Real World Peaceful Parenting

220: Why Setting Limits Is So Hard (And How to Do It Anyway)


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On today’s episode of Real World Peaceful Parenting, Lisa Smith breaks down one of the biggest challenges parents face—setting and enforcing limits with kindness and firmness. Many parents set limits but struggle to hold them when faced with meltdowns, pushback, or guilt. Lisa dives into why enforcing limits is tough, why it actually makes kids feel more secure, and how to do it without feeling mean. Plus, she shares practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you stay consistent, even when emotions run high.


What You'll Learn:

  • Why setting consistent limits makes kids feel safe, not restricted.
  • How to hold firm without feeling guilty or like the "mean parent."
  • The biggest mistakes parents make when enforcing boundaries—and how to fix them.
  • A simple script for setting limits with empathy and authority.
  • Why kids test limits (and why that’s actually a good thing!).
  • The one phrase that will help you stay calm and follow through every time.
...more
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Real World Peaceful ParentingBy Lisa Smith