. But, what did she think about it? After all, it's not every day that a married man adds you on Facebook. As she looked through his profile, Amia felt a mixture of confusion and…curiosity.
What could he possibly be adding her for? The pair had certainly never met, and she knew nothing about him, except that he was married with kids. So when he sent his new "Friend" a message, she responded in kind. Soon enough, they were messaging back and forth. But there must have been more to it, right?
Larron Tells Jennifer
As Larron and Amia began to talk and learn more about each other, both adults had questions for each other and questions about the friendship that was developing between them. Soon, they had been in contact for 2 weeks, and Larron knew he had to do something.
Rather than keep talking to this woman behind his wife's back, he knew he had to speak to Jennifer about what was happening. But what would he tell her? And more importantly, what would she think? Well, there was only one way to find out. The couple came together, and he confessed everything.
The Two Women Meet
Jennifer wasn't quite sure what she was hearing - after all, her husband barely knew what was going on. She was confused, but she knew one thing. She wanted to meet the woman who had grabbed her husband's attention, and she wanted to know what was so captivating about her.
So Jennifer simply added Amia on Facebook herself. Finally, she came face to face with her husband's new friend, and it all suddenly made sense. According to Jen, "My first impression of her was that she seemed carefree and funny. We laughed, made jokes, and became comfortable pretty fast."
An Open Marriage?
As luck would have it, Jennifer understood exactly what her husband saw in Amia, and she also found herself drawn to this woman. But what did that mean exactly? And what could they do with this newfound knowledge? They wanted to meet her face to face, but they needed to know where that might lead.
Jennifer is open about their thoughts at that time. "Larron and I…were considering many things," she admitted. "[We] are pretty emotional people, and we knew that [an open marriage] wouldn't have been the right dynamic for us." But something had to give.
2's Company, 3's A Crowd?
Did they have space for a third person in their relationship? There was so much to think about. And, Larron and Jennifer found themselves evaluating aspects of their life that they had never thought of before. But as they were thinking about all this, they were also building a closer relationship with Amia.
And over time, husband and wife both began to feel more open about the possibility of a third party in their marriage. "As discussions progressed, we started to share thoughts of possibly adding someone to the relationship," Jen said. "I had had previous feelings that I was 'bi-curious.'" It was time to explore.
Three-Way Date
So, the uncertain couple set off on their first date with the captivating Amia, both feeling a combination of nervousness and excitement. It was finally time to see what the future had to offer. Was Amia the real deal? Or would they walk away disappointed?
Once they arrived at the bar, all of their nerves evaporated. The conversation flowed, and Jennifer and Larron immediately felt more relaxed and comfortable. "We started off just having fun - drinking and getting to know each other," said Jennifer. But could the same be said for Amia?
Good, Fast Progress
But there was no reason to fear - the young woman felt exactly the same, both relieved and excited that things were going so smoothly. She quickly agreed to more dates with the couple, and soon enough, they were inseparable. All 3 began to realize what was developing between them.
The trio was bonding and connecting in a serious way, and none of them could explain exactly why. But what they did know is that they wanted to see more of each other - much more. And within weeks, they knew what had to be done. The next step just made sense.
A Relationship Begins
As Jennifer said, "When we began our poly journey, we didn't know exactly where it would go." They couldn't have known that just weeks after meeting their new "friend," they would be inviting her into their family, specifically as the third member of their relationship.
So, on September 21, 2019, they did precisely that. Amia Manningham was welcomed and brought into the Armstead family. But as time went on, they realized that their new dynamic wasn't going to be as simple or straightforward as they had hoped and wanted.
Problems on the Horizon
Though the beginnings of their relationship were fueled by excitement and optimism, things began to change as the 3 adults settled down together. They had to face facts - A trio relationship meant a higher chance of heartache and pain. They couldn't expect things to be seamless.
And sure enough, they were just around the corner from the first round of trouble in their new life. And it certainly wouldn't be the last - as Larron, Jennifer, and Amia were about to find out, this 3-person love affair would stir up their lives more than they could have ever expected.
A Learning Process
As it turned out, Amia was no stranger to polyamorous relationships. Jennifer and Larron, on the other hand, were both beginners with the idea. And in Jennifer's case, adjusting to this significant life change was more complex than she had anticipated. What was going wrong?
"It's been a learning process," Jennifer admitted about those first stages of the relationship. "Especially on how to have a relationship with a woman…to have a successful romantic relationship is a little [challenging]." But that was only the beginning of her struggle.
New Emotions
Jennifer knew that bringing a third party into her and her husband's marriage was going to be a learning experience, but she hadn't expected the tumult of new emotions that crashed over her in those first months. "You don't know what to expect…feelings started to arise that I hadn't expected," she said.
So, what were those feelings? Well, to put it frankly, Jennifer was jealous. Her husband was spending much of his time with this new woman. Because of this, Jennifer was terrified that she might be pushed out of the picture. "I was scared that he would lose love for me," she admitted.
Get Through This
The mother of 5 suddenly found herself at a loss - in a matter of months, her life had been turned upside down. What had started off with confusion about her husband's online escapades had spiraled into managing a marriage with a third partner involved. What could she do?
If there was one thing that had to happen, it was clear communication. Jennifer told Amia and Larron everything, and her husband and girlfriend vowed to help her through these new feelings. "We struggled through this, but we conquered through," they later shared on Twitter. Surely things would begin to settle down for the trio.
