Latest / The Parenting Podcast / Parenting Through the Pushback | Ep. 186
Transcript
- 0:03Cheryl New (2): oh boundaries can sound simple until the voices get loud, the pushback keeps coming, the emotions rise, and it starts feeling kind of like a battlefield.
- 0:22Cheryl New (2): It's the moment you start wondering, am I doing this wrong?
- 0:27Cheryl New (2): Or is this actually what it's supposed to feel like?
- 0:32Cheryl New (2): I'm Cheryl Lang, your host of The Parenting Podcast, and in this episode, Christie and I sit down with Kyla Pace to talk about what it means to.
- 0:43Cheryl New (2): Hold steady when it would be easier to give in.
- 0:48Cheryl New (2): It's a look at parenting that's less about perfect responses and more about quiet, loving courage, maybe the peace you've been craving.
- 1:00Cheryl New (2): It isn't in avoiding the conflict, but in walking through it differently.
- 1:14Cheryl New (2): Listeners, we have our dear friend and friend of TPP Kyla Pace back in with us again today.
- 1:22Cheryl New (2): Hi guys.
- 1:22Cheryl New (2): Welcome back.
- 1:23Cheryl New (2): Yeah, thank you.
- 1:25Cheryl New (2): We always look for a chance to be together, and this time we just have microphones in front of us.
- 1:30Cheryl new: So Kyla, as you know, we've just done a series on boundaries with kids and off mic.
- 1:37Cheryl new: You and I have been talking a lot about it.
- 1:39Cheryl new: Yes.
- 1:40Cheryl new: And so, because you asked so much and we're talking, I said, come in and ask your questions Yes.
- 1:46Cheryl new: In the room.
- 1:46Cheryl new: So you got questions for us.
- 1:49Kyla: Yeah, well, I've actually had a copy of Boundaries with Kids on my nightstand, and I reference it a lot.
- 1:57Kyla: I have lots of underlined pages and things, but I feel a little bit inadequate to be talking about boundaries because it's been a struggle for me.
- 2:07Kyla: I feel like it's, uh, one of my weaker areas, probably because of my personality.
- 2:13Kyla: Yeah.
- 2:13Kyla: Uh, it's harder for me to, to set strong boundaries and hold to them.
- 2:18Kyla: Yeah.
- 2:18Kyla: Just as a peacekeeper and, uh, someone who wants to make sure people are comfortable and heard and not suffering.
- 2:26Kyla: And not struggling.
- 2:28Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 2:28Kyla: To set a boundary that's gonna be painful for one of my children is uncomfortable for me.
- 2:33Kyla: And it's been a learning curve.
- 2:34Kyla: Yeah.
- 2:34Cheryl New (2): Well, welcome to the party.
- 2:36Cheryl New (2): Yeah, for sure.
- 2:37Cheryl New (2): You just described me, this is why I didn't, I didn't even know boundaries existed most of my life
- 2:43Christie: Well, yeah, and we've talked about it earlier in the series, that boundaries feels rude or mean.
- 2:50Christie: Right?
- 2:50Christie: Does, you know, it feels too harsh to one that's, you know, some of us that.
- 2:54Christie: Tend to try to be polite people or kind people, or wanna make people happy and dare I say, people pleasers.
- 3:01Christie: Yeah.
- 3:02Cheryl New (2): Well, if it just worked.
- 3:04Cheryl New (2): And we did a little boundaries and everyone went, thank you.
- 3:08Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 3:08Cheryl New (2): Oh, we're gonna just get on board with this.
- 3:11Cheryl New (2): It's the pushback.
- 3:11Cheryl New (2): That's hard.
- 3:12Cheryl New (2): The pushback.
- 3:12Cheryl New (2): Yeah.
- 3:13Cheryl New (2): Yeah, yeah.
- 3:13Cheryl New (2): So what, what's something you wanna talk about?
- 3:17Kyla: Well, I thought maybe I would start with talking about boundaries for myself, because that's something I've recently learned.
- 3:24Kyla: Yeah.
- 3:24Kyla: One, I mean, it's the TPP episodes on self-care have been really helpful for me because I tend to wear myself down and in the boundaries book it says, if you're in a state of deprivation and your kids are constantly wearing you down, you may be lacking time to yourself.
- 3:42Kyla: Mm.
- 3:42Kyla: Wow.
- 3:43Kyla: So.
- 3:44Kyla: I just thought I would bring that up because when I can take a little time for myself and build up my coffers, have a little bit more energy, I'm able to deal.
- 3:55Kyla: With my kids better with boundaries.
- 3:57Cheryl New (2): Wow.
- 3:57Cheryl New (2): What a great recommendation.
- 3:59Cheryl New (2): Yeah, for sure.
- 3:59Cheryl New (2): For what boundaries do! And also, you used the word self-care, and we already talked about how you feel like you're being selfish.
- 4:07Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 4:07Cheryl New (2): You're struggling with doing boundaries mm-hmm.
- 4:10Cheryl New (2): Because there's a difference between self-care and self-serving,
- 4:14Christie: right?
- 4:14Christie: Yeah.
- 4:15Christie: Or self-indulgent.
- 4:16Cheryl New (2): Self-indulgent.
- 4:17Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 4:18Cheryl New (2): I agree with you.
- 4:19Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 4:19Cheryl New (2): It was hard for me too, Kyla, to learn to do self care
- 4:24o: mm-hmm.
- 4:25Cheryl new: Without saying, well, I'm just gonna be selfish and I'm gonna eat the biggest piece of pie and I don't care.
- 4:30Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 4:30Cheryl new: That was the rebound.
- 4:33Cheryl new: Of not doing any self care.
- 4:34Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 4:35Cheryl new: What you're talking about.
- 4:36Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 4:36Kyla: Well, and my kids see me saying yes and doing and going and serving, and that's a.
