Boundaries: Setting and Keeping them

[elenetxu]

Hello everyone!

Crappy Saturday night here. I have a big freelance assignment due tonight and one due next Sunday. I've got a lot on my plate right now and I need to do a lot of work at home.

DH is stressed because he has to hand in this year's curriculum on Monday and he doesn't know how to do it because the laws have changed. His boss told him that his first copy was unacceptable so he's in a tizzy about not knowing how to do the new copy.

He just got upset that I wouldn't help him.

Obviously, I need boundaries here. I have explained to him multiple times today that I have assignments due and that I cannot help him. I have helped him by printing out the new law and saving it on a USB for him, but I can't sit down and go through the law because I need to work. (I'm taking time off to write here because I need to get this off my chest. Writing this helps me so much. Internalizing does not.)

In telling him that I cannot help him, and not giving in to his guilt trip about him being "alone in the face of danger", am I doing an ok job keeping the boundary? What can I do to improve it?

This seems like such an easy thing to do, but it's hard as hell when you have the guilt trips coming at you from all sides. I appreciate any input/wisdom you guys have to offer!

[elenetxu]

I just tried to help him but he brushed me off, saying "I sell my help for a very high price." He then proceeded to chide me for not buying any juice today when I went to the supermarket.

I hate when he is stressed.

When he isn't stressed, he's lovely.

[elenetxu]

Sept 28, 2014 8:34:58 GMT -5 @evelynrichards said:

Blech, I'm sorry.

No worries. 18 hours later and things are fine. What a cycle!