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Lois Tarter

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Divorced, But Dating Your Ex

Posted: 05/22/2012 3:00 am

A friend of mine had gotten divorced about a year ago. We spoke often during the divorce process and I tried to give her a lot of support. We hadn't been in contact for about six months after her divorce and recently met for coffee. It was great to see her again, but I noticed how stressed she seemed. I asked if everything was okay and she told me that she had started dating her ex. While I was shocked, I knew not to judge her and just listened.

She said that she got back together with him after going on some bad dates and feeling lonely. They began texting, then talking and eventually sort of "hooked up" (whatever that means.) They went through a tough two-year divorce process that involved high attorney fees and selling their house in a bad market. However, they never had children together. She admitted that she was stressed out because she was beginning to think that she made the wrong decision in getting back together with him. In fact, she hadn't given me any reasons that seemed strong enough for them to get back together at all.

Sometimes it's reasonable and appropriate to get back with your ex. It doesn't happen often, but in some cases it can end up being positive. However, you have to make sure that you're getting back together for the right reasons. Here are seven reasons you should not get back with your ex:

For the Children: Keeping things civil with your ex for the sake of your children is important. But getting back together in a romantic relationship with your ex is more than being civil. If you decide to give it a go again after the divorce and it doesn't work out, it could be even more confusing for your children. You don't want to put your kids through a second break-up. So really think about how your life was with your ex and don't get back together simply because you think it will be good for your children. Focus on what is best for the two of you and if it could really work this time around.

You Don't Want to Be Alone This Summer: Everybody who is single wants to have someone for the seasons. Who doesn't like someone to share a picnic with in the summer and a person to cuddle with in the winter? The thought of being alone in winter might seem cold, but I recommend buying a heating blanket and hanging tight until the right someone comes into your life.

You Want Some Holiday Loving: Christmas, Valentine's Day and birthdays are no reason to get back with your ex. Nobody likes to be alone on those days, but are you really going to feel good the day after when your ex begins to act like his old self (which is never a present)? Spare yourself the disappointment and go out with some friends and family on those holidays instead.

Because You're Sick of Bad Dates: We've all been on bad dates. I'm sure they seem a bit more magnified now that you're going back into the dating world after being married. You'll probably go on some bad ones before you hit your stride with some good ones. Stay the course and don't get frustrated and go back to your ex.

For Financial Reasons: Sure married couples get breaks on car insurance, but this is not a reason to get back together. Rest assured that you will make it on your own financially. Trust me, trying to make this relationship work again will cost you more in the end than the money you think you'll save.

You Like to Have a Plus-One: Your ex was a reliable plus-one for various events over many years. Having him on your arm at your friend's wedding or your holiday office party might have worked years ago, but your ex is more like a negative factor than a plus-one these days. Be daring and go solo! You may be surprised who else at the event is looking for love.

You're Feeling Lonely: This might be the worst reason to get back with an ex. How could anyone be lonely in life with friends just a click away via Facebook and Twitter? I'm kidding, but there are plenty of ways to cure loneliness that do not include your ex.

 
FOLLOW DIVORCE
A friend of mine had gotten divorced about a year ago. We spoke often during the divorce process and I tried to give her a lot of support. We hadn't been in contact for about six months after her divo...
A friend of mine had gotten divorced about a year ago. We spoke often during the divorce process and I tried to give her a lot of support. We hadn't been in contact for about six months after her divo...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bluegirl424
Do the right thing
08:39 PM on 05/29/2012
Dating your ex is like picking off a scab. And repeated scabs leave scars.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
fixitguy331
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
05:33 AM on 05/29/2012
If they were that great, they probably wouldn't be an 'ex'
Seems some people would rather go from one crappy relationship to the next than to be alone.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lorraine Kemer
09:01 PM on 05/28/2012
I am one who went out with my ex for 11 months after the divorce. He called and told me he had changed and didn't want to be without me. Since the break-up was do to his selfishness and not due to lack of love for him, I decided to try it again. After eleven months of dating, I knew he had not changed and there was no way I would spend the rest of my years with him. One of the best decisions I had ever made, even though we were together 32 years.
09:29 PM on 06/16/2012
the real question would be how would they prove that they changed.. if they are unable to prove that than you need to move on. Sometimes it does take time to prove that one has changed. It is a matter of investing the time to figure it out. If they show signs that they had NOT changed and keep up their same ways than its time to just call it a day and move on. My ex told me on more than a dozen occasions she would change.. surprise.. she never did! I thought she might.. never happened. On the other side of it, some people do change and if you have time invested its worth investigating if they had changed or not if you still have strong feelings for them. It is just not wise to stay around if its proven that they have NOT changed!
07:25 PM on 05/28/2012
An ex, is an ex, for a reason.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pslcitizen
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
07:07 PM on 05/28/2012
Date your ex-spouse? Maybe counseling instead of divorce is what was needed?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Llib Noswad
aka: Bill, Conservative
06:32 PM on 05/28/2012
"One Person to Never Date After Split"