- 4:41Kyla: A poor model.
- 4:42Kyla: I don't really want to make that the example for them because I don't want them to have that expectation of themself where they're so drained.
- 4:50Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 4:51Cheryl new: By
- 4:51Kyla: doing and giving of themself all the time that they're worn down.
- 4:55Cheryl new: And so what I will say a little bit further down the road and, and my experience not only with boundaries but of course with my kids in life, and it's really interesting.
- 5:07Cheryl new: I continue to get.
- 5:10Cheryl new: Some positive feedback in my family because they're watching me do it.
- 5:16Cheryl new: And so I'm not an expert at it, but it's very clear to my children that I've begun to walk in boundaries.
- 5:23Cheryl new: Hmm.
- 5:23Cheryl new: Uh, mostly the affirmation comes when they see me draw boundaries with someone else, right?
- 5:29Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 5:29Cheryl new: Or another situation.
- 5:31Cheryl new: But what that says is they are watching and they're watching how I not just do adult life, but how I do boundaries So I encourage you, what a great motivation for you, because boundaries really is about love.
- 5:45Cheryl new: So you're loving your children.
- 5:47Cheryl new: Well, you're role modeling it and they're gonna be watching and learning how to love others well as you walk through the boundaries yourself.
- 5:57Cheryl new: Nice.
- 5:58Christie: I think that's really good perspective, Cheryl, as having adult kids that you're able to say, your kids appreciate your boundaries when they're set with someone else.
- 6:07Christie: And it's good for somebody in Kyla's season.
- 6:09Christie: Yeah.
- 6:09Christie: To hear that because.
- 6:11Christie: When we set boundaries with our kids, when they're at home and where you know, they're our main relationships and, and we're doing life mm-hmm.
- 6:18Christie: Daily together.
- 6:18Christie: Mm-hmm.
- 6:19Christie: It's not that they don't appreciate or respect the boundary itself, if they had the maturity to look at it objectively, it's that they don't like how they're experiencing your boundary.
- 6:30Christie: Yeah, true.
- 6:30Christie: And so I, I think that's helpful to remember.
- 6:34Christie: It's not personal, it's just, I mean, it is personal for them.
- 6:38Christie: They, they don't like how it's personally affecting them.
- 6:41Christie: I want to be able to walk over my mom and tell her how to, you know, handle things and, but if you are doing it.
- 6:47Christie: Even your older girls, probably if you were telling a story about a friend mm-hmm.
- 6:51Christie: They would probably objectively say, mom, you need to tell her that you're not gonna be able to do that.
- 6:56Christie: You know?
- 6:56Christie: Exactly.
- 6:56Christie: But if it's them, that's a different story.
- 6:59Kyla: Yeah.
- 6:59Kyla: And I'm in the thick of teenager v you guys, I've gotten, uh, two girls and a boy, teenagers, and then a younger one who's 10.
- 7:08Kyla: So, I mean, I'm in the middle of this and I have been.
- 7:13Kyla: Learning, reading, exploring on how to keep a thick skin.
- 7:17Cheryl new: Yes.
- 7:18Cheryl new: Um, you need that for sure.
- 7:20Cheryl new: Well, you know what, one of the things, somebody, a long time ago, they said to love well, and to be.
- 7:27Cheryl new: To be healthy, you have to have thick skin, but a tender heart.
- 7:31Cheryl new: Yes.
- 7:31Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 7:32Cheryl new: And so when I'm not doing my thick skin and the, what we're talking about here, then what I start doing is I either have a lacerated heart mm-hmm.
- 7:41Cheryl new: Or I build a crust around it.
- 7:43Cheryl new: Right.
- 7:44Cheryl new: Okay.
- 7:44Cheryl new: I am not going to be tender and gentle.
- 7:47Cheryl new: And it's, that's everything we've said about boundaries is it can be very, very kind.
- 7:53Cheryl new: Um.
- 7:53Cheryl new: And welcoming and so to keep our heart tender, but not taking it personally.
- 8:00Cheryl new: Mm.
- 8:00Cheryl new: So you have that what we call thicker skin.
- 8:02Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 8:03Kyla: Yeah.
- 8:03Kyla: And it's, you know, when you deliver a consequence, even in a kind healthy boundary way, kids are gonna often wanna shoot the messenger.
- 8:11Kyla: Yeah.
- 8:12Kyla: Mm-hmm..
- 8:12Kyla: So if you can keep a thick skin.
- 8:15Kyla: Mentally and maybe get filled up outside of your kids.
- 8:20Kyla: Yeah, that's important.
- 8:21Kyla: I'm learning.
- 8:22Cheryl new: That's one of the main things in parenting.
- 8:24Cheryl new: And you know what is so interesting, y'all play the cello.
- 8:27Cheryl new: No.
- 8:29Cheryl new: Okay.
- 8:29Cheryl new: If we started playing the cello, we would know there's a big learning curve and um, they have to develop calluses on their fingers and we would understand the pushback in other ways, whatever it is we're doing.
- 8:43Cheryl new: Like your giving your children a new level of responsibility, um, nobody likes the hard new thing, but we expect it in certain areas and for some reason, as.
- 8:55Cheryl new: Key as boundaries are to relationships, we kind of don't expect the pushback.
- 9:01o: Mm-hmm.
- 9:01o: We want, that's our
- 9:02Cheryl new: children to see the immediate benefits and go, mom, I love it when you tell me no'cause I can see, you know?
- 9:10o: Mm-hmm.
- 9:10o: It's
- 9:10Cheryl New (2): just not gonna happen, particularly as you introduce it maybe to teens or a little bit later in their life.
- 9:16Cheryl New (2): There's A learning curve.
- 9:18Cheryl New (2): All learning is hard,
- 9:19Christie: right?
