Staying in touch with in-laws after divorce is a personal decision and one that depends a lot on your relationship. Some couples choose to break all contact between their families. And others decide to continue a relationship with their ex-in-laws. It’s ultimately your decision, but one benefit is simply keeping people you care about in your life. Similarly, if you share children with your ex, it can be good for them to stay in touch with their grandparents. If you choose to stay in contact, it’s a good idea to lay out some ground rules and practice etiquette so you don’t strain the relationship. Divorce is difficult for everybody, in-laws included, so it can take some time before you’re ready to decide how much you’ll stay in touch.
Staying in Touch with In-laws After Divorce: Should You?
Personal Decision
Ultimately, staying in touch with in-laws after divorce is an extremely personal decision. If you have been married for many years, your ex’s parents are likely a big part of your life. However, they may or may not take sides in the divorce. Additionally, your ex might have strong feelings about your future relationship with them. All of these factors are important for deciding whether or not staying in touch is the right decision for you.
Positive Benefit: Close Relationship
One possible benefit of staying in touch with in-laws after divorce is if you have a close personal relationship. As long as it doesn’t cause too much drama with your ex, keeping in touch with them can be a great way to extend your relationship. Just because you no longer are related to them doesn’t mean that you can’t stay in one another’s lives if it benefits you both.
Positive Benefit: Grandchildren
Another positive benefit of staying in touch with in-laws after divorce is that it’s great for your children to interact with their grandparents. If you and your ex share children, likely your in-laws will want to stay an essential part of their lives. Plus, spending time with grandparents gives you a chance to get a break now and then.
Ground Rules
If you do decide to stay in touch with your ex-in-laws after divorce, it’s important to lay out some ground rules. Make sure that you discuss boundaries with them up front, and how much interaction you feel is appropriate. Additionally, make sure that you avoid the topic of your ex with them. If they try to pry into your divorce, gently remind them that you don’t want to discuss details. And of course, keep your current love life private unless prompted.
Keeping in touch with in-laws after divorce can be beneficial to everybody involved. You, your in-laws, and even your children. However, it’s important to make sure that the relationship doesn’t harm your mental health. The decision is a personal one and depends a lot on what type of relationship you had with them before the divorce. And whether or not you and your ex share children. In the end, you have to decide what the right level of interaction is with them moving forward. Hopefully, you and they can find a solution that works for you all.