Your ex-mother-in-law or father-in-law.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
donaldaq63
Oderint, dum metuant:
07:41 PM on 05/28/2012
Your daughter, your son, your dog...
09:55 PM on 06/16/2012
why not the dog..LMAO they wouldn't argue with you as much!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
disc0pat
Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should.
08:22 PM on 05/28/2012
I like your answer better than the author's!
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qsfoxx
still chasing the wascally wabbit...
05:09 PM on 05/28/2012
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RobinSD323
there is truth in justice...
04:48 PM on 05/28/2012
And I don't get the lonely bit either.
This is the way I equate it.
Bored= BORING
Lonely=BORING
If you're that bored and lonely in life. Considering all life has to offer, I don't believe you could function in ANY relationship.
People are in such a rush in this life. Slow it down people. If it's meant to be, it will BE. That is exactly how I fell madly in love with my true soul-mate many years ago. It found me. (love that is)
I wasn't looking and when I think back at times it's scary because I almost didn't jump right in, hook, line, and sinker..But, I was persuaded and let me tell you. Life was GOOD! I'm so thankful for love and the chance to share in it. I believe there is someone for everyone at every stage of our lives. Just slow it down a bit, love takes time and once you find it, devote your life to it until the end. . Take the chances you'd normally pass up..Just don't get back in a toxic no win relationship with Mr. or Mrs. OVER!! Do it today! You never know who he or she truly is. Take it from someone who's been there :)
Seriously!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RobinSD323
there is truth in justice...
04:41 PM on 05/28/2012
That is total BS. I'd rather be single and enjoy my life than to be in a relationship where there is no laughter, joy, happiness, communication, respect, freedom to enjoy life as individual's and as a whole..I don't understand these toxic relationship's and I refuse to be a part of one. I've been a widow for 11 years and refuse to get into the bizarre dating scene. I had a wonderful marriage. I will live off of the memories before I'd ever resort to dating an EX! That's why it's called an EX. He didn't make the cut...not then, not now, not ever :)
04:36 PM on 05/28/2012
i found out, that the best way to deal with this, is to move to another state, another country, another world.....its like when you finally split up, or get divorced, and you start seeing each other again...think of it as quicksand...you finally get out of the muck and mire....then for some stupid reason, you go back to the swamp, and walk right back into the quicksand.....same swamp, same quicksand....
04:20 PM on 05/28/2012
This is a divorce column and pushing divorce. HuffPost seems to be agains marriage unless it is between two people of the same sex.
02:52 PM on 05/26/2012
Whatever reasons you have when getting back together with your ex, it's important that you take into consideration the fact that you have already lived with that person once and it didn't work. They say that love is lovelier the second time around. This saying applies to this post but you have to be more careful this time. Learn from your mistakes before.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Julietjeske
NY based comedian
12:45 PM on 05/24/2012
For some couples this has worked out. They realize they made a horrible decision in splitting up and make it work the second time around, some re-marry. But for most of us, this is a terrible idea. Being single post-divorce is lonely and people tend to view you as "damaged goods" but forget those people! And try to wash out all the bad dates from your mind, and yes you will have bad dates...I have been on so many. Best book on the subject, "It's called a Break-up because it's broken" and another good one "All you ever wanted to know about ex" highly recommend both!
09:49 PM on 06/16/2012
I would never date my ex.. oh hell NO.. we do not even speak to one another. I took custody of the children and the only form of communication we have is when the child support comes in once a week.. or at least most weeks. She does not even talk to her children or ask to see them. My feeling is that her boyfriend(s) don't even know she has kids. I would not put myself back into that abusive relationship ever again. I did give her to many chances but after the divorce was final so were we! I moved on and married a 2nd time but this time to someone completely the opposite of my first wife! A lot of woman actually spooked me off with things they would say or do and I just would change my number or not call them back again. My biggest fear was to end up with another one like the last! I would make it a point to see their home/car to see how they kept it up. My 2nd wife.. well she used to be so bad that she FOLDED her dirty clothes!! she was that much of an OCD freak. That was a relief from the first one that would not clean and her house looked like it belonged on hoarders. Clothes on the floor a foot deep..ect... it was bad!
03:07 AM on 05/24/2012
A book on dating has a chapter entitled, "Back (You Can't Go)". That sums it up nicely.
03:13 PM on 05/23/2012
Sure, because she would never cheat on me again.