Daddy's Discipline

I'm a stay-at-home dad in my early thirties. My wife works as a nurse, and we have three kids under six. We've always had an open relationship with no strings attached encounters on her part - it’s something she’s needed since before our marriage to keep things healthy between us. It's been this way for over five years now. Recently, there was a change in my wife's routine that affected me deeply. She decided to start using role-play as an element of our open relationship setup. Specifically, she wanted the other men she sees to be her Daddy and give her strict discipline. Initially, it felt like just another dynamic - I agreed out of respect for her needs. What caught me off guard was that this wasn't just about the other men treating my wife differently; it became a part of our relationship too. In front of me, she’d act childish and seek out punishment or approval depending on how she felt at any given moment. It's like she wanted to regress back into a little girl persona, but I know that’s not healthy for anyone. We've had many discussions about boundaries and what feels right, but the truth is, it's left me feeling like less of an equal partner than ever before. While she's enjoying this dynamic with others outside our home, when we're together as a family, she wants to be my Little - someone who needs constant guidance and correction. It’s hard for me because I love her deeply but struggle with the sense that it diminishes me in some way. She's never questioned my role or position within our marriage, yet these outside dynamics have made it feel as though others get to play a more intimate Daddy role than I do at home. It's confusing and sometimes even painful to navigate. I want to be supportive of her needs, but this new twist has left me feeling unsure about where we stand and if there’s anything that can bring us back closer together without sacrificing who she wants to be outside our family unit.