(Sorry. Longer post than I intended.)

My ex and I divorced about two years ago. He initiated it and has moved on, while I’ve been struggling to mend my broken heart. (Obviously, I thought we were end game. — I still kinda do, but we got married really young and didn’t have a chance to figure ourselves out as individuals before we started having kids.)

He’s moved on, has a girlfriend he lives with in another state, the whole thing. I have full custody of our kids. After the initial shock of him dating someone because he would always hint at maybe getting back together, I’ve been working on myself.

(*I am still hurt about him having a girlfriend, but I am working on that because I recognize that it’s HIS life, not mine. )

I finally feel like I’m in a good place. I’m not dating, by choice. I’m killing it at my job (my bosses have regularly said they don’t know what they’d do without me). I have an amazing support system and help with my kids, especially my local friends and family.

Now, I’m trying to repair the relationship I have with my ex. I’m not necessarily looking to get back together with him, because that would require a LOT of changes on both sides, but to return to the friendship we had before. We have been having more positive-ish interactions lately, and I’d really like to keep that up because I know he’s in a weird and sad place, especially when it comes to our kids (because I have full physical custody and he lives in another state, he only sees them maybe two weekends a month). Our kids also are pulling away from their relationship with him, and I think having a more positive, friendly relationship with him would help the kids.

Does anyone have any tips to maintain a friendship and positive co-parenting relationship? Thanks ♥️