Community Education-MPC

Emotional boundaries have to do with protecting our emotions and our heart as we interact with others and the world. This type of boundary helps us to stay healthy and process through feelings without them getting out of control or without us getting taken advantage of. With all of the boundaries we talk about, being an example is so important for children and teens to see. When it comes to needs being met (especially emotional needs and physical touch), if they are not receiving it in a safe and loving environment, they will seek it elsewhere and have a hard time developing healthy boundaries. Help your child learn how navigate this by working through some important aspects of emotional boundaries in our post and by modeling a healthy environment at home.

We talked previously about physical boundaries when it comes to romantic and s*xual activity, but there are also physical boundaries that everyone should have regardless if they are in a dating relationship or not. These boundaries protect our bodies from overcommitting and choosing options that can have serious consequences on our health. Remind the teens in your life that we are more than just our bodies, but our body needs to be cared for and have limits, the same as other aspects of life, so we can reach our best potential. We may at times feel that we are emotionally or mentally able and willing to do something, but physically, we need to say no because that is the best for us. Help the teens in your life learn what that balance looks like between saying yes and no to physical opportunities will help them lead a healthy, joy-filled life.

Share a story about how you have experienced physical boundaries and how that has been beneficial for you!

The boundaries line in the picture is the natural & normal progression of a healthy relationship. Yes, it does include s*x! But it needs to take place in the right order and in the right timing. Each boundary step is not something to have a goal of completing in a week, but each step should be taken carefully and with much consideration. Share this with your teen to encourage them of what healthy physical steps look like, but also encourage the idea of waiting, and for Christians waiting until marriage, for the more intimate physical activities. The truth is that every time someone engages in s*x, there is a potential for pregnancy, S*xually Transmitted Infections (STI), and emotional and physical bonding. You can still be in a healthy, loving relationship even if you are not engaging in steps farther down the line! A majority of the time spent in a marriage relationship is on talking and doing activities together, a very small amount is engaging in physical activity. Encourage your teens to learn how to focus on what really matters in relationships!