My husband and I divorced 8 years ago. We’re 35 now. He was my high school sweetheart. When we divorced I never moved on. I always loved him and I always will. Niether if us even tried to date anyone else. We divorced for a pretty stupid reason tbh. He was a just being very flirtatious with women from his work and it eventually ended in him (consentually) grabbing a female co workers butt. That ended up as a divorce. No affairs, nothing physical other than that. He was very honest about it. we always got along and we (obviously) still get along very well. He is a very good man.

My mom always told me I’m “too good” for him and basically that leaving him was the best thing that ever happened. My dad too. Everyone on my side of the family really doesn’t like him for no reason, even though I always have defended him.

Long story short, we talk a lot still but a few months ago when we were hanging up he said “I love you” and I said “what?” And he said “I love you [my name]” and i felt butterflies like I haven’t felt since high school. I said “I love you too” after a while we slowly started flirting with each other and a few weeks we even went on a secret date. I told the kids it was a business dinner.

After a few more secret dates he asked me if we can all be a family again. He swore he will never do what he did. He promised me. He said I can go through his phone whenever go to his work whenever I want. He said he will be mine and mine only and that was the worst mistake he ever made.

I said I have to really think about it but last night I made my decision. I said yes. I haven’t told our children yet. I haven’t told my family yet. I have no clue what to do. My kids will probably be very happy but my family will hate me forever. How do I tell my kids and family about my decision?

Edit: I just want to clarify a few things. Yes, we WILL be in couples therapy. Also, no. We are not remarrying any time soon. As of right now I consider him my boyfriend and I am his girlfriend. That is IT. All he wants is to do things as a family again, and make our relationship known with our children.