Advice on Dating an Ex-Girlfriend's Friend

While you were dating your ex-girlfriend chances are that you had the opportunity to get to know her friends and even form your own relationship with her friends.  At the conclusion of your relationship you may be tempted to enter into a relationship with a friend of your ex-girlfriend but this is not always advisable.  There are some important factors to consider before you start to date a friend of your ex-girlfriend.  The first thing to consider is the feelings of your girlfriend.  You should also consider how your relationship with your ex-girlfriend's friend will impact their friendship and what your ex-girlfriend may have already told her friend about you.  Although if your feelings for your ex-girlfriend's friends may be sincere, you may sometimes have to be extremely careful in this situation to avoid making a mistake that will destroy your new relationship before it even has a chance to blossom.

Considering the feelings of your ex-girlfriend is important when deciding whether or not to date one of her friends.  Regardless of whether or not your breakup was amicable, it should still be a factor that you consider.  If the breakup was amicable, then you will want to take care not to react quickly and risk hurting the feelings of your ex-girlfriend.  If you wish to remain friends with your ex-girlfriend, then you should try to not alienate her by intentionally doing something that would hurt her.  If your breakup was amicable, then you may feel comfortable approaching your ex-girlfriend to ask her how she would feel about you dating one of her friends.  She may be honest in telling you that she just needs a little time to get over the breakup or she may be fine with the situation and even offer to set the two of you up.  She could also offer you some insight into whether or not she thinks the two of you would be a good match.  If the breakup was particularly tumultuous, you will likely not be comfortable approaching your ex-girlfriend but you should still consider her feelings.  This is important because she has the ability to have a tremendous impact on your potential relationship with her friend.  If you do something to hurt her then she is not likely to go out of her way to tell her friend what a great guy you are. 

You should also consider what effect your dating her friend will have on their friendship.  If they have been friends for a while, it is important to show respect for their relationship by not trying to come between the two of them.  It is also important to remember that their friendship means that your ex-girlfriend may remain a part of your life.  If you are comfortable with this idea then there shouldn't be a problem with dating one of her friends.  However, if you don't think you can deal with having your ex-girlfriend remain in your life then you should probably not date one of her friends.

It is also important to consider the fact that women enjoy talking to their friends and often shares intimate details about their romantic relationships with their friends.  This can put you in an uncomfortable position if you are not at ease with the fact that dating a friend of your ex-girlfriend means that they will likely know much more about you than you know about them.  For some men, this could be an awkward situation but it is one that you should respect if you date one of your ex-girlfriend's friends.  It is unreasonable to expect that your old girlfriend will have not talked to her friend about you so it is unlikely that they don't already know a great deal about you. 

Dating your ex-girlfriend's friend can be a very difficult situation.  It is important to remember that their friendship can complicate your relationship.  If your breakup was not amicable you should be prepared to still see your ex-girlfriend often as it wouldn't be right to ask your new girlfriend to stop spending time with her.  You should also consider the feelings of your ex-girlfriend and how she can impact your relationship with her friend if she chooses to do so.  All of these factors much be carefully considered before deciding to date one of your ex-girlfriend's friends.