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Rule 5: You need to deep-six your exes.

Why you should break it: There’s no reason to cut off contact with someone you genuinely care about. Just because it didn’t work out romantically between the two of you doesn’t mean you have to wind up hating each other. “You date someone who has qualities that you appreciate and enjoy,” says Pepper Schwartz, PhD, author of Everything You Know About Love and Sex Is Wrong. “Even if you didn’t succeed as a couple, you might still like each other as friends.”

However, there are certain codes of behavior that you need to respect. First, keep the camaraderie casual. “Make a conscious effort to refrain from doing anything that would make your current boyfriend feel threatened or jealous,” says Rhoades. In other words, it’s okay to meet your ex for a quick cup of coffee; it’s not okay to get together for an hours-long romantic dinner.

Secondly, make sure it’s clear to your new man that you no longer have any romantic feelings for your ex. One way to do that: Have a threesome…in the platonic sense. Instead of getting together with your old beau solo, invite your boyfriend along once in a while. “The fact that you’re including him shows that you and your ex really are just friends and have nothing to hide,” says Rhoades. They might even like each other. But even if they don’t become buds, at least you will have averted any potential problems.

Just remember, keeping ties with old lovers works both ways. If you want to maintain relationships with your exes, you have to be understanding if your current guy wants to do the same.

Tags: dating,relationship,boyfriend,girlfriend,relationship rules,love laws

15 Comments

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• 
  lalabong
  15. if we can't control the situation we can control ourselves naman diba.
  March 22, 2010 at 11:07 am report abuse
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  lalabong
  14. some guys, ok lang sa kanila sa iba naman hindi pwede, iba iba ang ugali ng boys.
  March 22, 2010 at 11:06 am report abuse
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  mary_ann_lei
  13. I just accepted my ex's facebook request aba nagalit na si boyfriend ko!
  March 12, 2010 at 05:13 pm report abuse
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  lalabong
  12. I always know the rules and I break some!
  March 06, 2010 at 11:48 pm report abuse
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  len9
  11. i put these tips to good use. :D
  February 06, 2010 at 07:45 pm report abuse
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  loveme.hateme
  10. rule # 3 is perfect. haha. soo true. now I know whats the importance of sex. It really last the relationship.
  February 06, 2010 at 05:53 am report abuse
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  shirleylim26
  9. Put some spice in your relationship by Rule 3: Sex always has to be spontaneous. Correct! Maintain an exciting sex life.
  February 02, 2010 at 11:40 pm report abuse
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  fishbowl84
  8. kinda hard to admit it but it's true :)
  February 02, 2010 at 09:56 pm report abuse
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  summerinparis128
  7. very well explained.i totally agree especially Rule 3: Sex always has to be spontaneous,haha
  January 31, 2010 at 09:31 pm report abuse
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  handpaintedsky
  6. i second the motion.. :)
  January 30, 2010 at 10:06 am report abuse
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  reeya
  5. i agree...
  January 28, 2010 at 09:53 pm report abuse
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  fishbowl84
  4. we should break the rules because we only get to live once and lifes too short to follow them :)
  January 28, 2010 at 10:37 am report abuse
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  prettylass8831
  3. One thing I've learned from this article is to always speak my mind.
  January 26, 2010 at 10:24 am report abuse
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  len9
  2. nice love rules :)
  January 23, 2010 at 11:27 am report abuse
• 
  miss_techylicious
  1. nice article... i love breaking rules. =) thanks for the tips! =)
  January 22, 2010 at 11:16 pm report abuse

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