Woman Shares Touching Story About Her Mom's Lesson In Respecting Personal Boundaries

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mattstaff
Dec 29, 2018 11:00 PM EST

You can always leave...

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  • 01
    Text - Thread Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook I want to tell you a story about how my mum taught me that I'm allowed to leave an uncomfortable situation. 9/29/18, 11:13 AM 3,275 Retweets 8,056 Likes Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h I was maybe 7, I think it was my first sleepover at someone else's house. I don't remember the girl's name. But before I left Mum told me that if I was uncomfortable at any point, for any reason, even if it was in the middle of the night, I could call her. 35 899
    via @erynnbrook
  • 02
    Text - Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h She was very clear. She said even if her parents have gone to bed I want you to knock on their bedroom door and ask to use the phone. I could call her even if it was late. And if her parents didn't answer the door to just go find the phone and call her anyway 118 830 Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h She said it doesn't matter what time it is, you won't be in trouble and I'll come get you. I think I was being teased about something. It definitely wasn't just I can't
    via @erynnbrook
  • 03
    Text - Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h She was very clear. She said even if her parents have gone to bed I want you to knock on their bedroom door and ask to use the phone. I could call her even if it was late. And if her parents didn't answer the door to just go find the phone and call her anyway 118 830 Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h She said it doesn't matter what time it is, you won't be in trouble and I'll come get you. I think I was being teased about something. It definitely wasn't just I can't
    via @erynnbrook
  • 04
    Text - Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h I remember holding the phone and my mum answered. I said "hi Mum." She said "you want me to come get you?" I said "yes please." She said "ask her Mum to help you pack up your things and get your coat on. I'll be right there." t19 862 Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h And my mum showed up on her doorstep in pajama pants and a coat. The girl's mum kept apologizing for me calling, my mum put up a hand and said "don't apologize for my daughter. I want her to know she's a
    via @erynnbrook
  • 05
    Text - Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h I had more incidents like that as I grew up. My mum did a lot around boundaries with me. I remember her marching me down the street to another girl's house to ask for an apology in front of her parents. t20 1,231 Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 10h I remember her telling 3 friends to sit in the front room with their bags packed while they waited for their parents to get them, after I had told them all to "get out of my house" for teasing me and bullying me. 1,192 t 23
    via @erynnbrook
  • 06
    Text - Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 9h I can't say I've always followed my gut on boundaries and discomfort. I can't say I've never swallowed it in order to make others comfortable. But I can say what she taught me was important. It was and still is radical t139 1,543 Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 9h It's radical to have boundaries. And to exercise them. Three things I think were really really important in what she did: 1. She always explicitly said "you can leave if you want to." 2. She never questioned w
    via @erynnbrook
  • 07
    Text - Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 9h And I still get that message from a lot of places. But my mum taught me that I'm allowed to leave I see what a privilege that is as an adult. For some people, for some situations, there is no way out. But sometimes, also, we don't leave because we think we're not allowed. t103 1,745 Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 9h So, just in case no one ever told you (or you need a reminder): YOU ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE You can leave a date, a party, a job, a meeting, a commitment. You
    via @erynnbrook
  • 08
    Text - Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook 9h Hell, I absorbed a lot of it anyway. As an adult, at that camp job, I remember her on the phone saying "what do you want to do?" And not knowing, until she said "do you want to leave?" And I said "can 1?" She said "You can always leave. What do you need so you can leave?" L246 5 1,374 Erynn Brook @ErynnBrook. 9h So, if you're a person like me, who was taught that you're allowed to leave, keep an eye out for those who weren't. They may need the reminder. They may
    via @erynnbrook

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