My ex-girlfriend still calls me babe?

[Anonymous]

I’m usually one to just search Google for answers, but I feel like asking for once would be a good change of pace. My ex and I broke up a month ago: I broke up with her because I felt that I needed time to get to know myself, and she felt like was in agreeing on her own life. We then met up again for V-Day and I felt the spark come back. In a sense, we’re both moving on but I’ve never missed an ex like I do with her.

In short, I want to play my cards right to eventually get her back in my life (in which I feel like I should give her space), but she continues to call me babe (over text) so I feel like the connection is still there and the window will eventually close.

What I’m wondering is: is this a normal phase of a break-up, or is the window still open?

[Anonymous]

I had a recent ex that still called me "sweetie" for a while after we broke up. I asked her why one time, and she told me, "oh, just a habit." And stopped saying it after I asked.

Another ex did the same months after we had broken up. She had to catch herself consciously and apologized when she did.

Your ex could still have romantic feelings...but I would look for other signs of it and not rely on the pet name. Could be just a habit, as it was for my exes.

I really hope you two work it out. I would recommend giving her space right now, though. The more I read about it, I don't believe NC works as a ploy to get back an ex. But if you both agreed to work on yourselves for now, I would focus on that right now. If things happen, then great...but best not to focus on that goal right now.