10 Ways to Be Friends with Your Ex ...

She was shocked, and wanted to know how on earth I stayed friends with so many of my exes. Here are some tips:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

End It Well

Don’t cheat or lie or steal. If the relationship ends well, it’s more likely you’ll be able to remain friends.

Don’t Badmouth Him

If he ends the relationship badly, resist the temptation to badmouth him, especially to his friends, or to your mutual friends. Don’t badmouth his new girlfriends, either.

Frequently asked questions

Give It Some Time

It may not be easy to see each other or spend time together right after the relationship ends. Give it some time.

Related: 7 Ways to Get Your Ex Back ...

Don’t Make Your Mutual Friends Choose Sides

If you have a lot of friends in common, don’t make them decide who was right and who was wrong. It will just make everyone uncomfortable, including you.

Let It Go

To become or stay friends, you have to let go of the past. It won’t work if the only reason you want to stay friends is so you can maybe get back together later.

Move on

It will be easier to stay friends if you have someone, or something, new in your life. And having a sense of humor about it will help.

Don’t Reminisce

When you do start spending time together again, don’t reminisce about “old times” when you used to date. He’ll be uncomfortable, especially if he’s dating someone new.

Do It for the Kids

If you have children together, there’s no better reason than them to try and stay friends. They’ll sense the tension and it will make their lives hell. That’s a great motivation.

Know when to Bow out Gracefully

If one of you is uncomfortable on certain topics or around certain people, know when to leave.

Stop Hooking up

If you’re not dating, you shouldn’t be sleeping together anymore. It will just muddle everyone’s perspective and feelings.

Trust me, by following these rules, you’ll be able to stay friends with most of the guys you date, even if it ends with hurt.

Do you have any tips or stories to share? How do you stay friends with an ex?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

How more of a friend I can be with my ex.....we are living together....sleeping in the same bed. I think I'm strange really :)

Sheila, Thats possible to happen. As long as your single it's ok, taken the desicion to be separated but once theres a partner its difficult, cause the other two in your lives can not accept the fat that you're exes. I had friends too who where my ex but that finished all when I used to date with someone important for me, and in that case, the same happened to them!

These are great advices Jen, but surley difficult. It has to come from both sides to be truthful and to want to continue a realtion ship as friends, which for most ex couples is rather difficult if you really loved that some body!

Jennifer, this is GREAT advice. Thanks for sharing these tips. Having not followed some of them in the past, I know for a fact that these are all very essential if you want to have a friendship with an ex. I hope everyone who wants to have a friendship with an ex reads these tips!

Categories