Families come in all shapes and sizes, and for a family with three dads and two children, they know that saying all too well. Ian Jenkins, Alan Mayfield and Jeremy Allen Hodges are in a polyamorous relationship involving all three of them, or as they like to call it, a “throuple.” Ian and Alan have been partners for 17 years, whereas Jeremy joined the union eight years ago.

The men are fathers to two children, a daughter named Piper and a son named Parker, 14 months. They welcomed their children by using an egg donor and a surrogate, both of whom happened to be friends of the throuple. But what’s even more incredible about their story is that they were all able to be legally recognized on their children’s birth certificate.

The fathers, who raise their family in California, are open about their parenting experiences online, The Mirror. The possibility for all three of them to be mentioned on their kids’ birth certificate came after a 2017 American ruling that aimed to give polyamorous couples more legal recognition.

When their daughter Piper was born, a San Diego judge originally denied their request for all three of them to be on their birth certificate, a heartbreaking moment for them. So, the fathers began considering alternative options. Since then, the family has been active in advocating for the rights of polyamorous families. They were a big part in pushing for the 2017 ruling, which they consider ground-breaking. It also allowed them to become the first family in California to have three dads listed on the birth certificate.

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Speaking to Huffington Post, the fathers explained they have had concerns their children could be subjected to bullying for their unique family. So far, however, they’ve only met acceptance from those in their lives. “We’ve had zero pushback from anyone in our professional and personal lives,” Jenkins said. Piper is in pre-school already while Parker will join her in a couple years.

Opening up further about their parenting styles, the throuple admitted it can be challenging working with three parents who all have different sets of opinion. But for the most part, Jenkins says they remain on the same page when it comes to raising their kids, including discipline. He understands that from the outside looking in, their family may seem untraditional. But largely, they’re the same as everyone else. “We’re just three tame, regular people who spend a lot of time talking about what to have for dinner,” He explained.

One thing that’s challenging? When their children pick favourites! At the moment, Jenkins says that Jeremy is their daughter’s favorite parent. But they’re working through it. “We’ve developed a strategy for evening the workload so Jeremy doesn’t feel worn out and I get to share in the joys of having her,” Jenkins explained.

Jenkins is currently writing a book about his family’s experiences with fatherhood called ‘Three Dads and a Baby.’ It is set to release in March 2021.

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Source: The Mirror, Huffington Post, Instagram @Three_Dads_And_A_Baby