Many have heard of personal boundaries. But not everyone knows that it is also important to protect the borders of your family, as if it were a small independent state. The normal way of your family life can be disturbed not only by strangers, but also by your parents: your wife or husband.
“Mom knows best!”
A difficult situation has developed in the family of my friends. A loving couple is on the verge of divorce: the husband cannot make a single decision on his own.
When it comes to buying a kitchen, clothes for children, or even detergent for a bath, he listens to his wife s suggestions and invariably answers: “Good. You just need to consult with your mother “… At the same time, my mother lives separately, but the last word is always hers.
At first, the young wife was surprised at such a reaction, then she tried to discuss it with her husband, laughed it off, took offense, finally, got angry in earnest and cursed with him.
Now she just turns green with anger when she hears again: “I have to ask my mom …”
How did they come to this life? The couple allowed a rough invasion of their personal territory. In fact, they no longer run their family.
But they would never allow strangers to SO interfere in their lives. But this is my mother, the closest person. Or not?
Adult children
Parents are the most important people in a child s life.
But children grow up, create families and have babies of their own. The relationship between parents and adult children does not end, but they must gradually change in accordance with the new situation.
The main role in the life of an adult should be played by the partner, not the parents. The Bible said: “A man will leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife. And there will be two one flesh “…
But often parents and their grown children do not understand this. Then everyone suffers.
Signs of violation of family boundaries
A young family has no territory of its own
For example, your family lives separately, but your parents have the keys to your apartment. And they regularly use them, coming without a preliminary call. Or they periodically come to live without an invitation, just as a mom and dad.
Least favorable situation: living together with the parents of the husband or wife. In this situation, the young family remains in the position of children.
If you live together, it will be a violation of boundaries to enter your room without knocking. Or placing your parents belongings in closets in your corner. Then they can come to you at any time to pick up their property. And at the same time, and see why you sat there for so long in your room?
Building boundaries while living in someone else s territory is the hardest part. It is difficult for a wife to become a real mistress of the house, and for a husband to become a master. Children can get confused about who is the main authority for them, dad or grandfather, mom or grandmother.
Parents have plans for your family
Important decisions, which should only be discussed by the spouses themselves, are made for them by the parents. For example, the older generation decides in which area it is better for the young to rent an apartment. Where can they buy real estate: in the city or outside the city. What kind of work should a husband get and how long should a wife sit on maternity leave.
“Mom and Dad cannot be denied!”
Parents requests are expressed in such a way that rejection is simply not expected. Of course, this is most often not said out loud, but everyone understands that if you refuse to meet your mother at the station or not allow your nephew to stay with you for a couple of weeks while he enters the university, it will be a mortal offense. And how can you say that to your mother, “she gave birth to you,†“she didn’t sleep at night,†“she gave up her whole life,†and so on!
Your family is constantly being judged.
Are you a worthy husband or “no hands at all.” Are you a good mother and wife … No one except yourself has the right to judge how well your family is! Even if the closest relatives who wish you well are complaining about this, do not let them do this, do not leave the borders of your family unprotected, this can destroy it.
How to protect borders
Be firm in setting boundaries
Having determined for yourself what you allow your relatives in relation to your family, and what not, firmly stand on your own.
You can use the “worn-out record” rule. If you decide that you will not come to celebrate the New Year at your mother, but will spend it together, tell your mother so. And then on any arguments and persuasion, as well as tears, accusations and threats (that your mother will “bring you to a heart attack”, that she “Deprive of inheritance” – yes, what kind of manipulations parents do not use!) Answer each time: “Mom, I love you and dad very much, but we have already decided to spend this holiday alone”… If necessary, you can calmly and firmly repeat this phrase many times, without going into excuses and explanations.
Parental approval – optional
Young children need confirmation of the correctness of their actions, this is normal. But when you ve grown up, although this approval is nice, you can do without it. Let your parents have their own opinion, and you have yours. Especially when it comes to your family and children.
If, for example, your mother-in-law considers you a bad housewife or your mother does not like your spouse, this is only their private opinion. Don t let someone judge your partner.
This is disrespect for the person you have chosen and for you: it seems that relatives still doubt your ability to reasonably judge life and people.
You don t need to be understood
Of course, I want complete understanding with my family. It helps you feel comfortable and instills confidence. But we are all different.
Parents simply cannot fully understand your situation. Only you have all the information about it.
Allowing yourself to act on your own – whether your parents support you or not – can greatly improve the relationship within your family. And by the way, the relationship with the parents too!
Family boundaries should be flexible enough for the system to receive and transmit information: to adopt the experience of generations and share new trends in raising grandchildren with parents. And at the same time, they are firm enough for your family to be reliably protected from destructive influences from the outside – criticism and control of relatives.
Lyudmila Ivanovskaya,
psychologist, trainer, specialist in the field of relations
and family constellations