#boundaries

#boundaries

People will sometimes read a story or see something online that upsets them and want others to feel that same level of distress so that they know they're not alone. What this response often lacks is consent. Yes, the news is public information, but how we receive that information, process it and react to it is still personal. She didn't respect a boundary that you set. That says to me she was less interested in commiseration than in misery.

Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings, thoughts, and needs in a way that is clear, honest, and respectful. It is the balanced space between passivity and aggression. Passive behavior avoids conflict at all costs, often leading to resentment, frustration, or a loss of self-respect. Aggressive behavior, on the other hand, aims to overpower, control, or punish, creating fear and disconnection.

Mother-in-law disputes are nothing new; generations of daughters-in-law have wondered what on earth they did to deserve the MIL they got (whether that's good or bad). But now, there's a new system for figuring out exactly what type of behavior your mother-in-law is displaying - and how you can cope. In her forthcoming book You, Your Husband & His Mother, psychologist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish lays out six different types of mother-in-law, what each one wants, how she acts, and what you can do in response.

You're making an assumption about your wife's position on alcohol that might not be accurate. Is it really that she thinks a bottle of wine in the house means one of you will end up addicted? Or could it be that the sight of someone drinking, or even the smell of alcohol, brings up upsetting memories for her? Is it possible that it takes a lot for her to resist drinking, and she doesn't want to have to use that willpower at home?

Sturdy Saturn, the planet of structure and commitment, backtracks into mystical Pisces today, setting the week off to an emotionally mature start. Have your boundaries become hazy? Consider where you need to redraw the line and protect your energy. Be honest with yourself about areas where you have lost touch with your faith or discipline. The moon coasts through optimistic Sagittarius today, bringing inspired energy to uplift your conversations and mood.

One of the things that makes this so hard is that both you and Sue are hurting but you're hurting in different ways and for different reasons. Those differences have made it difficult for you to align, but it's not impossible. It sounds like, when Sue told you that you don't know what it's like, she was attempting to communicate something very complex. And while it may not have seemed like it at the time, I think it was her attempt to let you in.

I hate to break it to you, but it probably will be awkward for a while, no matter what you do. No one likes to come face to face with people they'd rather leave in their past, let alone seeing them on a 9-5 basis in the same building. Even if you left the relationship on perfectly good terms, it still might be awkward as this person comes into your life again.

Navigating family dynamics can be challenging, especially when it involves topics like body image and weight loss that provoke anxiety or discomfort.

When struggling to balance professional demands and personal commitments, many working mothers face burnout due to unrealistic expectations and lack of boundaries, leading to both guilt and frustration.

Trauma can explain behavior, but it does not excuse harm or remove the need for accountability. Healing requires both empathy for the past and responsibility for present actions.

One cutesy name for this behaviour is 'zombie dating'. This happens when someone disappears on you but then pops up again as if nothing has happened and makes comments on your socials etc. It's annoying, and confusing, but can be harmless if that's as far as they go.

It's perfectly reasonable to want privacy, even when you have kind and generous landlords. Setting boundaries will help you protect your peace and prevent any resentment.