How to be friends with WAS and get respect? Are the two mutually exclusive? Good question.
The thing is, where WAS are involved with OP, they have already thrown respect for M and S out the door. But I think any rebuilding starts with friendship, so you just have to face the facts and move on. You set your boundaries in the new friendship and you will know what you will and will not tolerate. What crosses the "respect"line. I am sure it is different for everyone.
It is hard to know where to start talking when you have limited contact for so long. Start at the beginning (trite, I know) with simple things and build up your rapport. Don't be defensive. Listen with an open body. Don't have set responses to set questions. You have to go with the flow to some extent while not veering off course. No talk about OP. Look so good he will want to cry:) In other words, chill a little...you are cool, you are confident, you have it together. Project that!
