Is it normal to stay friends with your ex?
Depends.It depends
Yes, plenty of people stay friends with an ex, but it works better for some breakups than others. The key is whether you both genuinely want a friendship and can respect each other’s boundaries.
It’s normal to stay friends with an ex, and it’s also normal to want a clean break. Some people had a solid friendship underneath the romance; others need distance to move on, especially if the breakup was painful or one person still hopes to get back together.
A good test is whether being friends feels comfortable and honest—not like a waiting room for another relationship. Clear boundaries help, particularly if either of you starts dating someone new. You don’t owe an ex friendship just because the relationship mattered.