- 9:19Christie: And
- 9:19Cheryl New (2): there's that curve at first when you're new at it and it's awkward.
- 9:24Cheryl New (2): and y'all know I've started, um, watercolor and.
- 9:29Cheryl New (2): It was hard.
- 9:30Cheryl New (2): I had to teach my fingers and um, and the wonderful thing is I'm not staying with the flowers I first started with.
- 9:38Cheryl New (2): I'm learning new things.
- 9:39Cheryl New (2): So it's always hard and challenging.
- 9:43Cheryl New (2): I don't know why.
- 9:44Cheryl New (2): And something as important as a relationships, we think, bam, we should nail this right away.
- 9:49Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 9:49Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 9:49Cheryl New (2): Both you and your kids.
- 9:51Cheryl New (2): Yeah, of course they're gonna push back.
- 9:53Kyla (2): That's true.
- 9:54Kyla (2): I think I struggle sometimes When I set a new boundary and they noticed that of, oh, you know, mom's doing something new, they call me out on it.
- 10:04Cheryl new: You know, Kyla, you're kind of being kind of hard on yourself.
- 10:07Cheryl new: What a beautiful thing that you're willing to do something new and different and hard for yourself and your kids.
- 10:14Cheryl new: I'm telling you, they're watching it.
- 10:16Cheryl new: It's never too late to begin inviting responsibility and clarity, thus love into your relationships.
- 10:23Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 10:23Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 10:24o: Mm-hmm.
- 10:24o: Now,
- 10:25Cheryl new: they don't like it now, but look what you're introducing to them and the humility of saying it's never too late.
- 10:32o: Hmm.
- 10:33Christie: Well then there's multiple.
- 10:35Christie: Uh, benefits.
- 10:37Christie: It's a benefit for you to set a boundary because it's that self care and, and preservation that you need to care for yourself.
- 10:45Christie: It's modeling for them how they can set boundaries in their own relationships, either now or in the future.
- 10:52Christie: And then it's teaching them how to receive a boundary.
- 10:55Christie: I mean, they're going to have all types of boundaries set in their lives with bosses and spouses and friends.
- 11:01Christie: And so I think.
- 11:04Christie: For me because it was a struggle for me too, was my, definitely my weak spot in parenting.
- 11:09Cheryl New (2): All three of us.
- 11:10Cheryl New (2): Yeah, I'm just saying.
- 11:11Cheryl New (2): Yeah, relational health is difficult.
- 11:13Cheryl New (2): Uhhuh, otherwise everybody would do it.
- 11:15Cheryl New (2): Well, I know I'm interrupting you, but I'm just saying.
- 11:18Cheryl New (2): We're so surprised that to do relationships well and to love other people well, particularly introducing it later in our lives, no wonder it's hard.
- 11:29Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 11:30Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 11:30Cheryl New (2): Sorry, go ahead.
- 11:31Christie: Um, just that.
- 11:32Christie: the more I can see it as a benefit for them and a way to love and serve them Yeah.
- 11:37Christie: Is more helpful.
- 11:39Christie: Yeah.
- 11:39Christie: Than just my own selfishness, you know, to, to just diffuse that lie that it's selfishness.
- 11:44Christie: Yes.
- 11:44Christie: That is helpful because it
- 11:45Kyla: helps you get through the tough moment.
- 11:47Kyla: 'cause you see, before I'm doing, doing this for you.
- 11:49Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 11:50Christie: Yeah.
- 11:51Christie: And it's, it's a little hard to believe it yourself and convince them of that.
- 11:55Kyla: Yeah.
- 11:56Kyla: Right.
- 11:57Kyla: I think one thing I really wanted to talk about with having teenagers was.
- 12:03Kyla: Boundaries with attitude or disrespect or sass.
- 12:07Kyla: I mean,'cause it goes hand in hand.
- 12:09Kyla: And I think one mistake I've made is being surprised by it.
- 12:12Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 12:13Kyla: Instead of it being normal.
- 12:15Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 12:15Kyla: To expect it, realize it's gonna happen.
- 12:17Kyla: But also realizing it's not normal to let it continue.
- 12:22Cheryl new: Mm.
- 12:23Cheryl new: That's been, wow.
- 12:23Cheryl new: This is so excellent.
- 12:25Cheryl new: What are some of the steps that you have picked up or how you've worked in it?
- 12:29Cheryl new: Because I love this, the, particularly wanting the harmony.
- 12:34Cheryl new: We want things to go smoothly and if we just
- 12:37Cheryl New (2): allow That sassy mm-hmm.
- 12:39Cheryl New (2): Disrespect, I am not letting them love me.
- 12:41Cheryl New (2): Well, right.
- 12:42Cheryl New (2): I have some friends who've had to walk through some really hard adult situations and they had to draw some very strong boundaries.
- 12:53Cheryl New (2): But the, the reason they did it is'cause they really realized I am not loving this other adult well if I allow them to continue to think this is the way they should treat people.
- 13:06Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 13:07Cheryl New (2): And when you realize actually what you are saying, I'm loving you so well.
- 13:12Cheryl New (2): That I'm gonna show you, this is not how we treat people.
- 13:15Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 13:16Christie: Exactly.
- 13:17Christie: Yeah.
- 13:17Christie: Kyla, I loved what you said about that it's not surprising for them to have this kind of attitude or disrespect, but it can't continue.
- 13:25Christie: Right?
- 13:26Kyla: Yeah.
- 13:26Kyla: It's normal that it happens.
- 13:27Kyla: It's not normal for it to continue.
- 13:29Kyla: Yes.
- 13:30Kyla: For me to allow it to continue.
- 13:31Christie: Right.
- 13:31Christie: Which is true in every season of our kids.
- 13:34Christie: Development.
- 13:35Christie: Mm-hmm.
- 13:36Christie: Like it's normal for them to throw the toy or their food off their high chair.
