#boundary-setting

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Parenting
fromPsychology Today
1 day ago

3 Reasons Parents Tolerate Emotional Abuse By Adult Children

Parents who overthink their relationships with adult children often tolerate emotional abuse and fail to set healthy boundaries due to self-blame and fear of abandonment.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
3 days ago

Are Your Parents Still Treating You Like a Child?

Adult children feel micromanaged by parents who haven't adapted their parenting approach, driven by parental worry and need for connection; redefining their role rather than pushing them away resolves the conflict.
Relationships
fromwww.mercurynews.com
6 days ago

Asking Eric: My mother-in-law bullies me. My husband says I'm the problem.

A spouse's refusal to acknowledge a mother-in-law's harmful behavior and defensive stance toward her creates marital dysfunction requiring focused counseling on the spouse's individual issues rather than the in-law relationship.
Relationships
fromScary Mommy
1 week ago

Use These 30+ Phrases To Disarm A Narcissist When You Can't Avoid Them

Use benign statements instead of questions when interacting with narcissists to avoid manipulation and blame-shifting tactics.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

Learning Boundaries to Break the Cycle of Family Dysfunction

Survivors of dysfunctional families must learn to establish boundaries in adulthood as a core part of healing and breaking intergenerational trauma cycles.
Mental health
fromSilicon Canals
1 week ago

7 things men in their 40s quietly stop tolerating that aren't about becoming bitter-they're about finally knowing the difference between what they owe people and what they've been giving away for free - Silicon Canals

Around age forty, people recognize the importance of setting boundaries by distinguishing genuine obligations from endless requests, learning to say no to protect their own priorities and survival.
#etiquette
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 week ago

3 Ways to Overcome the Habit of Over-Explaining

Over-explaining is a protective communication strategy that undermines self-esteem by eroding self-trust, boundaries, and perceived confidence over time.
Mental health
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 weeks ago

Asking Eric: I miss drinking, and I want them to abstain out of respect for me

Choosing distance from triggering family drinking is a valid protective step when relatives refuse short alcohol-free periods or lack supportive understanding.
#family-conflict
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago
Relationships

Help! My Mother Has Always Detested My Husband. But Her New Campaign Against Him Has Pushed Me Over the Edge.

fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago
Relationships

Help! My Mother Has Always Detested My Husband. But Her New Campaign Against Him Has Pushed Me Over the Edge.

#family-estrangement
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago
Relationships

I'm Boycotting My Mother's 90th Birthday Dinner. The Entire Family Has Turned Against Me.

Protecting mental health by refusing contact with an abusive sibling and maintaining firm boundaries is permissible.
fromPsychology Today
5 months ago
Relationships

The Problem With Treating Estrangement With Moral Certainty

Family estrangement arises from varied, context-dependent causes; generational narratives diverge, and autonomy often involves loneliness without implying parental malice.
Relationships
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 weeks ago

Asking Eric: This man came back into my life and upset my emotions

Unresolved past relationships can trigger old trauma; set clear boundaries, forgive the younger self, and avoid re-engagement to protect present well-being.
LGBT
fromQueerty
3 weeks ago

My straight dormmate started being super friendly after I came out. Does that mean what I think it does? - Queerty

A person's changed behavior after coming out may be genuine support, curiosity, or emerging attraction; approach with cautious clarity to protect the roommate relationship.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 weeks ago

Asking Eric: My mother has become a vicious gossip, and it's destroying our family

My mother is 88 and recently entered a nursing home. She has not been diagnosed with any specific mental deterioration, though she has become very forgetful. The problem is that she is a voracious gossip. She has always had a proclivity toward spreading gossip, but she seems to be getting worse, and I am finding it almost impossible to listen to her.
Mental health
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

How Much Should Your Therapist Share, and When Is It TMI?

Therapist self-disclosure, used thoughtfully and ethically, builds trust while cultural values and clear questions about approach and boundaries determine therapeutic fit.
fromSlate Magazine
3 weeks ago

Help! I Agreed to Live With My Boyfriend's Family to Save Some Money. But It's Come at an Extremely Creepy Price.

