Staying Friends with your Ex: Your thoughts please!

I only dated a couple of guys before I got with my fiancé. It wasn't anything serious and while there was no dramatic soap opera style breakup, there's no real reason for us to stay in touch. So while I might talk to them if I ever run into them, I'm not going to take their digits or anything.

I've been with my husband for quite a long time now but I did have boyfriends before him, and no I'm not in touch with any of them. While there was no messy, heartbreaking break up (which probably sounds quite boring!) there's just no desire to stay in touch. My husband is in contact with his ex wife but then as they have a child together, he has to be.

My sister is in touch with one of her ex boyfriends but that's more about sending messages at Christmas and New Year rather than being 'friends' and meeting up for a coffee and a chitchat. Somehow I can't see my BIL going for that! LOL.

I met my husband while I was in my mid twenties so I don't really have much in the way of exes. It was never anything especially serious, so we're not friends but if I ever happen to cross paths with them, I'd be more than happy to say hello but that'd be it. I won't be adding them to Facebook or anything. And luckily I don't have to contend with my husband's ex girlfriends either. I agree with what everyone is saying. It's up to each person whether or not they want to remain friends with a former partner. No one should be made to feel as though there's one rule and one rule only. But if your current partner does not approve... well then you have a bit of a problem.

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules when it comes to staying mates with your exes. It's different for everyone. You've got to consider the circumstances surrounding your break up, if there are still feelings there, if you've got kids, what any new partners think. It really does depend. No one should be made to feel that they should stay friends with an ex. And on the other hand no one should be made to feel that they can't. People need to do what's right for them. Most people I know can't imagine being mates with an ex. They feel it would be too awkward. But a do know a few who've managed to stay friends with at least one of their exes.

I went through a horrible break-up with my ex husband. It was painful, torturous and I have to admit we were both very bitter and hostile towards each other. But now more than ten years on we're both in a much better place and we've had to be for the sake of our children who were both very young when we split. In fact my youngest won't even know a time when we were together! I wouldn't say my ex and I are friends but we've learned to behave like responsible parents and respectful adults because we've had to as we don't want to inflict any unnecessary pain on the children. I know of other former couples who are the complete opposite of how we are and I think that's so damaging for the kids. In fact I even get on well with his new girlfriend and I am so grateful to her for being so sweet with my kids.

As for my other former boyfriends and one ex-fiance, I don't keep in touch with any of them. I'm sure if I bumped into them I would say hi and see how they were doing as I don't have any bad feeling towards them. But I can't see us being Insta pals or anything. Haha!

I've been with my husband for such a long time, that I don't really remember anyone before him! LOL. My relationships, if you can call them that, before I got with my now husband were quite brief and not serious. So there's no real reason for why I would want to stay in touch with any of them. My husband's past relationship history is pretty much the same as mine and he hasn't stayed friends with any of his past girlfriends. How would I feel if one of them contacted them out of the blue? Well I'd be thinking, 'Hmm - I wonder what she wants!' LOL. No I would not be pleased. LOL.

I got with my husband when I was 22 and before then there were only lads I went out with for a very short period of time. I have no idea where in the world they are now so I'm sure you can gather that we're not in contact! My husband did have one very serious relationship before me and they were engaged. But that ended very badly so it's safe to say that they will never be friends!

To stay friends with an ex or not is a very difficult question to answer because it depends on so many things. If the worst should happen and me and my husband split up, we'll definitely be in each other's lives because we're connected by our children. But whether we'll be like Kevin and Sally on Coronation Street with their spouses is another story!

Every relationship or former relationship even is different. I don't actively keep in touch with ex boyfriends but one is still very much a part of our friendship group so of course I still see him and everything is very civil. Not that there was any big dramatic break up. It didn't work out so we amicably went our separate ways. I have a new boyfriend and the guys are cool. There's no jealousy or anything. I come from a very small town so when I go home, it's inevitable that I'll run into someone who I once dated. If that happens we might make small talk but that's it. I certainly won't be rushing to add them on Facebook or anything. I have no desire to stay in touch but that doesn't mean we can't all be adults without any awkwardness when we all happen to meet up.

Should you be friends with your ex - That age old question along with can men and women really be just good friends!

I got married quite late in life and I did have a few long term relationships before then. I'm not in touch with any of them and I don't want to be either. There's no big drama but those were different stages of my life and I've moved on now. But my husband does keep in touch with his ex-wife and he'd have to as they have three children together. They're not what you would call friends, they never call or meet up unless it's something to do with the kids. But when my husband and I drive over to hers to pick up the kids, everything is very cordial and we're all polite. There's no tension or drama so there's no need for any animosity. She has her life, we have ours, and it's only because of the kids that we have any contact.

I think it's up to the individual if they wish to remain friends with an ex but personally it's not for me.