When Your Ex Starts Dating..

How do you deal when your ex begins dating again……?

Recently, my ex-husband went on his first “real” date post-marriage. And strangely enough, I helped him plan the outing. I am sort of glad we are at that point in our relationship where we can just be friends and cordial.

He picked a place to have a massage...and then took her to a nice seafood restaurant in the city. We are very “Naomi and Sam” from Private Practice (minus the sex...obviously). I was sort of excited for him partly because it was like I was planning the ultimate date for myself. Despite the fact that we hurt each other in tremendous ways, I was glad that he was able to find someone that interested him and he wanted to show them a good time. After the date, he told me he had a great time despite the young lady not really speaking as much. This is hard because my ex husband is somewhat introverted so two introverts can’t just sit there and expect “magic” to happen. She even got the check at dinner (because he paid a pretty penny for the massage). The following week, they went to see Musiq in concert. He was upset that she didn’t seem “into” him but they are continuing on with a friendship and planning other dates.

Trust me, I was glad. For one, it took any notion of “us” getting back together out his mind. I mean, your ex wife helping plan your dates should be a sign. Secondly, I got to live a bit vicariously though him. Once upon a time, my ex had done those same things-taking me to nice dinners, we had several massages. The problem was more often than not, I’d be picking up the check (LOL) and I felt resentful (circumstances were very different). But part of me felt a twinge of…….hmm…I don’t know.

I wouldn’t call it a twinge of jealousy. It’s sadness. I think the sadness I feel is because he’s dating and I’m not. It would help if I too was in the dating scene. But that’s not happening. I’m upset and frustrated. I keep meeting absolute duds. Dudes who just want some nookie, dudes who want “cut buddies”, dudes who have a virtual Rolodex of pussy (pardon my language) or dudes who are in these “complicated” situations-mad kids, too broke, living with their mothers, separated yet NOT divorced, or too immature to settle down and because they know the “ratio” is in their favor, they play the field endlessly.

And it is a bit upsetting when a person you feel should hurt as much as you is easily getting dates. (Well, not easily, but apparently someone is interested in him enough to want to go out multiple times.). But at the same time, it gives you hope that we lowly divorcee’s can date again.
I’m a gregarious person. I’m lively and full of energy and positivity. I laugh a lot. I love hard. I live to the fullest. It shouldn’t be this hard to get a date (lol). I’ve gotten peace in the fact that perhaps this period of solace is just a “preparation” mode for someone who appreciates what I have to offer.

I remember having a convo with my ex asking him did he feel I lacked something which is why we got divorced. He said “No. Not at all. We divorced because WE couldn’t hold it together. Takes nothing away from you. Takes nothing away from me”. I sighed and said.”I’ll be honest...dating sucks...but it’s a means to an end. A necessary evil.”
He laughed and said “Sometimes...I wish we could skip dating and just find a mate”. I laughed and said “That’s called an arranged marriage”.