How To Set and Enforce Boundaries

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Boundaries play a key role in every relationship in our lives. Be it a parent-child relationship, a spousal relationship, a sibling relationship, or any other conceivable relationship, boundaries are essential to the health of each and every relationship in our lives.

Setting and sustaining boundaries is often times extremely tough, especially when the other half of the relationship has a different view of an acceptable boundary or simply does not respect the boundary you have set forth.

Before you can enforce a boundary, you have to identify your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual limits. Certain “limits” are rather easy to identify but there is a lot more to it than just knowing your limits. Perhaps you are very uncomfortable greeting people with a hug. Clearly, you would identify this as a physical boundary. However, it is important to do more than just identify a boundary. You must take the time to dig deep and really understand WHY you have this particular personal limit and exactly at what point does that limit go from acceptable to uncomfortable. Without self-awareness and a true understanding of your feelings regarding a specific limit, you will not be able to effectively enforce that boundary.

Communicate directly and respectfully – the first step in establishing a boundary is to communicate your needs. If your mother-in-law comes to visit and insists on feeding your children all kinds of junk food, respectfully but firmly share your stance on junk food reminding her that this is a decision that works for your family and you need her to be supportive so as to not confuse the children. If necessary, share some research or data to support any health claims you are making. Do what you can to help make her more aware of how you came to that particular decision. Speak to her at a level she will understand. Don’t patronize her but don’t speak at a level above her comprehension. This goes for any sort of situation in which you need to establish a boundary.

Listen and engage the other party – make sure that you are hearing the other person’s side. Let’s use meal time prayers as an example. Your sister comes to visit and is deeply religious. It is her practice to pray as a family before any meal. You and your family are not religious and do not engage in prayer. While this is typically not the sort of boundary that would be worth losing a relationship over (in my opinion), it might be one that you would like to set a limit on. While expressing your reasons to not engage in prayer before meals, be sure to give your sister an equal opportunity to express her opinions and communicate her needs. While she is a visitor in your home, she is also committed to a spiritual practice that is very much a part of her. So while you are working on establishing boundaries, be willing to remain flexible in certain situations or with certain people. Obviously, not every boundary has flexibility but all the same, you should be willing to hear the other side if for no other reason than to better explain your needs.

Enlist support – in a family setting, you are not an island and it is important to have the support of your spouse or other family members. If your boundary is being pushed, disrespected, ignored, or blatantly crossed, do not feel like you alone have to fight for your boundary. Bring in your support system and if you do not have one, do not hesitate to call upon outside support.

Stand firm – if a boundary you respectfully set is not being respected it is imperative to stand firm and not give the other party the opportunity to cross the line. Using the mother-in-law example, if she continually ignores the no-junk-food boundary, you need to tell her that you are disappointed that she cannot respect your decision and that these are YOUR children and at the end of the day, you call the shots, not her. While still being respectful, you are taking a hardline stance making it clear that this boundary is non-negotiable.

Enact a consequence for crossing a boundary – as a last resort, enact a consequence when a boundary is repeatedly being crossed. Clearly state the consequence to the other party making sure that they understand that you WILL enact it. Then, do just that. Some individuals like to push and push and push and won’t stop until they know you will take a specific action. Once you do so, they may have more respect for you and your boundary. That mother-in-law who won’t respect the no-junk food rule? Perhaps she will not be able to visit with her grandchildren until she agrees to abide by your food decisions.

Cut ties – make yourself and your boundary a priority. If someone is continually crossing a boundary that you have done everything to establish and sustain, you may need to enact the ultimate consequence and limit your interaction with or completely eliminate contact with that individual. While this may be impossible in some situations, it may be the only answer in others.

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• Boundaries For The Attached Parenting Sexual Abuse Survivor - Guggie Daly at The Guggie Daily discusses how to balance the boundaries needed by a sexual abuse survivor with attachment parenting.
• Setting Boundaries With Kids – Amy at Presence Parenting explores why boundaries may be more about us than our kids.
• Limiting Dysfunction – Wolfmother at Fabulous Mama Chronicles speaks speaks out about the underlying dysfunction in her relationship with her parents and the strategies she’s had to implement to ensure the psychological health of herself and her family.
• My Fence – Jorje shares how and why she she feels the need to be guarded with her family on Momma Jorje.
• How To Set and Enforce Boundaries – Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama offers 6 suggestions on how to more effectively establish and enforce your boundaries, especially with those who blatantly disregard them.
• Boundaries in Breastfeeding – JW of True Confessions of a Real Mommy explores teaching personal space rules to allow a respectful breastfeeding relationship as well as honoring their own body autonomy.
• 3 Steps for Respecting Boundaries While Fulfilling Needs Within a Marriage – Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World talks about three ways her husband and herself protect their own boundaries while still meeting each others needs.
• Establishing Boundaries With A Babymoon – Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares how important enforcing a babymoon was to establishing a new parental identity in the face of her in-laws.
• Planting The Seed: Teaching Kids About Healthy Boundaries And Saying No – MomeeeZen recently had to teach her daughter about setting healthy boundaries and about saying “No”, even if it’s to someone in your family.

2012-07-30 08:52:56

Source: http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/07/how-to-set-and-enforce-boundaries.html