[GentlemanREDUX.com]

Sup everyone? I have an issue that I'm thinking of writing a blog post about - but I genuinely don't know if I'm qualified, so I'm seeking out other people's opinions.

My "BIG Ex" (like the super-significant "heart breaker" girl who shaped how I treated every woman after her) is back in my hometown... permanently (at least for now). She keeps asking me to hang out and come over, etc. - and so far I've been resistant to do so just because I'm guarded with her now. It's been a few years - but some people have that special place I suppose.

A lot has happened in both of our lives since we were together, and I just don't know how to approach hanging out with her. It seems like she's flirting all of the time and I don't know how to respond to that considering who she is. She's always jokingly asking me about if I'm dating someone - oh - and she's since had a child (which I don't hold against her) but isn't with the father at the moment. Almost every time she invites me to hang out - the kid isn't around...

I don't know how to act around her right now because she's admittedly still important (I'm not ashamed to admit that). I want to be friends with her, but I'm sensing some "More than Friend" vibes from her -- and I worry I may be giving off some myself.

What should I do?

How would you generally tell people to act if you were giving them advice about ways to act around an ex (specifically one that they still had feelings for)?

Do different things apply to men and women?

I am going to write a blog post about this one day soon - but I wanted to get as many other perspectives as I could before just dump an uncertain perspective out there. Please help this blogger form a stance on issues like this. I think it would benefit me personally, and teach others a thing or two in the process.

Thanks in advance to those who respond.