Community Education-MPC

Last week, when we were talking about physical boundaries, body rights are an important part of personal health. Every single person you see has an inherent gift called body rights. These are rights that go with you your whole life and there are consequences (legally) when others violate these rights. We should be reminding and repeating these rights to our children and the kids around us to help them understand physical boundaries and when they always have the right to say no. Body rights help bring awareness to appropriate behavior in relationships of all kids and helps children be able to identify for themselves when things are off. Let’s help them feel empowered to stay safe in relationships!

Last week we talked about boundaries, and this week we are talking about the biology behind boundaries!
Oxytocin, dopamine, and vasopressin are all neurochemicals that the hypothalamus in the brain produces. These are crucial to human function, but they are also crucial in how we engage in relationships. These are often called “love hormones” because when we are in a loving relationship, they are released. This includes physical activities, but also actions and opportunities to protect, provide, and care for. Bonding is the process that takes place when we release these chemicals with another person. We are literally, chemically, physiologically bonding ourselves to them.

Helping our teens understand the amazing way God has designed our bodies for one life-long partner can empower them to make good choices when responding in loving relationships. This is a great warning, but even more so, it is freeing knowing that it really is the best way to live and having confidence in that.

*Last slide is all information in one to share!

For more detail on emotional and physical bounding during meaningful and s*xual activity, and why God’s design for waiting is the best, we highly recommend reading through “Hooked: New Science on How Casual S*x is Affecting Our Children” by Dr McIlhaney & Dr Bush.

Boundaries in dating are so important to help guide and regulate actions, especially when it comes to romantic feelings. Here are a few aspects that you and your teen can talk through to help them form dating boundaries of their own. Remember, it is important to not just tell a teen about the boundaries you have for them, but for them to also make their own, and make it personal.

Freedom: “make commitments because they feel it’s the right thing to do, and they are wholehearted about it.” (Cloud & Townsend)

Responsibility: “your ability to execute your task in keeping the relationship healthy and loving, as well as being able to say no to things you shouldn’t be responsible for.” (Cloud & Townsend)

Inspired from the book- Boundaries In Dating by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend