A boundary is a limit that you get to set. It says quite clearly: This Far and No Farther! Your boundaries will protect you. They tell people how you want to be treated; what you will listen to in a conversation; up to what time they can call you at night; what your preferences are, and basically, how you are going to protect your mind and your body.

Setting boundaries has to be done first, inside your own mind, and will help you to stand up for yourself. Frequently, when you set boundaries inside your own mind, if they are firm enough there, they might not even have to be spoken. Sometimes, your ex assumes that he/she knows you and your wishes, wants and desires and they might just not have an accurate take on your boundaries, so in this instance, you might have to establish boundaries that are more firm, as in speaking them aloud or writing them down.

From the day you separated from your ex, you began to change and you are no longer that individual he/she lived with, knew and loved. You've become someone different and they no longer know you. They only know the you that you used to be. So you have to communicate your new boundaries to him or her. I know that this can be an emotional gut wrencher, and it must be done.

You'll want to be on top of things before you call your ex to tell him your boundaries, so I recommend writing them down first. Talk them over with a friend, a supportive parent or pastor. Revise them until they are totally reasonable to you. If you are not able to tell your ex face to face about your boundaries, read them to him over the telephone. This will give you some distance and help you to remain objective. It is 100% okay for you to demand that your boundaries be adhered to. Others will have respect for you and you can also respect yourself when you set boundaries.

Your boundaries might involve consequences. You might have to tell them that they have violated one of your boundaries. You may have to spell out the consequences. Please remember that not only are you respecting yourself; you are also honoring your children when you establish boundaries.

Here are some sentences you can use to help yourself establish boundaries:

My ex may no longer .....

I'm entitled to ask that my ex does ....

I don't like how I feel when my ex ....

You have to develop the habit called self protection both for you and for your kids. It's gaining a mind set that says "I am not vulnerable. You may not accost me or my children." It might feel like empty words when you first say them - when you first stand up for yourself by insisting on your boundaries. Ultimately, your comfort with exercising this right and protection will become second nature to you. And still later, you'll have those boundaries well established and wonder how you ever lived without them.