Would you spend a significant amount of isolated time with your ex-partner?

Lucy and William end up sharing a time that is very stressful. While their relationship has matured to the extent that they could tolerate this time, it may be a very fraught time for other exes. What do you think is the key to successfully navigating this situation?

My ex husband wasn’t thinking about me during the pandemic. He wasn’t even thinking of our son! And it is in part due to his self centeredness that we are no longer married. There is absolutely NO WAY I could survive a pandemic in the same house with him. I am not the same person I was 30 years ago when we married-in a lot of ways he is. But maybe there is still a little bit of Lucy at 20 still inside of her.

I think William finding a sister may have helped him see how important the people in his life are and how valuable those relationships are. He was reflecting on his past a lot-most likely even before the virus reached New York. He acknowledged his mistakes and felt remorse. William was willing to be more honest and admit how he hurt the people he cared about the most.

I think it was important as William and Lucy were sharing space that they also gave each other alone time. They didn’t do everything together and found a small group to share time with too, giving themselves a break from the intensity of being together.

No we have been divorced since 1980! I certainly do not know him anymore.

An imaginary ex- who took care of my every need… maybe. But then we would replicate the reasons we became exes.

In a word? No. As a fictional character, William was compelling. And that’s the suspension of disbelief that makes fiction so wonderful.

No I wouldn't, but they seemed to be past what their differences were and could be companions.

For me, I feel living together with my ex during the COVID-19 crisis would have caused me additional stress and frustration. However, everyone is different. It seemed for Lucy and William that their relationship had moved into one of friendship.

Once Lucy realized that William was trying to save her and the family, I think she had mellowed enough that they could get along. They did have a common bond of the girls. With age comes wisdom. I think it would be very difficult and it would take special situation’s for two exes to cohabit in an isolation situation.

OMG!! I don’t have an ex-partner but I would imagine it depends on why you became ex-partners. My sister’s ex-husband never gave her a thought during the pandemic. I could not see the two of them being together during this life altering event..the pandemic. William thought enough of Lucy to be her protector and had aligned their daughters with his thinking. Not all ex partners are Williams and Lucys.

I don't have an ex, but I don't think it was just the pandemic that brought Lucy and William together. They had both just faced great traumas in their lives. Lucy was dealing with the death of her husband, and William was facing cancer. They were both very needy. They had developed a caring relationship through their shared feelings for their daughters. William needed to save everybody and Lucy was ready to be saved. They were ready to come together and yet give each other space. He was wise to get her that loft. He understood her more than she understood herself.

Someone is EX for a reason.

No way. I'm sure he'd still try to be in another room, and I don't need that.

No. Lucy is so incredibly passive. She goes along with William not really knowing why objectively. She is a very sensitive and likable person but her reliance on a husband she left years ago is incredible.

No way!! My ex would be the one running around like "the sky is falling" and we're all gonna die! The pandemic was stressful enough without all his drama. William seems like a sensible kinda guy so Lucy adapts!

I think it depends... I've been married for 41 years, so my exes are all from long ago, however I know quite a few couples who have stayed very good friends due to the connection they share children. Obviously this isn't the case for many couples when their has been abusive or argue all of the time, but if I trusted my partner and kept in touch, I might have considered that. Lucy and William's children had grown and they had traveled together before in Oh William! so they at least had a sort of friendship from all that they had shared.

I can't imagine a scenario in which I'd spend a lot of time with an ex.

Oooph. I don't think so. My husband and I celebrated 30 years of marriage during the pandemic, so my ex is long long long ago. I will say that it was an interesting time going overnight from living in the same space for 12 hours a day to living in the same space for 24 hours a day for months on end. We took the pandemic very seriously and still do because our adult daughter lives with us with a chronic health condition.

Not willingly!