- 13:40Christie: Yes.
- 13:40Christie: But we don't let it continue.
- 13:41Christie: It's normal for them to yank the toy out of the friend's hand or stomp away, but we don't let it continue.
- 13:49Cheryl New (2): Exactly.
- 13:50Cheryl New (2): Yeah.
- 13:50Cheryl New (2): The most important thing we have, horizontally on earth is relationships.
- 13:55Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 13:56Cheryl New (2): And so we don't let it happen with the tool or the food.
- 13:59Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 14:00Cheryl New (2): Uh, how foolish that I thought it should continue in relationships, right?
- 14:05Cheryl New (2): Instead of taking the steps to say, no, this is how we're going to do this relationship.
- 14:10Christie: And for me, I think I just had that expectation that.
- 14:14Christie: Especially once they got into the teen years, I could taste adulthood.
- 14:18Christie: Right?
- 14:19Christie: Yeah.
- 14:19Christie: I could see them so close and I just wanted to fast track it.
- 14:22Christie: Yeah.
- 14:22Christie: I was like, oh, can we just be friends?
- 14:25Christie: Yeah.
- 14:25Christie: You know, just so long the, the journey of parenting is so long.
- 14:28Christie: I just really wanted them to fast track their maturity and just agree with me.
- 14:32Christie: Because you see glimpses of that
- 14:34Kyla: maturity.
- 14:34Kyla: Yes.
- 14:34Kyla: They gave you that
- 14:35Christie: hope
- 14:35Kyla: and then there's still, they reversed to immaturity really quick too, because I
- 14:39Cheryl new: expected you to be immature back then.
- 14:41Cheryl new: Right.
- 14:42Cheryl new: Can't we just, and I literally said that, can't we just quit all of this?
- 14:46Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 14:47Cheryl new: And be friendly with each other and act mature and
- 14:51Kyla (2): well on that note.
- 14:53Kyla (2): In Boundaries with Kids, it says, normal children naturally hate limits when you first set them, but the test is what are you going to do when the child expresses disrespect and pushback?
- 15:05Kyla (2): Wow.
- 15:06Cheryl new: So, what are you doing?
- 15:07Cheryl new: Have you gleaned some things
- 15:09Kyla: Yeah, I really have.
- 15:11Kyla: And they talk about in the book the first step being.
- 15:15Kyla: Empathy.
- 15:16Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 15:16Kyla: And then correction.
- 15:18Kyla: And I didn't do that for a long time.
- 15:19Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 15:20Kyla: I would bow up, how dare you talk to me.
- 15:22Kyla: Like that was my response.
- 15:25Kyla: But to have empathy, you know that I understand that you're really angry, but I.
- 15:31Kyla: I'm not going to allow you to continue to talk that way to me.
- 15:35o: Wow.
- 15:35o: Mm-hmm.
- 15:35Kyla: Just to have empathy with him.
- 15:37Kyla: I understand you're upset.
- 15:39Kyla: I hear that you're ticked off, you know, but.
- 15:43Kyla: That's not the way you're going to talk to me.
- 15:45Christie: That is so excellent.
- 15:47Christie: Yeah.
- 15:47Christie: And that reminds me of, uh, when we talked about the whole Brain Child Yes.
- 15:50Christie: Book by Dr.
- 15:51Christie: Uh, Siegel, I think is the author, um, that connect and redirect even when they're young.
- 15:57Christie: And so, gosh, I wish I would've done this more.
- 16:00Christie: I don't know if I did it enough at all.
- 16:02Christie: And
- 16:02Cheryl new: with teenagers,
- 16:03Christie: Uhhuh, I'm
- 16:03Cheryl new: connecting with you.
- 16:04Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 16:05Cheryl new: See.
- 16:05Cheryl new: Like we just, I'm gonna keep saying boundaries is an expression of love.
- 16:09Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 16:09Cheryl new: And what you just did, and when I'm listening to you, you're saying, oh, before I wasn't taking care of myself, so I exploded.
- 16:16Kyla: Yes.
- 16:17Cheryl new: And so that's what was happening.
- 16:19Cheryl new: You were reacting.
- 16:20Cheryl new: Yep.
- 16:20Cheryl new: Amygdala hijacked.
- 16:22Kyla: Oh, how dare you.
- 16:23Kyla: Yeah.
- 16:23Kyla: Right.
- 16:24Cheryl New (2): Instead of saying, stop.
- 16:25Cheryl New (2): express empathy.
- 16:27Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 16:28Cheryl New (2): You just crossed my boundary.
- 16:30Cheryl New (2): This is not appropriate.
- 16:32Cheryl New (2): And you.
- 16:33Cheryl New (2): Redirected saying, we're not gonna continue this.
- 16:36Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 16:37Cheryl New (2): Unless you change the way that you're treating me.
- 16:40Kyla: sure.
- 16:40Kyla: And kind of the light bulb moment for me was this has been really effective with the SaaS and disrespect, which has been one of the harder areas with teenagers.
- 16:49Kyla: Yes.
- 16:49Kyla: Is letting the consequence be more relational.
- 16:52Cheryl new: What do you
- 16:53Kyla: mean?
- 16:53Kyla: Well, just saying, I hear you're angry.
- 16:56Kyla: I understand you're mad, however.
- 16:59Kyla: You are not allowed to be in my presence when you're talking to me that way, so I'm leaving, or you need to go to your room or take a walk.
- 17:07Kyla: Because you can't talk to me that way.
- 17:09Cheryl New (2): 'Cause it might sound to someone here, a relational consequence cutting you off.
- 17:14Cheryl New (2): Right?
- 17:14Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 17:14Cheryl New (2): But actually that's what I did.
- 17:16Cheryl New (2): I, I built a wall and I cut them off in my heart.
- 17:20Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 17:21Cheryl New (2): When all that went on.
