Boundaries in Relationships

Boundaries are funny things.
We are constantly worrying about them.
Boundaries with our kids.
Boundaries with our parents
Boundaries with our in-laws.
Boundaries with neighbors. 
Boundaries are everywhere.  

I tend to spend a great deal of time talking about boundaries with the families we work with. Many of us live lives much different than the rest of our families and even some of our friends. We end up needing boundaries in order to keep our children on the path we have selected - it isn't always easy and we have to constantly evaluate if we can give in to that one episode of Sponge Bob at Grandma's or that candy bar with Uncle Joe or that video game with cousin Timmy. How do you stand up without being a beastie?

Sometimes boundary issues hit much closer. A few years back, I worked with a mom that was in a marriage that wasn't happy. She worried that she was past the point of no return. Her husband continually crossed boundaries and was verbally abusive. While this is rare among the homeschooling families I work with, it does happen.

More often, what I see are families that WANT to get more connected but lack the starting point.  Somehow Mom & Dad got off course. They are snippier than usual. Their intimacy is suffering. Mom feels under appreciated and over worked. Dad feels like he's bringing home the bacon and that should be enough. Words of frustration fly. Coming back to center isn't always easy. We have forgotten how to be help meets to one another. Wouldn't you love to find your way back? Or if your relationship is strong, wouldn't you love to help it be even stronger? 

You might also enjoy our post on Love and Respect in Parenting and Partnering here. 

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