Boundaries are a gift for healthy and thriving relationships. However, when it comes to family it can be difficult to enforce. Some family may think that the boundaries don't apply to them. Maybe they just don't care because you are family, so you won't break ties. Some may feel entitled to direct your life for your entire life. No reason is good. You may have to fight harder for your boundaries with family or make harder decisions on how to handle them.
Do not allow your parent guilt you into things when you are an adult. It may interfere with the family you are establishing for yourself. Your parents may have the best intentions and are acting in love, but they are not God. They maybe not understand the path that God put you on. It is up to you to not allow them to deter you from that path. No one else can do for you.
You are a part of a family, but you are your own separate person too. That is okay. That is good. God has given you the freedom to make your own choices in life without someone else taking over. If you take ownership of your life, then you will not feel guilty for not living it to other people's standards. Taking wise counsel is one thing, but allowing someone to direct your life is another. Act in love not guilt.
If your family never established boundaries, then it can be difficult to do so as an adult. It will also be harder for your family to respect your boundaries. It can lead to co-dependance, domination, insecurity, and other issues. If you don't establish boundaries with your family, then they will interfere with your other relationships.
If you don't set clear boundaries with your family, then your spouse could feel less important to you than they should. Your spouse should know that they come first in priority of relationship (other than God). You should be able to have your own family without losing the closeness of your childhood family. If you can't have both, then you need to choose your spouse.
Parents need to set boundaries with children, so that they get used to hearing the word no. It is unkind to send them into the world expecting everyone to do things their way. They need to learn self-discipline and that starts with the parent's healthy discipline. Give your children the ability to be self-sufficient as an adult. Teach them how to handle hard situations and difficult relationships. Children need to find a way not to rely on their parents for their entire life.
At the same time parents need to grow up. Do not be the parent that the children have to take care of. It is a burden that they are too young to handle. Allow them to be kids. It is only a small window of time. Even when your children are adults do not force them to handle your problems. There is helping and taking care of due to specific issues that is required. I am talking about not wanting to take responsibility for your own life and placing it on your children to take care of. That is selfish.
Families need boundaries on how to resolve conflict. Parents should not bring their children, their parents, or close friends into their problems. Couples need to learn how to communicate and resolve issues without bringing their drama into the world. It will askew how the people closest to you see your spouse. You will forgive, but they are less likely. It will also leave your vulnerable to gossip.
Siblings need boundaries. No sibling should have to take care of another sibling. Help each other out in life, but do not take on the role of care taker unless it is health related. Instead help each other break unhealthy family patterns and dynamics. Lift each other up instead of pulling each other down.
Another family boundary is the one where your family tries to get between you and your relationship with God. You may come to faith later in life and your family doesn't understand. Be truthful and transparent about your salvation, but protect it too. Do not allow anyone to try to push you further from God. Break your strongholds that you may have inherited from your family. Break patterns that lead you toward sin.
Genesis 2:21-24, Exodus 20:1-17, Joshua 24:14-15, Proverbs 28:23-24, Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-17, 23:8-12, 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, Galatians 4:1-7, Ephesians 4:25-27, 1 Timothy 5:3-4
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