Moving on from abreakupis no easy feat—it’s messy and takes patience, plenty of tissues, and the reassurance of loved ones to remind you that you’re on the right path.

ThisRedditor’sfamily, however, decided to make things infinitely more complicated. Rather than helping him heal, they continued to spend time with his ex. And now that he’s in a new relationship, they thought inviting her for Thanksgiving and Christmas would be a great idea.

Yeah, it’s a lot. So the man turned to the internet for advice on how to handle it. Read the full story and what others had to say below.

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After a rough breakup, the man moved on with his life

Thanksgiving dinner with family, featuring a turkey being carved and wine glasses raised in a festive atmosphere.

Image credits:Karolina Grabowska / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

His family, however, seemed unwilling to do the same and decided to invite his ex for the holidays

Text display about a man’s ex being invited by his family to events during his therapy months.

Two men having a serious conversation over coffee about family and ex-partner holiday plans.

Image credits:EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Text image with a person seeking advice online about family inviting their ex to holidays.

Image credits:AwkwardSweetTA

Woman looking at her phone, contemplating family events with her ex during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Image credits:mikoto.raw Photographer / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Research says it takes 3 months to start feeling better after a breakup

It truly is unfortunate when your family ends up making it even harder to move on from a pastrelationship. As if breakups weren’t already difficult enough, right?

Of course, while that timeline offers hope, it’s important to remember that healing isn’t a race. “I would actually caution a client from getting too attached to the notion that there is some sort of equation or ‘right’ amount of time to get over a break-up,”saysDr. Sarah Bren, a psychologist in Manhattan. While you might notice some improvement after a few weeks, there’s no magic date when everything will suddenly feel okay.

Moving on requires allowing yourself to feel the full range of emotions, both the painful and the positive. “Accepting that we can feel sad and also feel happiness is an important part of the healing process and getting through a breakup, because it reduces our chances of getting stuck in our sadness and becoming hopeless,” says Dr. Bren.

Still, while it’s healthy to acknowledge and process those feelings, it’s equally essential not to let them take over completely. “While we are giving ourselves permission to feel our pain with no pressure of an expiration date, it is a good idea to find ways not to wallow in the pain or get stuck feeling that as our only feeling,” explains Dr. Bren.

So, what can help? Surround yourself with supportive friends and find moments of joy in the little things. “Go to a funny movie or go out for a nice meal with good conversation,” suggests Dr. Bren. Little steps like these can help you find your footing and move forward.

Readers responded with plenty of questions and advice

Online advice on handling a family’s holiday invitation of an ex-girlfriend, emphasizing personal boundaries.

Online exchange about family inviting ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Online advice sought for family inviting ex to holidays; user comments on situation.

Guy seeks advice on ex invited to family holidays, discusses boundaries and family dynamics in online comments section.

Man seeks advice on family inviting ex for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Text exchange discussing family inviting ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Guy seeks advice online about family inviting ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Reddit user seeks advice about family inviting ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas, discussing confrontation issues.

Online advice sought on family inviting ex for Thanksgiving; discussion about alternative plans with pizza and Wild Turkey.

Online advice for guy whose family invited his ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Discussion thread where a user seeks advice about family inviting an ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Comments discussing family boundaries after an ex is invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas events.

Guy seeks advice online about family inviting his ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Online advice about family inviting ex to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

A couple sitting on a dock at sunset by a lake, evoking emotions tied to family and relationship dynamics.

Image credits:Amanda Sixsmith / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Online advice sought after ex invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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