She will leave notes on our bedroom door about how "loud" we are being or announce in public when my boyfriend and I are being intimate and how "gross and disgusting" it is. She will say this like she asked someone to pass the milk and seems pleased how embarrassed everyone gets. Her grandparents refuse to address this behavior and her grandmother even scolded me that we need to "keep it down."
Relationships
Parenting
fromSilicon Canals
3 weeks ago

Psychology says eldest daughters who always took care of everyone else usually display these 9 traits as adults - Silicon Canals

Eldest daughters who took on caregiving roles in childhood develop ingrained responsibility, difficulty setting boundaries, and strong problem-solving skills shaping adult behavior.
#childcare
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Asking Eric: My boyfriend just sat there as I was verbally attacked

To be clear, he isn't responsible for his daughter's behavior, but his lack of response exposed a gap between your expectations and his expectations. It's healthy to talk that out. It's healthy to talk about your hurt feelings and to ask about his thoughts on what happened. I'm almost certain there's more to this situation, considering it also involves family dynamics and an outburst that is far too severe.
Relationships
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Asking Eric: My friend keeps calling, and I don't know what to tell her about her partner

I realized after several months that, while I enjoyed Susan's company, her partner Mike is not someone I am comfortable with. He is a heavy drinker and makes sexist and racist comments that leave me cringing. I've reached out to Susan several times to suggest the two of us do things solo, but unfortunately, they are quite joined at the hip.
Relationships
#family-dynamics
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago
Relationships

7 signs someone was the family peacemaker growing up and it's still exhausting them today - Silicon Canals

fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago
Relationships

7 signs someone was the family peacemaker growing up and it's still exhausting them today - Silicon Canals

Careers
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

My Husband and I Work Together. I Never Thought the Woman I'd Have to Watch Out for Would Be My Boss.

A husband's frequent, boundaryless communication with his boss makes the boss the primary recipient of his personal updates, leaving his wife feeling excluded.
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

When someone secretly can't stand you, they'll almost always do these 8 things - Silicon Canals

Subtle passive-aggressive behaviors—backhanded compliments, feigned busyness, insincere praise—signal someone may secretly dislike you and drain your energy.
Parenting
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

We'd Finally Figured Out How to Handle My Brother's Kids. Now They're Moving to Our Town.

Prioritize children’s safety by limiting exposure to family situations where unresolved, physical conflicts among relatives routinely alarm and endanger young children.
#work-life-balance
fromFortune
4 months ago
Business

Netflix cofounder says he stopped work at 5 p.m. every Tuesday for 30 years to stay 'sane,' no matter the crisis: 'Nothing got in the way of that' | Fortune

fromFortune
4 months ago
Business

Netflix cofounder says he stopped work at 5 p.m. every Tuesday for 30 years to stay 'sane,' no matter the crisis: 'Nothing got in the way of that' | Fortune

fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Master the Power of Saying 'No' in Leadership

The ability to say "no" is a core leadership competence in today's complex professional environment. Unfortunately, many organizations reward leaders for an overly accommodating leadership style that significantly diminishes their decision quality. Consistently saying "yes" directly leads to strategy deviation, conflicting priorities, diminished competence and engagement, role confusion, and burnout. Effective leadership demands the courage to protect strategic and human priorities via mastering five essential skills for saying "no" - strategic discernment, transparent communication, courage, negotiating trade-offs, and consistency.
Business
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

I kept attracting draining people until I changed these 7 small habits in how I showed up socially - Silicon Canals

Changing seven small interpersonal habits stopped attracting emotionally draining people and led to relationships that energize instead of exhaust.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Asking Eric: Why does this fall to me, the sibling who actually has a job?

My mother and late father sold vintage and secondhand items on auction sites for years to supplement their household budget. I taught my father to list online many years ago. I work two jobs and also freelance. I'm unmarried, in my 50s, live a half-hour drive away from the family home, and also commute one hour each way during the week. My 58-year-old brother lives with Mom. He was laid off just before the pandemic
Mental health
Parenting
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Asking Eric: There's trouble next door, and I can't tell my 5-year-old what's going on

Set clear, child‑friendly boundaries for play, supervise in safe spaces, offer alternatives, and seek outside help or resources if signs of domestic violence appear.
Parenting
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

I'm About to Be a Professional Athlete-With the Paycheck to Go With It. My Dad Claims I "Owe" Him.

Adult athletes do not owe parents repayment for normal child-rearing; establish firm financial boundaries and legal protections before receiving professional earnings.
Careers
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

I Didn't Set Out To Write A Series And Yet It Happened - Above the Law

Too many lawyers are surviving careers they should be shaping; intentional joy, boundaries, and preparation create sustainable, fulfilling legal careers.
Mindfulness
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

4 Emotionally Intelligent Ways to Handle Unpleasant Interactions

Stay composed and use emotionally intelligent maneuvers—appear indifferent, dismiss insults, use brief neutral responses, and identify manipulative tactics to defuse rude comments.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

I Finally Decided to Get Botox. Then I Saw My Family, and Things Took a Turn for the Worse.

