05/10/2026
Boundary scripts to use with a mother who criticizes you, guilt-trips you, or comments on your parenting from a licensed therapist of almost 30 years who wrote an entire book (Boundary Boss🔥) on boundaries! LFG!
The critical mother. Nothing you do is right, from your weight to your parenting skills.
The script: “Mom, if you comment on my body, I’m going to change the subject. If it keeps happening, I’m going to end the call.”
You are not arguing about whether the comment was fair. You are telling her what you will do and then you do it. Boundaries without follow-through are just thoughts and ideas!
The guilt-tripper. The sighs, the silent treatment and “after everything I did for you.”
The script: “I can hear that you’re upset. I love you, and I’m still can’t come on Saturday night. “
You are not denying her feelings. You are letting her have them, and not changing course because of them. Many of us were trained from childhood to read our mothers’ moods and adjust ourselves to manage them. Letting her be disappointed is a skill you can learn.
The boundary-stomper. She drops by unannounced, gives parenting advice you don’t want and are NOT gonna take, and treats your home and your kids as extensions of her own life.
The script: “We don’t do drop-ins anymore, Mom. Going forward, please call before you come over. If you arrive without calling, we won’t be able to have you in.”
There is no need for a long explanation. You are stating the new agreement and its consequences. The boundary stands whether she agrees with it or not.
If any of this hit close to home, this is the work we do together in my six-week Mother Wound course. We start this week. Head to terricole.com/motherwound. I would love to have you with us. 💕
