My Boyfriend Is Communicating With His Ex Again
When He Is Openly Texting His Ex
You've been together for a while now. He says that he loves you and you believe him. You know he's into you and you have a great time together. You like all of the same TV shows and movies and you enjoy the same activities. You are perfect for him so why is he texting his ex?
He doesn't hide it from you. He tells you he is in contact with her again so why should you worry? There is no reason to be jealous but somehow you are. You wonder why he would bother with her at all as it ended badly. He told you that he was glad it came to an end and that you are way better for him than she ever was. Now every time his phone pings you wonder if it's her. You don't ask, but you wonder why he looks and then puts it into his back pocket.
You really, really want to ask if it was her but you don't want to come over all possessive and stalkery. You've been together a while but not quite long enough for that sort of conversation.
Should You Confront Him?
It depends on the sort of confrontation we are talking about here. What you definitely don't want to do is go at him all accusingly so that he gets defensive and shuts down. Men do that. They don't like having to explain themselves.
If it were me, then I would politely ask why he feels the need to be in contact with his ex. I'd tell him that it made me uncomfortable and wait for his reaction. He might well have no idea that you have an issue with him communicating with his ex. He may apologise and say that he'll stop if it makes you uncomfortable. Then again, he might tell you that he is perfectly within his rights to speak to whoever he chooses.
I'd say that if he really cares about you he would respect your concerns. Ask him how he would feel if you were in regular contact with your ex. Sometimes turning it around like that can make him see the error of his ways. I'm not saying that it is an error in judgement on his part. He may well have a close connection with her but have no romantic feelings in her direction.
When Your Boyfriend Has Been Secretly Texting His Ex
This is the most destructive kind of contact. You find out that he has been texting his ex only because his mate told you. Secrets in relationships are okay while they remain secret. As soon as they are discovered, they become and issue.
He is going to be at his most defensive now. You have found out and he will need to come up with a good reason why he hasn't told you about his contact with his ex. He may well have kept it from you because he knows you wouldn't be happy. He only likes her as a friend...
I think it's unlikely that is the case. If your man has been secretly texting another woman then he probably gets off on the secrecy of it. Perhaps he finds ordinary life a little boring. He wants something extra without actually becoming physical with his ex. Contact like this with an old flame is the easiest kind when you want a bit of excitement. You already know each other and you know all of the right things to say.
He loves you but he doesn't do real life. He's always on the look out for something else. His ex is an easy target.
How Should You React?
Telling you how you should or shouldn't react in this situation is futile. You will most probably be reactive and fly off the handle. That's not the most productive way to deal with it but I get it.
If you are a person that likes to take information in and properly digest it before taking action, then you are one of the lucky ones. Most of us wouldn't be able to do that. It's difficult not to behave emotionally when you are hurt.
Tell him that you know and see what he comes back with. To be honest, any kind of reasoning from him is probably going to fall on deaf ears.
Definitely ask him to stop. If it were me I would not want to see the texts or any other sort of communication. If I wanted to make it work, then that wouldn't help. If however, I was undecided then I might ask to see them. He'll say that he's deleted them all of course. They were of no consequence so why would he keep them? I'd suggest that if they really were of no consequence the opposite would be true. You don't generally delete a text as soon as you have read it unless it is suspect.
If He Won't Stop Move On
If you really are terribly unhappy with the contact between your boyfriend and his ex then it is reasonable to ask him to stop texting. Be happy for him to catch-up with her if he sees her out and about. Don't go over-the-top about it. Don't freak out if he likes her holiday snaps.
You are being completely reasonable expecting him to stop this extra communication. Jealousy doesn't even come into it. Respect does.
