In the 2009 film, It’s Complicated a much-divorced couple, played by Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin, reignite their spark and embark on an affair. Ironically, it seems illicit because one of them is married and the other is simultaneously drawn to another person and there are children involved in the whole mess too. Being a rom-com, it’s all very funny and cute. But in real life, it can be considered a prime example of developing unhealthy boundaries with your ex-wife.
It is not uncommon for exes to get back together, especially if the divorce has not been too nasty and the couple has decided to put things behind them. The case of Lily, an events professional based in the UAE is an apt example. She was involved with a divorcee and all was well until, after a few fights, things started going downhill.
It was the time when his ex-wife made a comeback to his life. The duo started keeping in touch. “It affected me greatly,” she says bitterly, “He would turn to her for advice and kept talking about our problems to her all under the garb of them being friends despite the divorce. I used to resent my husband for not setting boundaries, which increased the problems between us. It wasn’t long before we decided to go our separate ways. A year later, he remarried his ex.”
The problem of unhealthy boundaries with an ex-wife arises when either one or both of the former partners have remarried and settled elsewhere. Or when one partner is not willing to let go of the other. When you do not keep your ex-wife out of your relationship, things can get real complicated, real fast. The whole new wife and ex-wife tussle can escalate quickly and take a toll on everyone involved.
Let’s discuss new wife and ex-wife boundaries with insights from counseling psychologist Kavita Panyam (Masters in Psychology and International Affiliate with the American Psychological Association), relationship counselor and founder-director, Mind Suggest Wellness Centre. Kavita advises, “Remember that after your divorce or separation or fallout, you are a third person in the life of your ex. Don’t try to be their spouse when you are no longer a spouse.”
8 Examples Of Unhealthy Boundaries With Ex-Wife
A divorce is an unpleasant and unsavory experience. That is why it is all the more essential to set post-divorce boundaries with an ex-wife. Failure to do so indicates you have not yet moved on. Emotional and physical space allows for self-expression, mutual respect, and self-love while unhealthy boundaries with your ex-wife mean you are risking being taken advantage of, abused, and disrespected.
If it was a long marriage and you have known each other for years, getting detached from an ex-wife won’t be easy, especially if you ended on friendly terms. And in case you are wondering, “Why do ex-wives feel entitled?”, it could well be because of this prolonged association that can make it harder for a person to make a clean break from their former partner even if the relationship is long over.
If there are new partners in the scenario, the whole situation becomes all the more complicated, affecting three/four lives simultaneously. So what are the examples of unhealthy boundaries with an ex-wife and what should be the right way to behave after a separation? Read on…
1. Revisiting your old romantic or sex life
Do you remember that episode from Friends where Rachel says to Ross, “With us, sex is never off the table”, even though they hadn’t been in a relationship for so many years? I agree, in the current context, it’s apples and oranges – that was an on-again-off-again relationship and we are talking about a post-divorce connection with the ex-wife that never goes away. But this is where the problem lies.
As long as you remain intertwined with your ex-wife with some unresolved emotions at play, moving on would not be an option. Whenever you interact with your ex-wife, do not allow yourself to be swayed by old romantic tales or go reminiscing about your sex life, especially if you are involved with someone else. Setting boundaries with an ex when in a new relationship is non-negotiable for building a healthy, harmonious partnership with your current romantic interest.
Only people who are jealous, insecure, or petty try to use sex to lure their former partners. “It is extremely petty not to allow your partner to move on just because you are stuck,” says Kavita, “Ensure that you do not give them a booty call, cozy up to them, or meet up for drinks and let things go out of hand.”
2. Children being used in the battle
Whether you are divorced, separated, or broken up, all dynamics change when children are involved. And that’s when boundaries with ex-spouse become more crucial than ever. Oliver, our reader from Washington is co-parenting after divorce with his ex-wife, Susan, and has faced several issues regarding the custody schedule. He says, “There have been days when I was waiting outside my kid’s school and half an hour later I found out that she came to pick him up without even informing me.”
The best way to maintain good terms with your ex when children are involved is to create a custody schedule and parenting plan and strictly stick to it. Let your conversations and meetings revolve around the children only. And do your job of good parenting without entertaining the urge to compete with your ex. “Being stuck in power battles even when you are separated, where a child is used as a pawn is one of the aspects of unhealthy boundaries with ex-wife or husband,” says Kavita.
4. Not stopping them from stalking you
Some divorces are so nasty that a person often gets restraining orders from the courts, mostly in cases of domestic abuse. But in cases where the degrees of separation are fluid, an intrusive ex-wife can create trouble by being a consistent presence in her former husband’s life, virtually or otherwise. Going through emails, rummaging through things at home (where they no longer stay), and being inquisitive about their former partner’s movements are all a result of maintaining unhealthy boundaries with an ex-wife.
She can do it either because old habits die hard or to assert dominance over your current partner leading them to think, “I am feeling second to his ex-wife”. The situation can turn particularly messy if you’ve already moved on and remarried. In this case, an intrusive ex can become a sore point in your new relationship. “My husband has no boundaries with ex-wife” – this isn’t a happy realization for anyone and certainly won’t do your marriage any good.
It will also never be over if you are in touch with each other over social media. Constant messaging can lead to long chats and the temptation to stalk an ex on social media to see what the other is up to on Instagram or FB will never allow you to forget them and move on. So, no matter how you feel comfortable with your ex, it’s time to tell her to stay away and activate the new wife and ex-wife boundaries.
6. Contacting your ex despite the presence of a new partner
Many people cannot resist the idea of keeping in touch with their ex-spouses even if they or their ex has a new person in their life. This is a classic example of lacking boundaries with an ex-spouse. If you call her whenever you need help over any minor inconveniences or to share a piece of happy news, then you have the answer to why do ex-wives feel entitled.
That answer pretty much lies in your actions. Agreed, it’s difficult to completely switch off ties when you have shared history. But there are boundaries for being friends with an ex as well. Messaging them, interfering in their new relationship, and hanging out with their friends all lead to emotional entanglements you can do without.
You are on great terms with your ex and we are elated for you. But do you realize this over-friendly relationship can put your current partner through a spell of anxiety, as they struggle with the thought, “I am feeling second to his ex-wife”? Kavita says, “Letting go is important, you should learn how to move on. Being present in your ex’s life after separation will not help anyone.”
7. Not making space for new relationships
This is closely related to the previous one. You will not be able to move on and make space for a new relationship unless you close the chapter of your marriage. If you keep going back to them for advice and discussions, interfere in their lives, and allow them into yours, neither of you can begin anew. It’s another obvious instance of an ex-wife ruining a current relationship, or even the possibility of one.
Things can turn a lot uglier if you make the mistake of not setting boundaries with a toxic ex-wife. You really wouldn’t want a jealous ex to spread rumors or talk ill about you or your present partner. If a part of you is still hooked on to your past relationship and you decide to start a new chapter by remarrying, it can open a can of worms as your new wife and ex-wife get territorial with one another.
8. Turning to them during trouble or seeking advice
Old habits die hard. However, seeking support, financially, physically, or emotionally from an ex can also contribute to you developing unhealthy boundaries with your ex-wife. They might have been the go-to person when you were married, which prompts you to do the same even after the split. However, this will only make things more toxic than before even if you are on good terms with her.
And then, complaining that she is the ex-wife that never goes away won’t do you any good. This is also another reason why you should avoid working together or creating circumstances that may force you to turn to them for help. Most importantly, never turn to them for monetary help, as it can be a breeding ground for several other problems.
