by Heidi Hauptly

Created on: May 10, 2009   Last Updated: May 11, 2009

My family and I have been quailing over the issues of respect. It sounds like an easy thing to do but for some of us it's not so easy. When someone does not agree with a certain lifestyle or belief that does not give them the right to disrespect that person for what they believe or how they live their life. Yes they may not agree with what they believe or even their chosen lifestyle therefore the only thing to do is respect that this is their choice and move on no matter if you agree or not. Sounds complicated but in all actuality it is not.

Take my family for instance. We have been disagreeing with a certain lifestyle and different beliefs over that lifestyle. Now I don't agree with the lifestyle or the beliefs behind it but I don't hate that person but I do love them. I don't accept their beliefs or decisions they are making but I don't disrespect them for it. I did however choose to cut ties with a family member due to the fact that they did not care to even hear my side of things and kept telling me how bad of a parent I was and just putting me down in a lot of ways.

What do you do in situations like that? Well it's hard to do when it comes to family but cutting off ties with someone no matter who it is just might help them to eventually realize what they did was wrong and come to their senses. I don't like being treated with disrespect when all I tried to do was let them know where the boundaries were. If you don't believe the way someone is living their life or what they believe you then can set boundaries. I don't like the way that a certain person in my family is living their life therefore I chose to set boundaries. Letting them know they can still see my children just within my certain rules. If they choose to respect the boundaries that I have set is up to them and if they don't then it is necessary to cut all contact with them off because they obviously don't respect you enough to go along with your boundaries.

We are all different and we don't raise our kids the same nor do we live our lives the same. We all don't believe the same things or whatever the case may be but the bottom line is respect. If they can't respect you and consistently down grade you why would you want to be around someone like that? Someone that consistently puts you down. Someone that makes you feel like garbage. That is when you need to take a stand and say,"Look you've put me down enough. I am not going to take it and so as of this moment we are done speaking." Keep in mind though that it is never an easy thing to say to a friend or family member that you need to cut them off but in the end it is for the best. You have your own life to lead or your own family to think of.

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