This Is What Happens When I Try To Get Along With My Ex-Husband

Suddenly my ex was back in my life and I had to decide whether to give him another chance

My ex-mother-in-law messaged me on Instagram a few weeks ago. There wasn’t anything new about hearing from her. It was the anniversary of my first son’s birth/death, and she’s written to me every year for the past 9 years. This time was different because this time I responded.

The past 9 years, I’ve been in hiding from my ex-husband. He’d been abusive during our marriage, so I left him when our son was six months old. The last time he hit me was the day I left. He punched me in the face as I was putting our baby in the car. Somehow, I made it out of that situation otherwise unscathed.

Since then, I’ve tried many times to get along but it has always been short-lived. Sooner or later, some drama would occur, and everything would end. I didn’t give up trying every few years when things quieted down for my ex. I always hoped he’d grow up, get better, and be able to connect to our son.

The last time I tried, my son was seven years old. My ex had a girlfriend who was a really nice woman. They’d also had a little boy together, and I wanted my son to know his brother.