The Rhoades Edit

Boundaries are often something that are established over time—and take practice.

Trust me when I say this, because I know from experience.

I have spent many years in therapy, healing from past wounds and learning how to set boundaries. But recently, I woke up and realized that maybe I had grown a little too comfortable… a little too complacent. All in an effort to keep peace—at my own cost.

As someone who has tried to keep the peace and not rock the boat, it is easy to let a boundary slip to avoid an argument or confrontation. Especially when it involves your children.

I was reminded this past week that I am only responsible for my actions and my response.

As I sit and type this, I still wrestle with how to handle a certain situation. I am here because, at some point, I let a boundary slip—and I never reinstated it. I didn’t address it. I just let it go. I trusted too much. Got a little too comfortable.

And then, when I came to a realization, the layers of truth began peeling back like an onion.

So… what now?

A boundary clearly slipped. What do you do?

You acknowledge it.

You reinstate it.

You establish new boundaries if needed.

You state your boundary. (And if saying it feels too hard, I highly suggest writing it down.)

You self-reflect.

I’m going to be honest here—the part where you state your boundary has always been difficult for me.

There have been times I’ve had to set boundaries with people I don’t even have direct communication with. In those cases, the boundary is for me.

That’s why I say: write it down.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is make it real — by putting your boundary out there, even if only for yourself.

And sometimes, growth looks like going back and fixing what we once let slide.

Hope this little did-bit encourages someone along the way.

God Bless, friends.

~ Stace

Below is a link to a very popular resource, that was suggested to me years ago.