Outwardly improved appearance can hide serious invisible illness, prompting family disbelief and pressure that necessitates clear, firm boundaries to protect health.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

4 Warning Signs to Help You Spot High-Conflict People Early

High-conflict individuals display overt or covert damaging behaviors—gaslighting, blame-shifting, and lack of empathy—that repeat across relationships and require early boundary-setting.
#parenting
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

My Girlfriend Is Still Obsessed With the TV Show About Gay Hockey Players. The Change in Her is Scaring Me.

Intense, time-consuming fandom is often temporary; address it with empathy, set gentle boundaries, and check in if it disrupts daily functioning or the relationship.
Mental health
fromBustle
2 months ago

How To Set Boundaries Around Migraines Without Feeling Guilty

Proactively setting boundaries and planning around migraine triggers helps prevent flare-ups and enables full participation in important events.
Business
fromFortune
2 months ago

CEOs say they are unplugging from the top job by cancelling all meetings and playing with Legos over the holidays | Fortune

CEOs often remain on-call during holidays but carve small boundaries and rituals—like dedicated weeks, adventures, sports, and family cooking—to reclaim downtime.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

My Husband Put My Hand Under the Table at Dinner. What I Felt Was Sickening.

Set clear boundaries and tell your partner you are uncomfortable with public sexual activity; explain specific reasons and refuse if he pressures you.
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

My daughter is leaving for university. How can I support her and cope with the loss?

Letting go and maintaining open communication supports the daughter's independence while the mother processes loss during the transition to university.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Better Relationships With Better Boundaries

Healthy relationship boundaries protect individuality, support rapport, and should not be used as punishment; use different boundary levels for different situations.
fromHuffPost
2 months ago

6 Rude Comments Relatives Make At The Holidays (And How To Respond)

No visit home for the holidays is complete without at least a few annoying or insensitive comments from your extended family. Often, your family means well when they inquire - yet again! - about your relationship status, your body, your baby plans or what is (or isn't) on your plate or in your glass. Or perhaps they're oblivious to how inappropriate these remarks can be. But that doesn't change the fact that it's exhausting to deal with these same comments year after year.
Mental health
Careers
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

I Finally Figured Out the Perfect Hack for Getting My Work Done. Now My New Colleague Is Ruining It.

Set clear, polite boundaries and use brief practical tactics to protect focused after-hours work from colleagues' lengthy interruptions.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

I'm going to scream!': how to survive (and maybe even enjoy) your family Christmas

If you're going to stay with somebody for three or four days, find ways to politely give yourself a break. Go for lunch with friends who live locally, or book a ticket to a museum or a National Trust place so that you have ways of getting yourself out of the house. Tamara Hoyton, a senior practitioner for Relate at Family Action, agrees that scheduling breaks is a good strategy.
Relationships
Real estate
from24/7 Wall St.
2 months ago

Dave Ramsey Tells Groom to Remove Ex From Lease or Move Out

Demand removal of the ex's name from the lease and enforce a firm ultimatum or issue 30 days' notice.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Why Grandparents Need Communities Too

The well-documented rise in adult-child-parent estrangement creates stressors for grandparents, too (such as loss, identity change, social isolation, and complicated loyalties). It raises the practical importance of grandparent communities as protective resources (for emotional support, practical help, advocacy, and skills for boundary work). I was recently speaking to a friend who is also a new grandparent, and we discussed the joys of being grandfathers, as well as how rewarding it feels to help our adult children navigate this challenging time in their lives.
Relationships
#family-boundaries
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago
Relationships

Help! I Finally Refused to Be in the Same Room as My Brother. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do to My Family.

fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago
Relationships

Help! I Finally Refused to Be in the Same Room as My Brother. I Didn't Expect What It Would Do to My Family.

Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

Help! My Neighbor's Kid Did Something Horrific to My Cat. Now They Expect Me to Do the Impossible.

You are not obligated to comfort someone whose texting while driving killed your pet; it is appropriate to set firm boundaries with their family.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Miss Manners: They publicly oppose my rights, then accuse me of intolerance

When I learn that an acquaintance supports stripping my rights away, I distance myself from them. Because of this, I've received some comments like, It's such a shame that you can't even be friends with me because we disagree on politics.
Relationships
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
3 months ago

Managing Value-Need Conflicts During the Holidays

Neurodivergent people often face conflicts between valued activities (connection, tradition) and access needs (rest, sensory boundaries) during the holidays.
fromSlate Magazine
3 months ago

My Daughter and Her Husband Just Stayed Over. Uh, They Left Something Scandalous Behind.

