WhenSister Wivespolygamist Kody Brown envisioned his family living under one roof, he never could have imagined where his family would end up just a few years later. Kody introduced his plural family on TV, which included his wives Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, and Robyn Brown, along with their 18 children. The Brown family moved frequently as a result of the stigma surrounding their lifestyle. AfterSister Wivesbegan, Kody and his wives were forced to flee their home in Lehi, Utah after being threatened with prosecution.
The Browns relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they settled into four custom-built homes at the end of a cul-de-sac. The setup was ideal, with the family living nearby but Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn each maintained their privacy. Despite having finally established roots in Las Vegas, Kody grew restless and convinced his wives to move again. They purchaseda plot of land in Flagstaff, Arizona, but the family soon became divided over how to develop the land. Kody referred to the conundrum as a “catalyst of realization,” and it brought many uncomfortable truths to light.
Kody Blindsided His Wives With His House Plans
His Holiday Announcement Didn’t Go Over Well
Kody and his wives fell in love with the angelic mountain views from their land in Flagstaff.Despite having to uproot their lives yet again, they were excited to start fresh. They talked about how to divide the land and where each wife would build their new homes. However, Kody was busy working behind the scenes on a surprise.
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Kody hired an architect to create floor plans for a massive, single home for the entire family to share.The plan included separate wings for each wife, along with a communal space for Kody, who had never had a home of his own.He was excited to reveal his plans, but he was also nervous about his wives’ reactions. The family hadn’t discussed living in a single home together, and Kody knew he might be met with strong emotions.
Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn were furious that Kody presented the idea to the entire family without talking to them first.
Unfortunately, Kody’s delivery fell short. He revealed the plans on Christmas, during a rare moment when his entire family was gathered.Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn were furious that Kody presented the idea to the entire family without talking to them first. They felt blindsided and put on the spot in front of their children. Kody’s announcement put a damper on the holiday celebration, and his abrasive presentation clouded his wives’ reactions from the start.
The One House Concept Brought Back Painful Memories
The Brown family had shared homes before, and it wasn’t always a positive experience.Christine was especially against the idea, having been scarred by living as the “basement wife” during the family’s time in Utah. Christine lived below her sister wives, which she said was symbolic of her place within the family.
Christine felt like she never had agency or privacy in her own home, and she was adamant about never being put in that position again.
Living together compounds the jealousy that is inherent to plural marriage.Sharing a home meant Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn would regularly witness Kody’s affection towards his other wives.Kody tried to keep his marriages separate, abstaining from romantic gestures in front of his other wives. Living in one house would put each relationship on display. It raised concerns about equality, which was already a struggle for Kody’s wives.
Kody’s Wives Struggled To Communicate Their Feelings Honestly
The Dilemma Revealed Weakness In Their Relationships
Talks about building a single home created a stalemate among Kody’s wives.They were each hesitant to speak openly about their thoughts, afraid to insult their sister wives. The discussions revealed how fragile these relationships were. Despite decades of working together as a family, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn were still uncomfortable speaking openly about their wants and needs.
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Meri was especially quiet about her thoughts regarding the shared home. She wanted to withhold her opinion until she knew how the others felt, which was a common pattern in Meri’s interactions with her sister wives. She is overly cautious, leading to her being perceived as manipulative. Meri’s silence on the topic was viewed as passive-aggressive. Meanwhile, Janelle was openly in favor of the shared home, Christine was against it, and they were unable to find any common ground.While each felt strongly, they were hesitant to state their reasons out of fear of upsetting each other.]
The talks caused Christine to relive her worst experiences with polygamy.
The topic became frustrating for Kody as well.He had put a lot of work into his plans, and he couldn’t understand his wives’ reservations.Kody began to resent Christinefor her closed mind. He viewed Christine’s refusal to consider sharing a house as offensive to the rest of the family, and it created a rift in their marriage. At the same time, the talks caused Christine to relive her worst experiences with polygamy.
The Housing Decision Forced Kody’s Wives To Reassess Their Futures
Kody’s Wives Ultimately Wanted Different Things
The house discussion brought many of theissues within Kody’s marriagesto the forefront. Kody held on to a vision of his family as a single unit, while his wives valued their independence. AlthoughSister Wiveshad highlighted the cohesion and teamwork between Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn, the one-house idea cast a different light on their relationships. They each struggled to set boundaries, which are essential for successful polygamy.
Without a united consensus, Kody had to give up on his dream, and the failed one-house plan changed his marriages. Kody was disillusioned by what he saw as a rejection of traditional polygamy. Only Robyn shared Kody’s vision, and their marriage subsequently grew stronger. It isn’t a coincidence that Christine was the most adamantly against the one-house plan, and she was also the first wife to leave Kody. The discussions surrounding the house made Christine feel disrespected, and she was faced with a constant reminder that she wasn’t Kody’s priority.
Sister Wivesairs Sundays at 10 p.m. on TLC.
Unfortunately, the Browns never built any homes on their land. Christine left Kody in 2021, creating the first crack in Kody’s unified family. Janelle and Meri also left their marriages over the next thirteen months. Kody admitted the one-house discussion had been the catalyst for his family’s breakdown after it forced them to confront their conflicting plans for the future. TheSister Wivesfamily is now irreparably broken, and the vacant land is a painful reminder of all Kody has lost.
