Boundaries Blog — parenting
How to Think about Your Thinking
Life is chaotic, and sometimes too much information can cause confusion in an organization. As a result, leaders are under great pressure to think with focus and direction….
Four Boundaries Principles to Apply in Difficult Situations
"What happened?" I asked.
"Well, I sat down and told her, 'Things are going to have to change around here. I'm going to set some boundaries with you. This is for your own good. You need to stop the ditching and drinking.'"
"What happened then?"
"She got mad at me, yelled, and left the room….”
Jill had thought that simply being direct and honest was all that was needed to set boundaries. But it isn't. There are four necessary principles that must be used in order make boundaries succeed in difficult situations ...
What Should I Do with a Teenager Who Refuses to Change?
I (Dr. John Townsend) have talked to many young adults who have told me, “When I was a teenager, I acted like my parents had nothing to say to me. I couldn’t afford to act differently. But inside, it mattered a lot what they said.”
You can’t predict how telling the truth and establishing healthy boundaries will affect a teen, nor can you predict when the change will occur.... Don't let your fears and discouragement limit a process of growth that God designed for your child....
How the Fear of Saying No Can Handicap Your Life
"May I tell you something embarrassing?" Robert asked me (Dr. Townsend). A new client, Robert was trying to understand why he had so much difficulty refusing his wife's constant demands. He was going broke trying to keep up with the Joneses.
"I was the only boy in my family, the youngest of four children. There was a strange double standard in my house involving physical fighting." Robert cleared his throat, struggling to continue....
How to Determine the Right Consequences When Setting Boundaries
Not long ago I (Dr. Townsend) took my kids and some of their friends to a major league baseball game for an outing. While we were watching the game, a young boy sitting behind us was making everyone miserable. He was out of control, loud, and rude.
His parents did try to manage him, but their efforts were ineffective. They shushed him, praised him when he was quiet, bribed him with food, and threatened to take him out of the game. Nothing worked....