A husband and wife have revealed how they've found the secret to relationship bliss after letting a 20-year-old woman share their bed - and look after their two young children.

Polyamorous mother-of-two DeAnna Rivas, 27, from Florida, says she's now planning a three-way wedding with her husband Manny, 28, and her girlfriend Melissa James, 20, because the set-up works so well.

The unusual situation came about after Deanna asked her husband if she could take on a female lover, saying their was a hole in the marriage that only a relationship with a woman could fill.

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The perfect marriage? Deanna Rivas, 27, asked her husband Manny (centre), 28, if she could take on a female lover after feeling unfulfilled in her marriage. Her husband agreed and when the couple met Melissa James, 20, they both fell in love with her and invited her to join their bed

Three-way parenting: The polyamorous family say their unusual relationship set-up is the perfect way to parent and Deanna and Manny's children, Vaneza, seven, and Gabriel, four, love their two mothers

Manny was cynical at first but soon found he enjoyed the third person in his marriage, and invited Melissa to share the marital bed.

The three, who share parenting duties over Deanna and Manny's children - Vaneza, seven, and Gabriel, four - plan to 'marry' each other in the future - although the marriage would not be legal in their home state of Florida, USA.

For now Melissa - known as MJ - takes care of the couples' children while DeAnna and Manny work and the parents insist MJ is as much of a mum to the youngsters as they are.

DeAnna, a shop assistant, said: 'Before we found MJ I was so miserable, I felt like there was a hole in my life that only another woman could fill.

'When I first told Manny he said it felt like a betrayal and he was really offended that I wanted to be with someone else.

Deanna, right, says Melissa has brought happiness into their lives while 20-year-old Melissa says: 'This isn't the type of love I expected but I love being with DeAnna and Manny and I love the children - my feelings for them are real'

As they were: The couple, pictured with their children, before they decided to open up their marriage to another person

'It took me four years to convince him but now we have MJ in our lives and the children love having two mums - we couldn't be happier.'

DeAnna and Manny met ten years ago and went on to have a daughter, Vaneza, now seven. They married a year after her birth and went on to have a son, Gabriel, now four.

After Vaneza's birth, DeAnna began to suffer from depression, which sadly worsened after the birth of Gabriel.

DeAnna, a sales assistant, says: 'I wasn't able to talk to anyone about how I was feeling, about being a new mother.

'When I told Manny that I was having problems he understood that I was sad but he didn't understand how to fix it.

We plan to spend the rest of our lives together - regardless of what anyone else might think' Deanna Rivas

'I just felt like a woman would be the only person who would understand where it was coming from.

'We thought at that time that might be another mum but as soon as Melissa came and met our children she fell in love and she became instant mummy.'

Initially Manny felt betrayed by his wife's insistence to open the marriage, but agreed to try polyamory in an attempt to please DeAnna.

Manny, a boat salesman, said: 'I personally didn't feel like we needed anything else but DeAnna did.

'Lots of things went through my mind that could have ended badly but DeAnna wasn't getting any happier - it was a last resort really.'

The husband and wife initially experimented with another woman - who introduced them to her girlfriend - MJ.

Their first romance was fleeting, but the couple were instantly bowled over by MJ's youthful good looks and bubbly personality and the three developed feelings for each other.

DeAnna says: 'I thought she was so hot and I was attracted to her blonde hair and youthful looks. She's just blown my socks off.'

DeAnna and Manny quickly introduced their new girlfriend to Vaneza and Gabriel and now MJ is their main caregiver.

Three isn't a crowd! The family say they don't care what people think of their relationship and would get married legally in a three-way wedding if they could

Dad Manny says he does have some fears about his children being bullied for having three parents but hopes the family can 'combat' any problems

'Sometimes we pair off': The trio says their love-life is very interesting and they try 'everything' in the bedroom

DeAnna said: 'We tried to be open with our kids, we don't really want to hide anything from them. We feel that if we are open with them and what is going on they would be more comfortable with it.

'I'm not jealous at all of MJ's days with them, I feel that they get more love because they do have two mums.'

And MJ couldn't be happier with the controversial arrangement.

MJ says: 'This isn't the type of love I expected but I love being with DeAnna and Manny and I love the children - my feelings for them are real.'

Despite the domestic bliss at home, the parents do worry about the backlash their children will face at school.

Manny says: 'I do worry that they are going to face discrimination but at the same time hopefully we can combat that.

'Vaneza has been bullied in the past but we hope we can build them up and make them confident and help them know that it is ok. We might not be the norm but we are happy as a family.'

Having multiple partners is also beneficial in the bedroom.

DeAnna said: 'There are lots of benefits on the physical side - it is very adventurous.

'Sexually it is very interesting. We open up our marriage and our bedroom. We do everything.

Judgement: Deanna says 'People don't think you can be in a polyamorous relationship and actually genuinely love each other'

Be with us, or leave us alone: The three say they're happy the way they are and won't listen to naysayers unhappy with their unconventional relationship

'We all sleep together as a threesome and sometimes we will pair off. It helps with childcare because one of us can watch the kids while the other two have fun.'

But despite the sexual advantages, the trio, who live in Fort Lauderdale, admits that there are jealousy issues between the three.

DeAnna says: 'We do have jealousy issues - with two women and one man it's bound to happen.

'When one of us does feel left out we try to talk about it before it becomes too much of a problem.'

The triad has also struggled to find acceptance from their families.

DeAnna said: 'Our families probably completely hate us all just because we are different. People don't think you can be in a polyamorous relationship and actually genuinely love each other.

'If they don't want to be part of our lives they are missing out.'

Now the threesome is planning their future together and hope to cement their relationship by 'getting married'.