Re-Entering the Friendzone: Divorce with your Best Friend

June 8th is National Best Friend Day, a time to celebrate those one-of-a-kind people that hold a special place in our hearts. But while they say there is nothing better than marrying your best friend, what do you do when you realize that the romantic relationship wasn't built to last? Divorce can already be a heartbreaking experience. When you find yourself divorcing your best friend, this journey can become even more challenging. A balancing act of navigating your emotions, just remember that there may still be hope for your future friendship. In this article we discuss how you can re-enter the friendzone with your former spouse.

Rebuilding the Friendship After Divorce:

Mourning the loss of your romantic relationship, along with the dreams and plans you once had together, can trigger feelings of sadness, disappointment, confusion, and even anger. After all, it's not easy to accept that the person you once thought you would spend your entire life with will no longer be your partner. It's crucial to give yourself time and space to grieve and process these emotions fully before setting out to rebuild the relationship with your best friend.

The time it takes to rebuild a friendship after a divorce varies from person to person and depends on the circumstances surrounding the separation. You may be recovering from a deep betrayal, and healing those wounds can be a slow and gradual process. On the other hand, you may have been taken by surprise with the divorce, and are still trying to get over the romantic love you have for your best friend. Whatever the case, both parties may need time to rediscover their individual identities and find their footing outside the relationship before moving forward as friends. It's important to acknowledge that the dynamics will change, and you may need to set new boundaries and expectations to protect your emotional well-being. Patience, understanding, and open communication are key factors in reestablishing a friendship, and re-entering that friendzone.  

Co-Parenting with Your Best Friend:

If you and your Ex share children, rebuilding your friendship together can have even more advantages. Making an effort to maintain a strong and healthy co-parenting relationship will ultimately affect the well-being of your children, and can also make a world of difference for you and your Ex. When parents are able to maintain a positive and supportive friendship, it creates a stable environment for the children, keeping their day-to-day as close to normal as possible. Keep in mind, this doesn't happen overnight. Remember to take the time you need to heal separately while still prioritizing your kids. Once you both feel healed, a strong friendship may mean being able to do things such as celebrating your kids milestones together, planning family vacations, and gathering for holidays. Things may look different than before, but you can still find happiness as a family.

To approach co-parenting as a united front, you’ll need to have open and honest communication with your co-parent, especially in the midst of the significant changes happening all around you and your children. It's important to acknowledge that co-parenting with your best friend could come with its challenges, and parenting together will be different than it once was. It’s a good idea to have another talk about about parenting styles, expectations, and responsibilities moving forward to help foster a healthy family relationship.

Divorce Support:

One common challenge that comes up when divorcing your best friend is finding the support you need to navigate this difficult time. Afterall, your soon-to-be Ex and best friend was always your first call. Remember, every divorce and friendship is unique. Find a legal team that can be there for you as you face divorce and eventually re-enter the friendzone with your Ex.