- 17:22Cheryl New (2): Without a boundary.
- 17:23Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 17:23Cheryl New (2): But you know, I love it saying, oh, we're putting space between us, right?
- 17:28Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 17:28Cheryl New (2): Until you learn how you can interact with me appropriately.
- 17:33Cheryl New (2): Exactly.
- 17:33Cheryl New (2): That is
- 17:33Christie: fantastic.
- 17:34Christie: And it's that until you learn part that keeps it from being, um, abandonment or rejection Right.
- 17:41Christie: It, it's saying, I am happy to have this conversation when you are ready.
- 17:46Christie: Yeah.
- 17:46Christie: To be respectful
- 17:47Kyla: and it really seems to.
- 17:49Kyla: To be effective because my kids really don't like that.
- 17:54Kyla: They don't like being sent away or me walking away.
- 17:57Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 17:57Kyla: They wanna keep the cycle going.
- 17:59Kyla: But that kind of brings me up to one of the points that I wanted to, to talk about in the podcast today was I used to and still struggle with getting caught up in the protest.
- 18:11Kyla: Yes.
- 18:12Kyla: Mm.
- 18:12Kyla: It's a trap for me, but realizing.
- 18:16Kyla: When I get caught up and I'm
- 18:18Kyla (2): reacting And I get caught up in the cycle of their anger mm-hmm.
- 18:22Kyla (2): Or their reaction to the, the boundary that's taking the problem off of the issue and making it on myself.
- 18:29Kyla (2): Mm-hmm.
- 18:29Kyla (2): Yes,
- 18:30Cheryl new: exactly.
- 18:31Cheryl new: We're not talking about the issue anymore.
- 18:33Cheryl new: Matter of fact.
- 18:34Cheryl new: And then we've said it before.
- 18:35Cheryl new: I remember one time Bill said, honey, can you come in here?
- 18:38Cheryl new: And, and it wasn't a heated conversation.
- 18:40Cheryl new: It was just one of those mm-hmm.
- 18:42Cheryl new: Round and round and round and round he said.
- 18:44Cheryl new: Do you even have any idea what that conversation started with?
- 18:50Cheryl new: Nope, because we'd covered like the entire Rocky Mountains uhhuh of the, you know, bouncing, bouncing, bouncing, talking about things and it.
- 19:00Cheryl new: And
- 19:01Cheryl New (2): I had completely lost Sight of what it was.
- 19:04Cheryl New (2): And like you're saying, you get pulled in that emotion.
- 19:06Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 19:06Cheryl New (2): You're not dealing with the actual issue anymore.
- 19:08Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 19:08Christie: Because more often than not, the protest is against control.
- 19:13Christie: Absolutely.
- 19:13Christie: Like the fight is for autonomy and independence.
- 19:16Christie: Yeah.
- 19:16Christie: And so if they can't get you, and this makes it sound like our kids are evil little beings.
- 19:21Christie: They're not.
- 19:21Christie: But if they can't get you on this matter.
- 19:24Christie: Then they'll move on to the next matter and then the next matter, and then they've got you in us running around in circles.
- 19:29Christie: Just trying to win, I think is the main goal.
- 19:32Christie: And then we get sucked into it in our immaturity the same way we're like, no, I'm fighting this thing out.
- 19:38Christie: I wanna win.
- 19:39Kyla: I think they said, all you've gotta do is hold the line one more time than your kids.
- 19:43Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 19:44Kyla: That's what boundaries are.
- 19:45Kyla: Just, wow.
- 19:45Kyla: One more time.
- 19:46Kyla: Hold the line.
- 19:47Cheryl new: Well and.
- 19:48Cheryl new: Then I've said it before, one of the most effective tools with my teens and then young adults.
- 19:54Cheryl new: I had to be aware enough to say we're talking about one thing.
- 19:57Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 19:58Cheryl new: Okay.
- 19:59Cheryl new: We're only going to talk about
- 20:00Cheryl New (2): this original issue.
- 20:02Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 20:02Cheryl New (2): And to slow down that much to say, we're talking about one subject we're talking about.
- 20:09Cheryl New (2): Whatever it is that you left the bathroom, a wreck when you left last night.
- 20:12Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 20:12Cheryl New (2): Whatever that is, and then, well, that's not fair because you did in the last weekend and suddenly we're spider webbing all over the place.
- 20:20Cheryl New (2): And then to be aware when the boundaries of how we treat each other kindly.
- 20:25Cheryl New (2): In conversations, respect.
- 20:27Cheryl New (2): Yeah.
- 20:27Cheryl New (2): When that gets crossed.
- 20:29Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 20:29Cheryl New (2): And so that's kind of all I have to do is keep those two things in mind and we stay on it.
- 20:36Cheryl New (2): I can stay focused with you.
- 20:37Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 20:38Cheryl New (2): I'm looking at you, Christy, like I'm talking to my teen young adult and we're gonna talk about this.
- 20:43Cheryl New (2): Whoops.
- 20:43Cheryl New (2): Just a minute.
- 20:44Cheryl New (2): We crossed that line also.
- 20:46Cheryl New (2): That helps me with the thick skin.
- 20:48Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 20:49Cheryl New (2): And the tender heart, because I don't have to defend myself.
- 20:52Cheryl New (2): I don't have to argue.
- 20:53Cheryl New (2): We can talk about the one thing.
- 20:55Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 20:55Cheryl New (2): And then when it moves to an area where it's disrespect either way, go, we have to stop this right now.
- 21:02Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 21:03Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 21:03Cheryl New (2): And we can talk about it later.
- 21:05Kyla: Um, I really like that thick skin, but a tender heart.
- 21:08Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 21:08Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 21:09Kyla: It makes it seem less.
- 21:10Kyla: That's cold.
- 21:11Kyla: It makes it seem loving, even though it's hard,
- 21:13Christie: which it's hard to balance those together at in the moment it sure.
