8 Texts You Should Never Send Your Ex

“If you can’t say it in person, then don’t say it at all.”

56d8cc771e0000c60070f426

Brittany Wong
Divorce Editor, The Huffington Post

After a divorce or bad breakup, do yourself a favor and don’t press send on that overly emotional text. An angry text about the kids could come back to haunt you as evidence in divorce court — and that 2 a.m. “Hey, what u up to?” text will only leave you embarrassed the next day. 

What else should be left unsaid? Below, divorce experts share the most damaging texts people send their exes.

1. “I miss you.”
Before you send a text saying “I miss you,” think about if you really miss your ex or if you’re just lonely and not used to being on your own, said Laura Miolla, a professional divorce coach based in Boston.

“That’s a confusing text to send after a divorce,” she said. “It’s vulnerable, but it’s also manipulative. It’s a classic push-pull that reinforces some kind of relationship, even if it’s not the kind you want, so that you don’t feel quite so lonely.”

Pause before you hit send and remind yourself how far you’ve come, said Miolla: “You need to let go of what isn’t serving you, so you can open the door to something that does.” 

2. “You’re the *(&^$#@ worst parent.” 
Don’t be so quick to send that expletive-filled text about your ex’s parent skills — or lack thereof. That angry little missive may end up costing you big time in divorce court, reminded Debbie Martinez, a life coach who specializes in divorce.

“I tell my clients that the general rule of thumb here is not to put anything in a text that could potentially come back to haunt you if your children saw it or it it got passed around,” she said. “Trust me, exes will pass it around to others or in a court of law.”

3. “Hey you…“
You know what’s even worse than the “I miss you” text? The “Hey you…” text sent at 2 a.m. on a Friday night.

“Any version of the booty call, while drunk or sober, must be resisted,” said Tracy Schorn, the author of Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life: The Chump Lady’s Survival Guide. “The ‘bargain’ you’re striking is this: if this person can’t be my spouse, then maybe we can be friends with benefits. But remember: your ex is your ex for a reason; maintain your boundaries and your self-respect.”

4. “I thought we said we’d wait to date until the divorce was finalized. Don’t forget to help the kids with their school projects this weekend. BTW, I never liked your mom.”
Try to adopt a “just the facts, ma’am” approach to communicating with your ex, saidLeslie Petruk, a marriage and family therapist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. (In other words, calmly ask if they can help with your son’s book report over the weekend — and don’t even think about bringing up their post-divorce dating habits.)

“Keep emotions out of texts to your ex,” Petruk said. “If you have children or business that you need to communicate about keep it strictly on those topics. Emotional texts will only lead to emotional reactions or no response at all.” 

5. “Who is that in your new pic?”
Your first impulse after seeing a tagged photo of your ex with a new love interest may be to turn into an angry divorced version of the Hulk. Before you let anger get the best of you, call a personal time-out, Martinez urged.

“Take the high road,” she said. “Don’t take the ‘stalker’ route.” 

6. “You’re two months late on child support!” 
If enforcing child support or custody arrangements becomes a problem, resist the urge to fire off a nasty text or e-mail, Schorn said.

“Don’t do the heavy lifting on enforcing child support. Let the state and law do that,” she said. “If a polite reminder doesn’t cut it, invective isn’t going to shame your ex into paying. Spare yourself the emotions, and let the law of natural consequences do the work for you.” 

Before it even gets to this point, it’s worth downloading a co-parenting app to neutralize communication with your ex.

7.  “You were a terrible spouse.” 

Don’t go for the low blow and dwell on the past, Miolla said. What purpose does a mean-spirited text serve but to escalate the situation and bring you one step closer to a high-conflict divorce?

“Saying something like, ‘you were worthless’ to your ex cuts to the core,” she said. “This text will likely only cause confusion and questioning for you. Sometimes it’s thrown out because it’s how you secretly feel about yourself.” 

8. “I wish we could talk.” 
If you genuinely need to talk about the state of your relationship, don’t send a text. Make a point to tell your ex in person, Petruk said.

“It’s easier to say things via text that you wouldn’t be inclined to say in person,” she said. “If you can’t say it in person, then don’t say it at all.” 

What Our Clients Say

“Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
I had a great experience at Batley Family Law. They assisted me with my case. They were excellent and ensured that my case was handled as efficiently as possible and always made me feel informed. This firm helped me through a stressful time. Would absolutely recommend this law firm.”


J. A.

“Thanks for everything yesterday! I had a very informative and meaningful consultation with Batley Family Law. I can tell that they are compassionate and strong which I admire in a law firm. Their firm has written a great book on New Mexico Divorce Law and they had recommendations for books to help my kids in this process! Thanks for the great gifts as well. I look forward to working with them in the process that lies ahead.”

M.F.

Bobbie Batley is unquestionably the top family lawyer in New Mexico, largely because of the amazing team she leads. This firm cares about their clients, and puts those needs out front. I will never hesitate to refer to this firm!”

E.K.

“Batley Family Law is an excellent place to work. I enjoy coming in everyday. It is clear to see how much our attorneys value New Mexican families. They work their hardest to advocate for their clients on a daily basis.”

K. W.

“Batley Family Law provided me with excellent advice and service to effectively and efficiently resolve an issue with my best interests in mind. They did this with a great deal of compassion. I would highly recommend this firm.”

E. F.

"It became very clear, VERY fast that having a respected legal team in the community makes all the difference. Despite the craziness of my case, they were cool, calm and collected every step of the way. What struck me about this team was how they connect on a human level - they truly saw me for the person that I am and that resonated in the courts. I got everything I asked for and more - If it wasn't for this team, I don't know where I'd be right now."

J.C.

Contact Us

Please call us at
505-246-0500 or complete the form and we will be in touch.

Batley Family Law
316 Osuna Road Ne #301
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Email: office@batleyfamilylaw.com
Phone: 505-246-0500

  • Read our Privacy Policy