13 yrs and two kids pt. 2.

[SteveLW]

2. Only answer polite and in short sentences when she initiates conversation about the kids / ignore conversation related to anything else (except financial / custody stuff). <--- I don't know, LH you say NOT to talk at all, and Steve says to (if I understand right), listen to all smalltalk and validate?? So what exactly do I do laugh

Read the validation thread. Remember, if she initiates conversation DO NOT BE RUDE. Treat her like a cashier at the store. You would be polite, but not overly sharing, right?

Cashier: "Oh I didn't know that they made crushed garlic in a squeeze tube! What a great idea. What do you use it for?"
You: "Any recipe that calls for crushed garlic. Makes it really easy."
Cashier: "Oh I can see that. I love garlic so I'll be picking some up myself."
You: "Yeah, you'll really like not getting the garlic smell all over your fingers. Good stuff."

Short, polite, but not intimate responses. And as LH says, be the one to end it. "Okay, I have to go to run!"

Polite. Not angry. Not sad. Not withdrawn. Smile a lot. Be the guy people want to be around, but then be the one that limits how much she is around you. She'll crave more!