Dear Miss Emily:

My ex boyfriend and I dated for two years but it ended when he broke up with me. It's been about 7 months since we broke up and now he wants me back.  He has had two other girlfriends in the mean time and just broke up with his last one to try and win me back. Now he is constantly giving me compliments and trying to win me over but idk if I can trust him.  When he broke up with me, it broke my heart and I was devastated. Since our freshman year, we dated and broke up twice. Sometimes he treated me poorly and was very controlling at times. Sometimes he wouldn't let me hang out with my guy friends and he was constantly looking through my phone. But no question about it, I love him.  Another thing is that my parents hate him for breaking up with me. My ex promises me that he'll change and never break my heart, again, and will be the best boyfriend ever. I don't know if I should believe this or not since he broke my heart last time. Should I give him one more chance?

-------------------------------Miss Emily's advice-----------------------------

Change is hard, and never is a long time! He may think he's different, now, but I'm not convinced. If you decide to give it another chance -- and that would be coming from a position of fully understanding  it may not work out a second time, why not try an occasional date with him, at first, and see how it goes? Don't commit to getting back together, but give it time to nurture, if it's possible, as to allow you the opportunity to see if he's capable of the change he professes to possess. If he's as sincere as he says he is, he'll do it your way. If he wants all or nothing, or pressures you soon after seeing him, again, you'll learn if he really hasn't changed -- he's still in the driver's seat and will never acquiesce to any other role. Don't put yourself in a position of weakness but, rather, one of strength. Take responsibility for your actions, your choices, and leave a situation when it no longer is good for you. Few people are exempt from emotional pain when it comes to matters of the heart -- but there has to come a time with logic outweighs the "but I love him" approach in order to be content with your life -- and be in charge of your life!