Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

Should I still remain friends with ex bf?

User Profile: eskie
eskie May 6th, 2016

Hi. Recently broke up... and am wondering if it's a good idea to remain friends with my ex. We stopped talking to each other for a few days after the break up. But have been talking to each other a lot more these days. He says he wants to be friends. Is this a good idea?

18
User Profile: PositiveMinds
PositiveMinds May 6th, 2016

Hi @eskie. I am sure that would be perfectly fine! Just check in with yourself and make sure that you are comfortable with whatever decision that you choose to make. If you are not comfortable with maintaining a friendship with him, you should not force yourself to be his friend just because that is what he wants. Do what you feel is best for you. If the friendship works out, that's great! If it goes downhill, don't be too bummed out. Break ups are usually pretty diffcult for everyone involved, and it might take a bit of time to sort things out completely. The feelings that you have for each other might still be there, but I believe that accepting him as a friend might help bring you some peace. It will reassure you that you haven't lost him completely. He might not be your boyfriend anymore, but he is still in your life.

2 replies
User Profile: eskie
eskie OP May 6th, 2016

@PositiveMinds Thank you for reminding me that I have to be comfortable with the decisions I make. Thank you so much for saying that. smiley

1 reply
User Profile: PositiveMinds
PositiveMinds May 6th, 2016

@eskie Of course! You are very welcome! I hope everything works out.

load more
load more
User Profile: Endless712
Endless712 May 7th, 2016

Wow, people can be so cold... People are not to be thrown over so quickly... Cutting them out of your life like they meant so little because you needed your "me" time... Sorry if I don't find that a bit self-centered and selfish...

People are kidding themselves if they think it can transition easily from romantic to friendship without some down time but please, let's be adult about it and no matter what cutting someone out of your life is almost always hurtful to the other person... Just sayin'... People I see only look out for their own self interests and sometimes you are going to hurt people awfully despite your best intentions...

Treat people kindly... Life is short enough without casually throwing an ex-significant other over because it makes YOUR life easier... Be kind and compassionate to all

2 replies
User Profile: Jason857
Jason857 May 9th, 2016

@Endless712 this is an increadibly judgy comment, with a tint of contempt. This is meant to be free of judgment area...

1 reply
User Profile: Endless712
Endless712 May 10th, 2016

@Jason857, after reading my post, it does come off very harshly.

It's not judgment but just saying people have no idea how much they hurt others because they don't have the strength to be in their lives any more.

You know not what I have been through. Have both of your parents die and have an ex just say, "best of luck to you" but cares not a whit to stay in contact. I'm sorry if I'm not a little bitter here.

load more
load more
User Profile: Minxx
Minxx May 13th, 2016

This may be controversial, but I don't think romantic partners can truly be friends during or after a romantic relationship ends. You just simply don't care that much if you don't talk to your friend much, but it hurts like heck if your partner gives you the cold shoulder. A friend is not typically as intimately interwoven in your life as a lover is. Lovers have a different motive for telling you things or doing things for you- eg intimate affection, sex, continued romantic relationship or the like. A friend tends to put what's best for you first.

User Profile: generousPear8612
generousPear8612 July 7th, 2016

@eskie

nope ! cut all contact because you wont be able to move on and if anything, it'll just hurt you even more.

its not a good idea to be friends while you are trying to move on.

He's just using you for his on ego. cut all contact and move on.

maybe you can be friends with him later when you have fully move on but not now.

User Profile: Remina
Remina July 7th, 2016

@eskie

It depends on many factors. If you valued the friendship you had before the relationship, it might be good to remain friends with your ex boyfriend. But you should also keep in mind, moving on will harder the more you see him. But don't throw away a perfectly good friendship, just because you two didn't work out romantically.

User Profile: mikhaela
mikhaela October 22nd, 2016

@eskie

it depends on how you feel for him.are valuing the frienship you had? is it good for you to be friends with him.? will it affects you?. ask yourself. if you value the friendship more than the relationship you had then it's okay.

User Profile: ali1112
ali1112 October 22nd, 2016

@eskie

Hi. I am not sure where you are at with this since May is a while back. I hope you have things moving forward in the direction you are happy with. Let us know if you need any more guidance.

User Profile: 0Sara0
0Sara0 October 23rd, 2016

@eskie Hey! You can totally be friends with your ex if you wouldn't be emotionally effected by that. I don't think I can be friends with my bf if we broke up. I am emotional as a person and I am very emotionally attached to him.

User Profile: Helping2findaway
Helping2findaway October 24th, 2016

@eskie, hi there. From my personal experience it's a bad idea to remain friends with your ex. I did it two times and just got really hurt but however some others have success in being friends after their break ups. I so give it time and think about it before giving him an answer ..