SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

My D-day was only this past March. But for years my stbx and I were miserable with each other and I was lonely, so lonely. He finally cheated and I caught him. Anyway, as soon as I filed for divorce I started a FB acct to connect with friends and family for support. I never had one previously. Well, one person I reconnected with is my best friend from my teen years. I truly loved him as a friend and had feelings for him.

So, we start talking daily. Texting almost nonstop since late March. We have hung out twice (we live a couple hrs from each other).

He just made it known that he would like to explore this relationship further. SLOWLY but take it to the next step. I am truly excited at the prospect especially since he wants to go slow because he's also terrified of ruining our friendship.

Thoughts? I have not replied to him yet and I recognize it took a lot of courage for him to even email his feelings like that.

I was lonely, so lonely

I think this is a good indicator that you are probably not ready. I could only think that a codependent relationship is what will spawn from this. I would think getting yourself to a place where you aren't so lonely will benefit you more for then you'll have a good support structure in place to fall back on if the red flags get too numerous.

Absolutely too soon. You haven't even had time to begin to heal from this and neither have your children. Like it or not, they must be considered in this.

Generally, if you have to ask...it is too soon. It is tempting to go into something familiar, but generally these early relationships don't end well.

If he is really a friend, he will wait. Take this time to explore yourself and heal...and maintain a friendship with him while you are transitioning into your new life.

When you are ready to date, you will know.

neither have your children. Like it or not, they must be considered in this.

i would never do anything to hurt my kids. when i speak of this man it is purely simple "friendship" talk. they do not need to know i am thinking romantically about some one nor do they need to see me in a relationship yet. my stbx had his whore spend the night in our home with our son the same week i filed for divorce. i would never do something like that. my kids are #1 and this guy is well aware of that.

It is wayyyyy toooo soooon. BTDT and got WH#2. Not saying that all men are cheaters, but I met WH#2 3 months after filing for D. We started to date immediately. I was also lonely and had been for a long time. I kept him away from my son for 6 months until I was sure we were committed. D took 2.5yrs and was very ugly. We married about 3 months after my D from XWH#1. I thought everything was wonderful and never had any indication at the time he was having a LTA with an old GF. I see the red flags now, but was too emotionally involved to see them at the time. That is why people say to give it time and not to jump into another relationship. You must find yourself again and mourn the loss of your first marriage. If this guy really wants you, he will wait for you to heal. If he doesn't want to wait, he is not worth the effort in the long run. (((HUGS)))

I fear nothing we say will deter you from jumping into this... You're probably going to rationalize away our experiences...

All anyone one here is trying to do is to get you to decompress from your M and it's demise... Learn to be happy by yourself and with yourself and not repeat the same mistakes we've made...

WB

when i speak of this man it is purely simple "friendship" talk.

I'm sorry, but your kids are old enough to figure out what your "friend" actually is. Even the thought of somebody new being in the picture can cause unnecessary stress to your children right now. They didn't even need to know you were chatting/meeting this guy and I certainly hope you didn't already introduce him to them.

I just had an 8 month relationship end because we started dating too soon after his D. I knew the risk, but I did it anyway, but he realizes now how unfair it was to put me in that position.

In addition to the other advice you've received, the risk for dating too soon is not only "are you ready?" but considering that if you're not you may seriously hurt someone by presenting yourself to be ready for something you're not.

If you've never checked out www.baggagereclaim.com, you might consider reading a few articles there about dating readiness.

[This message edited by persevere at 1:58 PM, May 8th (Wednesday)]

i'll check out the site, thank you.

i guess i'm telling myself that we'll just be good friends and take things really slow.

i appreciate all the advice and will do a lot of thinking.

Far too soon.

There's a saying around here "broken attracts broken".

I understand the temptation - I really do. But there is no way to bypass what you'll need to go through to heal from this.

Someone new makes bypassing it all seem possible. It is not, it will still rear its ugly head and you won't have time/space to deal with it appropriately.

There are already too many mixed emotions at play.

I'm dating casually. I waited 7m and I told myself that its never too early for casual but it is, it really is. Its a coping mechanism and a toxic one at that. Not to mention the unexpected complications.

I've yet to take my own advice completely but I'm working on it.

Quite frankly I am a bit judgemental about those who pursue a relationship further than casual with me this early on. One suitor was love bombing me mere weeks after S when I was still a complete and utter hot mess. I was holding it together but I was still a hot mess.

I am not yet unbroken. My picker is on the fritz. There is no way would I embark on a relationship this soon.

"if you have to ask then...."

yes its too soon

I'm with everyone here - it's too soon, especially because you had to ask.

I have not replied to him yet and I recognize it took a lot of courage for him to even email his feelings like that.

This quote bothers me - this is something that should be brought up and discussed face to face. The fact is that almost all of this relationship development has not been in person. It's so easy to be "on" and perfect via email and text and FB. At the very least, I would suggest getting to know each other in person for a while before considering anything more. There's no rush!

I received the same advice from these same people months ago.

I was too caught up in my own emotions and bull**** and I knew that my situation would absolutely be different.

Nope.

I started dating only 3 months out from D-Day. It took me 1 one month relationship and 1 five month relationship to realize myself that it was way too soon.

The most important hings I learned:

1. I was just trying to replace the feeling of being in a couple.

2. I was trying to prove I was still a hot commodity.

3. I wanted to be with someone because XWH was with someone and I didn't want to look like a pathetic loser.

4. Items 1, 2 & 3 are no reason to start a relationship and not at all fair to the other person.

I now realize I'm still desirable and I want a relationship at some point but right now it's all about me and building my life alone. While I was not responsible for the affair I was responsible for being the codependent partner that allowed it to happen. You need to detox from your past relationship in order to move forward into a healthy relationship.

Suggested reading:

Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You by

Susan J. Elliott JD MEd

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I read this random thought on FB and it somehow changed my outlook-

"I'm not single. I'm independently owned and operated."