It’s not wrong for you to feel jealous that your girlfriend keeps mementos and gifts from her ex-boyfriend, but it is wrong to make a big deal out of it. Especially now. Not everyone gets to the same place at the same time, and while you want her to get rid of these gifts from her ex-boyfriend, she’s not there yet — but if you continue to date and grow closer, I’m pretty sure she’ll want to put them in the closet or give them away on her own accord because she’s ready. It’s a lot better for her to get to this place on her own than it is because you’re jealous. Since you already admit you don’t think she and her ex still have feelings for each other, these gifts are just memories of a good relationship that ended. Eventually, they’ll mean less and less to her as the two of you spend more and more time together.
Take a deep breath and let go of these jealous feelings you have by knowing that you are the man she is dating and wants to date. You are her present and her future. He is her past. The gifts aren’t important.
And with Christmas and the New Year coming up, this is the perfect time to start building your own traditions together by giving each other meaningful gifts that I am very sure, will eventually replace the old ones.
I hope that helps. Let me know how things go — and follow me @AskAprilcom (no dot!) on Twitter and on Facebook at this link: [url][/url]. 🙂
Ask April Masini