Letting Their Family Know
But of course, things couldn't be that simple. Lest we forget, though Amia was a single person, Larron and Jennifer had 5 children at home. Not to mention, they still had to tell their extended family about this new set of circumstances. How would they react?
Luckily for Amia, her family was already aware of her polygamous past. But Larron and Jennifer weren't so lucky. They still had to break the news to their parents, who were either Jehovah's Witnesses or deeply conservative. Needless to say, "They were shocked," explained Jennifer.
What do the Children Think?
What about Larron and Jennifer's children? They were the ones who had to get used to their mom and dad's new "friend," who was going to be in and out of the house. And some of their kids began to understand quickly. "The older kids started to notice that she was not just a friend, and questions started to arise," Jen said.
The parents knew they had to be straightforward, so they sat down to talk with their oldest child, Austin, intent on telling him everything. His response? "She's not my mom." Not the reaction they had hoped for and a clear indication that it was going to take time for their kids to adjust.
Another Child?
Jennifer and Larron had a handful of children that they needed to accommodate with this new relationship. But was that number going to grow? Not long after they came clean to their children, "Amia expressed that she would like to have kids," Jennifer explained. But were she and Larron ready for that?
Jennifer was skeptical. "In the first few months, I had a hard set boundary: NO KIDS," she said. "I thought that if someone else had his child, I'd lose the last thing I had left of him." But this wasn't going to change Amia's maternal desires. What would that mean for their relationship?
An Expecting Mother
Well, it seemed that Jennifer was about to find out whether she wanted to or not. Because on January 25, 2021, Amia walked into their bedroom and made an announcement - she was pregnant! And just like that, the sixth Armstead child was going to come into the world.
And though Jennifer had initially insisted that Amia could not have a child with her husband, she found herself feeling differently as her girlfriend stood in front of her with a positive pregnancy test. All of that disappeared, and she realized that she was happy with the revelation.
Baby #6 On the Way
Why the sudden change of heart? "I got to experience something so special... just me and her, as she walked in the room and told me she was pregnant," Jennifer said. "The pure happiness that came over both of us was so special... I'll never forget it."
Time and time again, Amia, Jennifer, and Larron proved that their 3-way bond was something special. They soon told their children that a new baby would be joining the family and even took to social media: "I can't wait to build this family with you…and to our husband: Get ready for number 6!!!"
Overnight Sensation
After less than a year spent together, Jennifer and Larron had an almost entirely new life with Amia. Not only did they share their love with a third person, but they were having their next child with her too. It's such a strange story; it's no surprise that it soon spread throughout the internet.
News outlets and gossip sites soon picked up the story, and they were even featured on a YouTube channel called Truly, which specialized in strange stories from around the world. The 3 went viral! Soon, thousands across the globe followed their story, though that may not have been a good thing...
The Criticisms Roll In
Sure enough, the trio was soon facing a slew of harsh comments from strangers everywhere, including statements like "You're ruining your kids" and "I'd never let another woman be with my husband." But, that was just the beginning. Not to mention, these comments weren't restricted to the online world.
The family took to Instagram to address the comments being sent their way. "For those of you who wonder if we get stares when we are out together? The answer is YES...we absolutely do." Their family unit was happy, but why did it bother so many people?
Shunning The Haters
Jennifer found herself under fire from all corners of the internet. She was once again experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. But soon, she came to a powerful conclusion. Why should she care what strangers think? "When it really comes down to it, I don't live my life according to what others deem 'accept-able,'" Jen said.
She was tired of struggling with the criticism she received. From that point on, Jen chose to shun the negativity she got from internet strangers. As long as she and her family were happy and healthy, nothing else mattered. "The older I get, the more I understand that it's okay to live a life others don't understand."
Surprising Inspiration
Despite the negative feedback the threesome received, it also garnered many admirers and supporters. They even took to social media to acknowledge these people: "Our journey has inspired many, and we are so grateful for all of the love you guys have shown us."
Soon, positive and inspired comments began rolling in too. "Way to get your story out there. One day, God willing, relationships of this nature will be accepted," said one internet stranger. "Man, if I could like this 10x, I would," said another. But where did all this leave the Armstead's?
Fast Forward to Today
Larron, Jennifer, and Amia's story had stirred up all kinds of reactions around the world. People were both fascinated and shocked by their experience, and it left many with a similar question: Where are they now? Did their relationship continue as strong as before?
We're happy to report that, yes! Their relationship is going strong and stable. However, there was a heartbreaking turn of events. In February 2021, Amia lost her baby despite doing everything she could to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy. "It may not be our time at this exact moment, but it will be soon," the trio said.
Going Forward Together
The family also took to social media to gush about their journey so far. "It's been a crazy ride this year, we have had some ups and downs, but it's been life-changing." No matter how strange things have been so far, they have expressed not regretting any of it for a moment.
Now it's time to think of their next steps. "Every day we come closer together, discovering things about each other…laughing at the silly things…loving each other more," they continued. "As we sit back and think about this past year, we have overcome so much, and we can't wait to build more memories."
Happiness Is Important
Looking back on their life together, it's incredible to think how far Larron and Jennifer Armstead have come since they were young 18-year-olds. Together, they've been through a lot. They've grown and evolved, learning a lot about themselves and each other on the way.
"These past few years, I've grown a backbone and decided that my happiness is important," Jen expressed of this strange but beautiful period of her life. "You only get one life...LIVE IT! Happy...free...and unapologetic," she continued. And really, we couldn't ask for better advice than that.