I just saw an old boyfriend

[RedRobyn2021]

I am almost 37 weeks pregnant with my second and was just walking round the corner to go into a gift shop when I saw him going in first

He looked really well, in fact, exactly the same except for the fact I've not seen him in about 5 years

I could have gone in the shop and bumped into him, but decided not to, is that what most people would have done?

We parted on fine terms, I just didn't love him that way anymore, we were very different personalities. In fact I was only 20 when we got together and I'm 33 now so it's been a long time. I mostly just didn't want one of those awkward conversations that you have with people you haven't seen in years

No one to tell in particular so took to Mumsnet!

Yes if I saw an ex and they hadn’t seen me I would avoid!

You didn’t want to talk to him, so you chose not to follow him into the shop. That sounds pretty uncontroversial.

I split from an ex in 1990, very amicable. I saw her once more in 1997 whilst crossing at a zebra crossing. We never spoke. Haven't seen her since.

Do you regret not saying anything? Would you have liked to have a conversation with him?

The last time I saw an ex was 26 years ago, I was engaged by then to now DH. We had been broken up about 4 years. We met in a Tesco. I had relocated for work and was back visiting. He discussed his new job and joked how he had changed jobs as was a bit lazy, I replied yes I remember you were.

DH remarked after that I was quite dismissive, the thing is he was lazy so I was just agreeing, he was not ambitious enough for me. His parting words on our break up was I will never have enough money for you, I out earned him by a long shot and I just replied yes that’s correct.

He was the kind of guy that wasn’t a bad person but was a bit useless the sort that loads on MN seem to end up complaining about on here.

I bumped into an ex a few years ago miles from home - he made an effort to come and tell to him - I wouldn’t have noticed him. Was a bit weird as I couldn’t place him to begin with. We didn’t really part on good terms but we did live together for a year after university. It was about 15 years later. I was glad to see him but wouldn’t be in a rush to go out of my way to say hello if I saw him again!

Of 6 proper ex's, there's only one I'd avoid like the plague. The others all ended on reasonable enough terms, 2 are still friends.

Typically, the one I'd rather avoid seems to turn up all over the place!

It would have been fine, it probably just would have been one of those "oh what are you up to nowadays" conversations, we don't have any friends in common anymore so it just feels like it would be unnecessary and digging up old stuff. He's a perfectly nice person. I find it so strange that we were in a relationship and lived together, I can't imagine ever being with anyone else other than my partner

I did think how refreshed he looked and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any kids, I'm exhausted on the other hand. I felt a bit jealous actually, he looked really cool and trendy, I feel old 😂 (even though he's actually 3 years older than me haha) but then I reminded myself that I have a lot of things to be grateful for

@ViciousCurrentBun

Oh my goodness he sounds like my ex haha

He was the same, a nice person but aimless and disorganised

Just a bit wet if you know what I mean

Ah the one I would want to seriously avoid I haven't seen for about 11 years so I'm doing well with that one

I would not go out my way to bump into an ex, I'd avoid given the choice, although once an ex approached me on the street, I didn't see him coming, it was about 3 years after I last saw him, we had a brief chat which was nice because we split on bad terms, I think he was hoping to keep in touch but I'd was engaged at the time, never saw him again and that was 20 years ago now.

I bumped into an ex in the freezer aisle in Aldi!!! I was unsure of saying hello or not, last saw him 18 years ago. I didn't in the end 😁 my first thought was you got grey 🤣🤣

It's only natural for this to stop and make you think! It's not wrong. I know I've followed one into a shop to see if I still felt anything for him. 😂 It's just a natural curiosity and you didn't. It will pass.

I’d run in the other direction

Depends how dreadful I was looking tbh - you never do bump into anyone when you look like crap though.

• don't

Well I had make up on which is a win for me nowadays but I also have an enormous 37 week pregnant bump and tbh everything has got bigger on my body. I also have a 3yo who wakes once every night and an iron deficiency, so I'm very tired 🤣

So I would say, I didn't look bad, but perhaps 5 years ago I may have looked better 😂🙈 or well rested at least haha

Well we are cut from the same cloth then 😂