- 21:17Christie: But I really think, you know, kind of going back to this, you know, this, chain reaction in the, in the moment of the conflict of, you know, well, last Thursday you did this, or you always say that, or you never do this.
- 21:29Christie: Mm-hmm.
- 21:30Christie: Mm-hmm.
- 21:30Christie: I think just if I can like level us up a little bit in balancing that.
- 21:36Christie: Thick skin, tender heart.
- 21:37Christie: What I've noticed, especially with my girls as they got older, was that can actually be a superpower.
- 21:43Christie: If you can balance listening to what those other arguments are.
- 21:48Christie: They have been very revealing to what a deeper issue that hasn't been discussed.
- 21:53Christie: Hmm.
- 21:53Christie: And so if you, I
- 21:54Cheryl new: can expand
- 21:55Christie: that a
- 21:55Cheryl new: little
- 21:55Christie: more.
- 21:55Christie: 'cause that's really true.
- 21:56Christie: Well, it's hard without divulging the details, but I'll try to give an example.
- 22:01Christie: But if, if you're saying.
- 22:03Christie: No, you can't go with this friend tonight.
- 22:06Christie: Yeah.
- 22:06Christie: You've got to do your chores or her homework or whatever, and then all of a sudden the fight becomes, you don't even ever listen to me.
- 22:15Christie: Yeah.
- 22:15Christie: You don't, you know, we, we don't ever communicate and then that's like, oh, there's something deeper down there in the heart of my child that needs to be addressed.
- 22:26Christie: It can't be right now, it has to be later, but I'm gonna tuck it away.
- 22:31Christie: And come back to it tomorrow when all the emotions have died down.
- 22:35Christie: That's good.
- 22:35Christie: Yeah, because I, I think sometimes it is manipulation.
- 22:38Christie: Yeah.
- 22:38Christie: And just wanting to, you know, use something emotionally against you, but it also might reveal something deeper in the relationship that's broken or needs attention.
- 22:47Cheryl New (2): I like this because what you're describing, it's the benefit of being very present.
- 22:52Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 22:53Cheryl New (2): That I'm really listening to you, and I will tell you if we keep it to one subject, like whether or not they can go to a party.
- 23:00Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 23:00Cheryl New (2): Let's just say that.
- 23:01Cheryl New (2): Can they go to this party Saturday night?
- 23:03o: Mm-hmm.
- 23:03Cheryl new: If we're talking about that, I don't have to be.
- 23:06Cheryl new: Lining up all my arguments.
- 23:08Cheryl new: Yes.
- 23:09Cheryl new: All of that.
- 23:09Cheryl new: And, and we're having a courtroom back and forth and, and going on to other subjects.
- 23:15Cheryl new: We can just stay on that one subject.
- 23:16Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 23:17Cheryl new: So I can really listen mm-hmm.
- 23:19Cheryl new: To what they're really saying.
- 23:21Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 23:21Cheryl new: Say, I really want to hear what you have to say, but when we bring in the emotion of it mm-hmm.
- 23:26Cheryl new: When we start both sides defending when I'm listening, so I can tear down their argument.
- 23:32Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 23:32Cheryl new: That's not a genuine conversation.
- 23:34Kyla: Well, and it's having the wisdom over should we have this conversation and I wanna hear your heart or being wise and seeing, they just wanna argue to wear me down and change my no to a yes.
- 23:47Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 23:48Christie: Yeah.
- 23:48Kyla: Yeah.
- 23:49Kyla: Actually, if I'm pressured a lot, I tend to feel controlled.
- 23:53Kyla: Uh, but in the boundaries with Kids' Book, one of the things that keys up on is, uh, be uncontrollable.
- 24:02Kyla: Mm.
- 24:03Kyla: And I like that my, I don't have to be a parent whose choices are dictated by my kids' response.
- 24:09Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 24:10o: And I used
- 24:10Kyla: to vacillate up and down and how are you feeling?
- 24:13Kyla: And yes and no and but to be uncontrollable and kind of a strong presence.
- 24:20Cheryl new: And I, I like it Not control to dominate, right?
- 24:24Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 24:24Cheryl new: But control.
- 24:25Cheryl new: So we are a stable, loving, consistent presence with our kids, right?
- 24:29Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 24:30Cheryl new: And not vacillating back and forth with every wind of emotion and hormones and stuff.
- 24:35Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 24:35Cheryl new: And one of the things that they say somewhere in their writings is what can help keep you there, stabilize you, is your why?
- 24:45Cheryl new: Mm.
- 24:45Cheryl new: Like why am I drawing this boundary?
- 24:47Cheryl new: Mm.
- 24:48Cheryl new: ask yourself, Why am I afraid?
- 24:52Cheryl new: Am I being driven by guilt or am I trying to rescue?
- 24:56o: Mm.
- 24:57Cheryl new: Oh, and I think those are three great questions to ask.
- 25:00Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 25:01Cheryl new: About the use of boundaries.
- 25:02Cheryl new: Right.
- 25:03Cheryl new: Okay.
- 25:03Cheryl new: So.
- 25:04Cheryl new: Say in again.
- 25:05Cheryl new: Do I have fear in this?
- 25:06Cheryl new: Okay.
- 25:06Cheryl new: Is this a fear thing?
- 25:07Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 25:08Cheryl new: Am I afraid of something?
- 25:09Cheryl new: Oh, I'm so afraid if I say that they'll reject me, or I'm whatever.
- 25:13Cheryl new: Is it fear?
- 25:13o: Mm-hmm.
- 25:14Cheryl new: Okay.
- 25:14Cheryl new: Is it guilt driven?
- 25:16Cheryl new: Oh, I'm always, I'm just, I'm not, and everybody else's, whatever.
- 25:20Cheryl new: Whatever.
