How To Respond When Ex-Husband Wants To Talk About His Regrets?

2026-05-09 11:44:07
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5 Answers

Story Finder Worker
Ugh, the 'regret talk'—classic ex-husband territory. My sister went through this, and her approach was golden: she made him spell out exactly what he wanted. No vague 'I messed up' stuff. Turns out, he just wanted forgiveness to ease his conscience, not to actually make amends. She said, 'If you’re sorry, show it by respecting my time now.' Mic drop. Sometimes, calling out the performative guilt shuts it down fast.
2026-05-10 14:25:25
11
Mia
Mia
Bibliophile Analyst
I’d probably laugh awkwardly and change the subject. But if I had to engage, I’d keep it real: 'Are you telling me this for you or for us?' Because nine times out of ten, it’s the former. My rule? Don’t be their emotional cleanup crew.
2026-05-12 05:57:27
6
Mason
Mason
Plot Detective Teacher
This happened to a friend recently. Her ex kept texting long apologies, and she finally replied, 'Regret doesn’t undo what happened. If you want to talk, let’s keep it to how we co-parent better.' Reframing it to the present cut the nostalgia fest short. It’s wild how often 'regret' is just self-serving unless it’s tied to actionable change.
2026-05-12 13:52:22
8
Active Reader Accountant
Navigating conversations with an ex about regrets can be messy, but I’ve found it’s often about boundaries first. If he’s reaching out after years, I’d ask myself: 'Is this for closure, or is he just unloading guilt?' I once had a similar situation where my ex wanted to 'clear the air,' but it turned into him monologuing about his feelings while sidelining mine. Not cool.

If I were to engage now, I’d keep it brief and focused. Maybe something like, 'I hear you, but I’ve moved on, and rehashing the past isn’t helpful for me.' It’s okay to prioritize your emotional space—some doors are better left closed, you know?
2026-05-13 17:53:07
15
Lila
Lila
Active Reader Driver
Honestly? It depends on how you feel. If you’re genuinely curious or think it’ll help you heal, hear him out over coffee—but set a time limit. If you’re over it? A simple 'I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m not in a place to revisit this' works. No drama, no blame. Just clean boundaries.
2026-05-13 18:24:53
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