Let's navigate this via your motherly empathy and intuition. If you suspect your daughter would be mortified were you to share your inter-sheets discovery, don't do it. Let her come to you. A cockring is small enough that it's not going to be a burden to store-it can go in a junk drawer in the guest room or, if you want to be so discreet so that no one else in your residence might casually see it when searching for a highlighter or AA battery,
Relationships
Higher education
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 months ago

Harriette Cole: This eager student has become a distraction in class

Privately set participation boundaries with an eager student and involve advisors; address a partner's phone distraction through calm, specific conversation about presence.
Social justice
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 months ago

How do I respond to someone who says I'm not racist, but ... '? | Leading questions

Calmly state disagreement when acquaintances say 'I'm not racist, but...' to prevent reinforcing harmful beliefs and to mark that values differ.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
3 months ago

Estrangement, Compassion, and Coming Home

Cutting off family can be necessary for emotional or physical survival, yet reconnection may offer meaningful closure; therapists' views on cutoffs have evolved.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
3 months ago

Help! My Sister Is a Public Figure. Everyone Is Asking Me About Her Obvious Decline-But No One Knows the Dark Truth.

Set clear boundaries and use brief, honest replies when others ask about an estranged, visibly unwell family member while prioritizing personal support and processing.
Relationships
fromPeople.com
3 months ago

Woman's Future In-Laws Get 'Snippy' When She Refuses to Add a Full-Size Bed to the Home Office She Uses 'Every Day'

Prioritizing a daily home workspace over converting it into a permanent guest bedroom led to tension with future in-laws insisting on donating a mattress.
Public health
fromScary Mommy
3 months ago

This Woman Barred Her Sister's Sick Family From Coming To Thanksgiving

Refusing entry to a contagious family with hand, foot, and mouth disease protects vulnerable household members and is a reasonable boundary.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
3 months ago

Every Holiday Season, My Family Plays the Same Maddening Game of Telephone. Enough Already!

Start a dedicated logistics group text, insist on direct communication, and use predictable fallback channels like your dad to avoid being left out.
fromScary Mommy
3 months ago

This Mom Wonders Why Babysitters Don't Even Clean Up The Messes *They* Made

So, we had a sitter last night that we paid $35 an hour for two kids that were only awake for two hours of the time she was here,
Parenting
fromSlate Magazine
3 months ago

My Boyfriend Did Something Unhinged When I Dumped Him. My Parents Say It's My Fault.

I'm 19 and in university. I recently broke up with my boyfriend, "Jason." He'd been acting weird for a few weeks, but when I ended things, he completely flipped out. It escalated to the point where he slipped into my family's home, stole our cat, "Flibble," and tried to hold him for ransom. We did get Flibble back, and Jason is now facing charges. I just want to put this all behind me.
Parenting
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
3 months ago

The Personality Type No One Talks About

Type C personalities are conflict-avoidant, emotionally restrained people who suppress feelings, leading to psychological strain but can learn healthier emotional expression.
fromSlate Magazine
3 months ago

Every Night, I Have What Some Parents Might Deem a "Good" Problem. Please, Make It Stop.

We start the bedtime routine at 7 p.m., and it lasts until 8:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. most nights. This includes about 20 minutes of overseeing the toothbrushing and general bedtime prep, and then I spend about 20 minutes of one-on-one time with each of my three kids, in reverse age order. The kids are welcome to read in their beds until they're sleepy enough to turn off the light,
Parenting
Parenting
fromwww.mercurynews.com
3 months ago

Dear Abby: My ex-husband is our neighbor, and I'm getting fed up with his behavior

Set firm boundaries with a neighbor who undercuts, demands rides, and exhibits jealousy; communicate consequences calmly and refuse future transportation.
fromBusiness Insider
3 months ago

Our son's family moved in with us a year ago. We were afraid of the toll it would take on our relationships, but it's only made them stronger.

Still, we all felt pretty apprehensive heading into this living arrangement. For one, our lifestyles were quite different: My husband and I had been empty nesters for the past decade, and we had routine sleep and mealtimes. Meanwhile, they were young parents with a small child and a baby on the way - a lot of their schedules depended on seasonal and weekly activities.
Relationships
fromIndependent
3 months ago

Asking for a friend: 'I've a crush on one of my new housemates. We're very flirty and I think they feel the same about me. Should I go for it or is it a bad idea?'

