1. Remember, a boundary is how you will act in each situation, not what you expect from others.
114 www. AspireMAG. net | April / May 2025
That’ s when your kids push their limits or play one parent against the other. Your boundaries aren’ t clear. Anything is acceptable— or is it?
Even though you are no longer together, you and your co-parent are a team. Consider your child the team mascot. Your child represents the love and devotion you both have for them— even if you were never officially a couple. Respecting each other’ s boundaries is a way to demonstrate your mutual love for your child and exhibits respect in real time.
Let’ s look at 4 effective ways to establish boundaries with a co-parent— and make those boundaries stick.
1. Remember, a boundary is how you will act in each situation, not what you expect from others.
So be clear in what your behavior will be should your boundary be disrespected.
For example:“ I will not wait for you for more than 15 minutes at our exchange location. Later than that, please pick our child up at my home.”
Your boundary is not an ultimatum in reaction to your co-parent’ s tardiness, but what you will do if you must wait at an exchange for longer than 15 minutes.
Rather than be angry that your co-parent is not punctual, simply outline your behavior. Then it is up to your co-parent to adjust their own behavior.
114 www. AspireMAG. net | April / May 2025