The summer is winding down now, and before long, the kids will be back in school, and we’ll be carving Halloween pumpkins! It’s been a great summer for us; I hope yours has been as well.
This time of year is usually when life becomes more relaxed and easy going. That being said, I’m doing what I can to get in this mental space, and I’m spending more quality time with my kiddos before school starts later this month. Here’s a shot of us at the county fair. It’s so typical of us…my son hates to have his picture taken, while my daughter is just the opposite, as you can tell. And the three of us were absolutely roasting from the summer heat that day. It makes me laugh when I see it now!
Boundaries Don’t Take Summers Off!
Having the kids home is wonderful, but irregular schedules, lots of activities, late bed times and late mornings equates to very limited quiet time, let alone time without interruption. All of which are causes for overstepping boundaries, and I’ve found through my own cause-and-effect experiences that honoring my boundaries is just as important during the easy-going, laid-back summer months as it is any other time!
I think it’s the idea I get in my head that I can do it all—it’s summer so it’s okay; I want to make the kids happy—thoughts like this cause me to relax and ease my way past my own boundaries. It works for a while, but then, BAM! By not honoring my boundaries, I become grouchy, which makes my kids grouchy, and then no one is having any fun! And what’s also sad but true is that it carries over to my work and causes me to feel overwhelmed, as if there’s never going to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I hate this feeling, and most times I bring it on myself. I know I can prevent myself from feeling this way, and you can too, if this is sounding all too familiar. We need to make sure that others honor the boundaries we have put in place, and just as importantly, that we honor them ourselves. If we choose to let them go, others will, too.
The same is true with horses. If every time I approached my horse, I let him in “my space” he would continue to do it each time we were together. Instead, I set the boundary of where I want him to stand and there’s a mutual respect between us. He doesn’t try to overstep and I stand my ground. It’s a win-win for both.
Can you think of a time or a particular situation that could have had a much more positive outcome if only you had honored your boundaries? If so, think back on that the next time you’re tempted to overstep a boundary. How would it make you feel? Remember to always trust your intuition and follow your heart. Neither ever lie.
When you hear from me next I will have just returned from my second Equus Coach in Training onsite in San Luis Obispo, CA. I can’t even being to tell you how excited I am to meet with this amazing tribe again. It was life changing before and I’m certain it will be again. I will share more next time. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer!
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