I really like the other four people that I am sharing the house with, and it's a nice space. My question is, I think I am developing a crush on one of the other housemates, and I think they feel the same from what I can tell. We are very flirty and there's been a few moments when we had some drinks that it felt like we might kiss, but it didn't happen.
Relationships
#in-laws
fromPeople.com
3 months ago
Relationships

Man Says Girlfriend's Parents Stop by 'Unannounced' 3 Times a Week, Then Get 'Upset' When He Asks for a Warning

fromPeople.com
3 months ago
Relationships

Man Says Girlfriend's Parents Stop by 'Unannounced' 3 Times a Week, Then Get 'Upset' When He Asks for a Warning

fromPsychology Today
3 months ago

Be Ruthlessly Selfish: It's a Wise Habit

Most mornings, my body wakes me up before my alarm... 4:58 a.m. Or maybe 4:59. Ping. After so many years of following a formula, it's become a wise habit. Even if it's Sunday and my teen woke me up at midnight making a bowl of cereal, my body is up. My body knows that waking up early helps me untangle my day.
Mindfulness
fromSlate Magazine
3 months ago

When My Best Friend Told Me She Was Applying to My Company, I Secretly Hoped She Wouldn't Get It. Now My Worst Fears Have Come True.

I'm friends with my co-worker, not in the way where we naturally grew close after being forced to spend eight hours a day with each other. We were friends before we became co-workers. When I heard she had applied for the same company, I was excited, but grew wary. I secretly didn't want her to get it. I was scared of what it would do to our relationship.
Relationships
Relationships
fromAol
3 months ago

Hey Pandas, AITA For Refusing To Babysit My Sister's Baby After She Called Me "Basically Unemployed"?

A freelance illustrator refused to babysit during a client deadline and confronted her sister for belittling her career.
Law
fromSlate Magazine
3 months ago

My Sister Crashed Her Ex's Wedding and Got Arrested. My Family Thinks I Should Be the One to Clean It Up.

Decline to represent a family member when personal conflict, ethical concerns, and clear responsibility for the wrongdoing create a professional boundary; offer referrals instead.
fromBuzzFeed
3 months ago

People Are Just Now Realizing They Had An 'Eggshell Parent' And The Ways It's Secretly Impacting Their Adult Lives

If they tried to set [boundaries] as a kid, there would either be intense pushback to the point where it becomes not worth it, or a blow up to the point where it becomes not worth it,
Mental health
fromSlate Magazine
4 months ago

Help! My Mother-in-Law Brought a Surprise Guest With Her-And Forced Me From My Home.

Dear Forced, I really wish I could get a glass of wine with you and hear about a million more details about your relationship with your mother-in-law, husband, and even this poor, anxious dog. But in the absence of knowing how you feel about these mammals, I've developed a conspiracy theory: Is it possible your MIL brought Chari on purpose, knowing you'd have to leave, because she was craving some solo time with her son?
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
4 months ago

Help! Every Time My Friends Visit, They Bring Some of My Biggest Childhood Bullies in Tow. They Have No Clue.

I am a queer man of color in my mid-20s. I grew up in a mostly white, conservative, rural town. It was hellish growing up there, dealing with constant microaggressions, racism, and homophobia. Even though I was not out of the closet at the time, I was constantly clocked as being gay and ridiculed as a result. Despite this, I had some incredibly close friends who were a godsend during that time.
Relationships
fromwww.mercurynews.com
4 months ago

Harriette Cole: Was this lunch incident a red flag about my new friend?

When the bill came, it sat on the table for a while; neither of us touched it. Eventually, I picked it up and asked if she wanted to split it, and she said yes immediately. I was caught off guard because she had clearly said beforehand that she wanted to treat me, so I hadn't expected to pay. It's not about the money
Mental health
Relationships
fromwww.mercurynews.com
4 months ago

Dear Abby: I forgot that a baby can be born early, and I made a big mistake

Missing a significant family event can cause deep regret, but sincere apology and gestures may help repair strained family relationships.
fromSlate Magazine
4 months ago

We Had a Wild Night With Another Married Couple. One Husband Went Feral for the Wrong Person.

I think the most prudent thing to do here is to consider what the emotional fallout will be if the same thing were to happen again. You've written your letter in a hypothetical voice without identifying yourself, which is uncommon for this column, but I have a hunch that if you're in this configuration, you're the wife. If that is true, envision what a scenario will be like if your husband follows the same pattern.
Relationships
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