I’m lying on the floor of the Leicester Road house, surrounded by the last remnants of a life that’s now being packed away. The furniture is disappearing. The walls are beginning to echo. And in 48 hours, we’ll be gone.

If you’ve spent years walking on eggshells, setting a boundary can feel like setting off a bomb.

But here’s the truth: boundaries aren’t about being difficult. They’re about being honest. With others, and yourself. 

Feeling emotionally disconnected in your relationship? Discover compassionate, clear ways to communicate during midlife crossroads — from reconnection to respectful separation.

There’s something surreal about watching someone you once built a life with stand up in court and present a version of reality that leaves out everything that matters. Not just the facts, but the context. The effort. The emails. The unanswered invitations to work together. The children’s actual needs.

Feeling like you're carrying the whole relationship? Learn how to spot rescuer dynamics and reclaim emotional balance, clarity, and confidence in love.

Be aware that at this time of year, many of us will be more vulnerable and more insecure than usual. Let’s face it, all the Christmas movies are based around two people resisting then finding love for each other, or family Christmasses with a Mum, a Dad and however many children. The pressure to have a ‘happy family Christmas’ is huge.

This year the children and I will find ways of doing Christmas differently, we will invite in new little rituals and celebrations that connect us and keep our hearts full, even when we’re not together.