- 25:20Cheryl new: Guilt driven.
- 25:21Cheryl new: I didn't do them right before, and now I'm feeling guilty about it.
- 25:25Cheryl new: Mm.
- 25:25Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 25:26Cheryl new: That, just that guilt or fear, and then am I trying to rescue them?
- 25:30o: Mm.
- 25:31Cheryl New (2): And that trying to rescue was a huge part for me.
- 25:35Cheryl New (2): Mm-hmm.
- 25:35Cheryl New (2): Because I didn't want my children to hurt.
- 25:37Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 25:38Cheryl New (2): And in general, but specifically after having lost their dad.
- 25:42Cheryl New (2): Right.
- 25:42Cheryl New (2): You were going through a
- 25:43Kyla: hard, crazy time.
- 25:45Cheryl new: And, and I, didn't do boundaries well.
- 25:47Cheryl new: 'cause I was always rescuing.
- 25:48Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 25:49Cheryl new: So I think those are three really good questions to ask yourself.
- 25:52Cheryl new: That's
- 25:52Christie: really, really good.
- 25:54Christie: You know, the phrase, uh, non-anxious presence.
- 25:57Christie: Yeah.
- 25:57Christie: That you wanna be a non-anxious presence.
- 25:59Christie: And I think that's a, like the picture of control, we're talking about a healthy kind of.
- 26:04Christie: Steadiness not control, like you're grasping out of these three things.
- 26:08Christie: Fear Guilt and wanting to rescue.
- 26:11Christie: Yeah, that, that's a ugly kind of control that makes us desperate or anxious.
- 26:17Christie: But a steadiness is a.
- 26:19Christie: Anxious free white
- 26:20Cheryl New (2): And see, I'm
- 26:21Cheryl new: thinking about how this would play out.
- 26:23Cheryl new: If we don't allow the tumult, then I can slow down a second and say, you know, am I being triggered?
- 26:30Cheryl new: Okay, why am I saying no about the party?
- 26:33o: Mm-hmm.
- 26:34Christie (2): or is it really a wise decision?
- 26:36Christie (2): Mm-hmm.
- 26:36Christie (2): The why, right.
- 26:37Kyla: Yeah, so I'm thinking about that, Cheryl, on the why, because when I look back on my parenting, my tendency was to say yes.
- 26:45Kyla: I said yes to my kids, to their requests, their needs, their mom, I want this for dinner and I wanna do this with my friend.
- 26:53Kyla: And I mean, I was saying yes.
- 26:56Kyla: Out of default and really wearing myself out
- 27:00Christie: for sure.
- 27:00Christie: Because you're operating out of that emotion.
- 27:03Christie: Yeah.
- 27:03Christie: Fear of the guilt, the rescue.
- 27:05Christie: Right.
- 27:05Christie: Wanting to make and see my, my default in those moments where I was pressed up against the wall or backed into a corner was, no, no, we're not painting, we're not going there, we're not eating out, we're not, you know, we're not doing anything.
- 27:17Christie: Just know and.
- 27:19Christie: I I, so I think we do have default extremes that we go, that feel safer, um, because yes, felt scary to me.
- 27:27Christie: It felt like there's a million variables and I don't know what's gonna happen.
- 27:31Christie: So if we just say no to everything, like I'm
- 27:33Kyla: causing them pain or disappointment, uhhuh.
- 27:36Kyla: That's how it felt to me.
- 27:37Christie: And I, I remember I got to a place, probably talking about things with Cheryl a million times, got me to a place of knowing that about myself.
- 27:45Christie: Mm-hmm.
- 27:45Christie: Having that self-awareness.
- 27:47Christie: So then I would say to my kids.
- 27:49Christie: If you back me in a corner right now and I have to answer you, the answer will be no.
- 27:54Christie: But if you'll gimme time to think about it and I can, you know, I wasn't saying this to them, but I was thinking if I could get some logic coming in mm-hmm.
- 28:02Christie: And look at the sys the situation more objectively, then there's a possibility I could give you a yes.
- 28:07Christie: And that was actually really effective for them to give me a motivator to give me that space.
- 28:13Kyla: Christy, that's brilliant.
- 28:14Kyla: That's almost a light bulb moment for me because I am not a quick responder.
- 28:18Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 28:19Kyla: If I'm put on the spot, it takes me a minute.
- 28:21Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 28:21Kyla: I would need some time to process.
- 28:22Kyla: I'm just not as quick on my feet, so that really is helpful.
- 28:26Kyla: Well, and your
- 28:26Christie: kids probably have picked up on that.
- 28:28Christie: Yes.
- 28:28Christie: Oh, you know, they know if they can get you to answer right now, you'll feel.
- 28:32Christie: Enough to say yes and usually say yes out of default.
- 28:35Christie: Yeah.
- 28:35Christie: I read a study when my girls were little, um, that kids, I don't remember the details of the study, but they said kids know intuitively how many times they need to beg or ask to get their parents to give in.
- 28:48Christie: Like somehow they were able to.
- 28:49Christie: To see that the kids knew on the seventh time is her breaking point or the ninth time is her breaking point when they fence the wearing
- 28:55Kyla: down.
- 28:55Christie: I was like, oh man.
- 28:56Christie: That is so true.
- 28:58Christie: It was just like you said, we've just gotta say no one more time.
- 29:01Christie: Yeah.
- 29:01Christie: Than they, then they're gonna Yeah.
- 29:03Christie: Win out, but,
- 29:04Cheryl new: and seeing the win out.
- 29:06Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 29:07Cheryl new: That's what I love about what our conversation is here, what we're talking about, this whole series.
- 29:12Cheryl new: It's not about winning and losing.
- 29:13Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 29:14Cheryl new: It's about.
- 29:15Cheryl new: Freeing everybody up.
- 29:16Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 29:17Cheryl new: To be themselves, to operate and have respect to their areas.
