I have been struggling with being non-monogamous in my relationship with my partner.

We have now transitioned to a long distance relationship and the talk of being open is coming up. I know he will be away for a year and come back when it's done. It's not like I do not trust him. We had talked about this initially but decided against it. But now my partner feels lonely and alone and the only way he feels he knows how to cope with it is to be free to do things with other people but also have me.

Like he wants to be free and and we know it’s only for a year. So he wants wants to be able to explore and have the freedom to do so. While also having me, because it's just temporary and I feel selfish for not being able to give him that.

So it makes me feel like he wants the cake and wants to eat it to. I just am trying to get guidance on how to work with that and how to make it work. I don't feel the need for myself to be non-monogamous, but I also am open to letting him feel comfortable and free to explore. Like I understand sex/hookup it's just primal urges and like a way to feel less lonely. It's not an issue that or of trying to date other people. I just dont know how to make myself feel comfortable with giving someone an opportunity to to try and not feel like it's something more.

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any help would be greatly appreciated