not always....
there needs to be a certain level of emotional maturity
most lack it

i lack it, i guess... never had an urge to remain friends afterwords
and i never tried to have a relationship with a friend either.... guess i am weird...

i guess it also depends on your definition of friends, too... me and my ex are civil and polite to each other, but not friends

that like my sister an her ex husband they stay civil only cause of the kids but they can never be friends most can stay friends most can't

After reading a number of posts, and scanning others, I guess I should just stick to my own view on this one.

Sometimes you meet someone is really is a good person, but s/he just isn't the right one for you. Occasionally, that person actually is a better friend than a lover. Other times, you are just at two different points in your life which aren't as compatible as you would like. So rather than going down a path which would destroy any chance of even a friendship, not to mention an intimate relationship, you break it off, and decide to be friends instead. That way the door is left open for something happening down the road if opportunity allows. In the end, it really depends on both people. You certainly don't want to interfere in each others' love life while one or both of you are in a separate relationship. That takes maturity and self-control. If either one of you lacks those things, then remaining friends really isn't going to work. You're better off not considering it.

Not talking about 'trying' to have a relationship with a friend...
referring to a mutual respect and caring for another person, moving on to a different kind of relationship, ex's don't have to be enemies. There's much growth in a so called 'failed' relationship..if we allow it.
Just because the sex stops doesn't mean the caring does...not for me anyway.

..and yes, your weird

Well said. I have stayed friends with some of my ex's and others I never heard from again, you can not let it effect you though. Then there are some who you never hear from and then one day after all the pain of the break up has gone they want to be friends again.

My bf and I broke up and we have a little girl together. We have to be civil when we see eachother. Sometimes its weired, he'll call me and vent about his day at work and Ill sit and listen. When you dont have someone to love you do have those feelings towards them. Then when you come out with "I miss you" or "I love you" all hell brakes lose and you guys start back at square one. I never want to stay friends. I would rather leave and if we do ever see eachother say hey and move on. but thats what I would do.

I honestly do not think it is possible.
Most times the one who ends it, just says that, they want to stay friends to kind of make it an easier break up. And often as time passes the 'friendship' disappears...
But honestly if it was a breakup that both parties truly wanted out, then I would say it would work.
If both parties have children together then staying civil is the best thing for the children.
But if you have nothing in common together and you were together as a couple it is very hard to be friends, when you were way more than just friends before.

It all depends on the two people involved. I don't make it a habit to keep in touch with the ex or ex b/f's. As far as my ex we do keep it civil and I do see him once in a while due to kids and his mom which is still very much involved within my life.

As far as ex b/f's there is still one that I still talk to and in fact he has helped me out more then once when I was in a bind. He is the one if I need help will always be there but there is no hope in getting back on either side. He is just one that I can always count on. He knows I want take advantage of his kindness and would never ask for help unless I really needed it...

But.........it is not the type of friendship that we go places together on a regular basis.

So it can happen at times in most cases it may not work but at times it does...

Its hard to be friend after your break up but one should keep friendship even after break up because atleast it will always remind their mistake.

Personally, after a relationship has ended we will still keep in touch and remain friendly but after awhile we just go our separate ways, I haven't heard from any of my ex's in years and that's fine by me. There's always a reason why someone isn't in your life anymore and it's usually for the better.

friendship after a relationship....what for?? If you split up its for a reason..go your own way, if you can be civil towards each other thats great, especially if a child is involved..but really your relationship in that case is with the child...

Personally, I dont persue a friendship once the relationship has ended...I dont see the point in it.

I think a clean break is best. I don't think its possible to move from a serious relationship to friendship unless you are hoping for a reconciliation.

That means that they do not love you like a lover and that is all there is to it.

If you can be friends with no hope for something more, good, if you can't then I would say no the friendship and move on.

yes, there is a hidden meaning in wanting to be friends afterwords...
thats why it's usually better not to.

\

LMFAO

I often need a bit of time and distance to let things settle down fully before I can comfortably rekindle an active friendship with them. But we never stopped being friends - you know, you just need some time apart. Most of my partnerships have been based on friendship, so there is a lot of non-romantic and non-sexual substance to build on after we break up.

Quote for truth. Well said.