- 29:24Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 29:24Cheryl new: And themselves.
- 29:26Cheryl new: And we just get to lead in it.
- 29:28Cheryl new: Mm.
- 29:29Cheryl new: We're just a mess.
- 29:30Cheryl new: I'm
- 29:30Christie: just laughing.
- 29:30Christie: We are a mess.
- 29:31Christie: I'm laughing if my kids only knew the work I had to do on me.
- 29:36Christie: True.
- 29:37Christie: Absolutely.
- 29:37Christie: Just to grow up enough to be their
- 29:39Kyla: parents.
- 29:40Kyla: Ugh.
- 29:40Kyla: It is so hard.
- 29:42Kyla: One thing I did wanna say.
- 29:44Kyla: Regarding saying yes and no, and our different tendencies and opposite ness.
- 29:48Kyla: Christie, in the book, there's this really cool quote and it says, the parent who says no and then changes her mind is a hero, but the one who says yes and then no is a traitor.
- 30:01Kyla: Mm.
- 30:01Kyla: And I just really liked that, like just give myself some space.
- 30:05Kyla: Mm-hmm.
- 30:05Kyla: Be confident in my yes or no.
- 30:08Kyla: Don't change your mind, but if you do change your mind, it's better to go from no to Yes.
- 30:12Kyla: Oh, that's good fun.
- 30:13Kyla: I thought that really good.
- 30:14Kyla: Yeah.
- 30:14Kyla: So you got to be the hero, I guess so.
- 30:16Kyla: Yeah.
- 30:16Kyla: Yeah.
- 30:17Cheryl new: You know, and remember the fact that there's pushback.
- 30:20Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 30:20Cheryl new: The fact you say no, all of it, it doesn't mean you're doing the wrong thing.
- 30:23Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 30:24Cheryl new: In fact, good parenting is hard.
- 30:28Cheryl new: Mm.
- 30:28Cheryl new: And if it's really, really easy.
- 30:32Cheryl new: I would wonder why.
- 30:34Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 30:35Cheryl new: Because in life, anything we talked about, playing the cello,
- 30:39Cheryl New (2): everything worthwhile It's hard.
- 30:41Cheryl New (2): It's hard to stay fit.
- 30:42Cheryl New (2): It's hard to grow and change and develop new neural pathways and learn something new.
- 30:49Cheryl New (2): It's hard to love others.
- 30:51Cheryl New (2): Well, it is so easy, Kyla, for me to be selfish and to get my way.
- 30:58Cheryl New (2): But for me to know, where do I say no?
- 31:01Cheryl New (2): Where do I say yes this, the why behind it.
- 31:05Cheryl New (2): The
- 31:06Kyla: why.
- 31:06Kyla: It's hard
- 31:07Cheryl new: and complex.
- 31:08Cheryl new: It's really
- 31:08Kyla: hard.
- 31:09Kyla: Particularly, say that again, Cheryl, that just because it's hard doesn't mean I'm doing it wrong.
- 31:13Kyla: 'cause I, I really need to hear that.
- 31:15Kyla: And I think a lot of parents do.
- 31:17Cheryl new: It's absolutely true.
- 31:19Cheryl new: And, uh, we've got to stop.
- 31:22Cheryl new: This has been a great conversation, Kylie.
- 31:25Cheryl new: You always brings such good reality mm-hmm.
- 31:27Cheryl new: To what we're doing.
- 31:29Cheryl new: And if boundaries were easy, everyone would do it.
- 31:33Cheryl new: Yeah.
- 31:33Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 31:33Cheryl new: Because it would bring such health and vigor and growth and love to her relationships.
- 31:39Cheryl new: So the fact they're
- 31:40Cheryl New (2): hard might kinda tell us it's a good thing,
- 31:43Christie: right?
- 31:43Christie: Yeah.
- 31:44Cheryl new: Wow.
- 31:45Cheryl new: What a picture of what Dr.
- 31:47Cheryl new: Townsend Cloud say that healthy boundaries.
- 31:50Cheryl new: Make healthy relationships.
- 31:51Cheryl new: Make healthy families.
- 31:52o: Mm-hmm.
- 31:53Cheryl new: I just love this.
- 31:54Cheryl new: What a great wrap up.
- 31:56Cheryl new: Me too.
- 31:56Cheryl new: Thank you, Kyla.
- 31:57Cheryl new: Thank you for coming today.
- 31:59Kyla: Well.
- 32:00Kyla: You're welcome.
- 32:00Kyla: It's a weak spot, so I feel inadequate, but I've also been a big student in this.
- 32:05Kyla: Yeah.
- 32:06Cheryl new: So have we.
- 32:07Cheryl new: Mm-hmm.
- 32:08Cheryl new: So parents remember, hang in there.
- 32:11Cheryl new: Keep loving, keep persevering because it's worth it.
- 32:17Speaker: You know, I've learned that boundaries rarely feel good in the moment they stretch us.
- 32:24Speaker: They test our patience and sometimes our hearts, and they're hard.
- 32:31Speaker: But they also invite us and our kids into something deeper.
- 32:38Speaker: So when the pushback comes or the guilt sneaks in, don't lose your footing.
- 32:45Speaker: Take a breath.
- 32:46Speaker: Keep your voice gentle.
- 32:48Speaker: Your heart soft.
- 32:50Speaker: And your boundary steady.
- 32:53Speaker: You are not trying to win a battle.
- 32:56Speaker: You're building trust one boundary, one moment at a time, and that kind of work, it's sacred.
- 33:08Speaker: We'd love to hear how this is taking shape in your home.
- 33:11Speaker: Reach out at contact@theparentingpodcast.com or find us on socials.
- 33:19Speaker: And just remember, you're not alone.
- 33:22Speaker: We're right here walking this with you.