--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's great if the in-laws themselves put…" description: "\"It's great if the in-laws themselves put up boundaries. But if they won't; it's up to their grown kids to do it and enforce them.\" — Phil McGraw" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phil-mcgraw-3416_boundaries_it-s-great-if-the-in-laws-themselves-put_3088588.jpg" --- # It's great if the in-laws themselves put up boundaries… ![“It's great if the in-laws themselves put up boundaries. But if they won't; it's up to their grown kids to do it and enforce them.” quote by Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phil-mcgraw-3416_boundaries_it-s-great-if-the-in-laws-themselves-put_3088588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phil-mcgraw-3416_boundaries_it-s-great-if-the-in-laws-themselves-put_3088588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/phil-mcgraw-3416_boundaries_it-s-great-if-the-in-laws-themselves-put_3088588.jpg) > “It's great if the in-laws themselves put up boundaries. But if they won't; it's up to their grown kids to do it and enforce them.” [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Setting limits with in-laws is essential; if they don't, their adult children must establish and enforce boundaries themselves. **In simple terms:** In-laws need boundaries; kids must enforce them if parents won’t. Key Takeaway Adult children should define and uphold limits. Themes family dynamics boundaries responsibility Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice relationship When to use this quote - marriage counseling - family gatherings - parental guidance - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology interpersonal relations Questions to Reflect On - How can you communicate boundaries without causing resentment? - What signs indicate a boundary is being ignored? A Different Perspective Enforcing boundaries can strain relationships if not handled sensitively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Boundaries Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries-won-5300534/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Enforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enforce/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Grown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown/) [Grown Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-kids-1631033/) [In-laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-laws/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Enforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-enforce-5300533/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/themselves/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [I think I'm playing grown up because I have kids now. 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It will serve you well to remember that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-keith/there-are-no-boundaries-i-won-t-cross-it-will-serve-you-well-to/) [Megan Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-keith/) > [I come from Leganes and I have grown up with kids from all countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-carvajal/i-come-from-leganes-and-i-have-grown-up-with-kids-from-all-countries/) [Dani Carvajal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-carvajal/) > [I've grown up with kids watching me and as they're growing up, I'm growing up, and hopefully they can get a good message from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/i-ve-grown-up-with-kids-watching-me-and-as-they-re-growing-up-i-m-2/) [Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/) > [ONCE A MOM ALWAYS A MOM... 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S. Trow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-s-trow/) > [What you cannot enforce, do not command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/what-you-cannot-enforce-do-not-command/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“enforce obedience thereto. The object, on either side, doth not justify the means; for the lives of men are too”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/enforce-obedience-thereto-the-object-on-either-side-doth-not-justify/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Whenever we have had a need for a national security or public safety issue, Congress has always followed the recommendations of the White House,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/whenever-we-have-had-a-need-for-a-national-security-or-public-safety/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [“A blanket could be used to lay down the law. Lay it down over there, on top of the bed, and I’ll come over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-lay-down-the-law-lay-it-down-over-there-on/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Phil McGraw > [People have the right to think and say whatever they want to. 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They command it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/leaders-inspire-they-aren-t-assigned-leadership-they-command-it/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [Those who marry for money end up EARNING it anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/those-who-marry-for-money-end-up-earning-it-anyway/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [There's a big difference between falling in love and being in love. There's a big difference between infatuation and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/there-s-a-big-difference-between-falling-in-love-and-being-in-love/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [As parents we're not nearly as computer literate as our children are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/as-parents-we-re-not-nearly-as-computer-literate-as-our-children-are/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [Do you realize that you can't play the game of life with sweaty palms?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/do-you-realize-that-you-can-t-play-the-game-of-life-with-sweaty-palms/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [I think every parent, every generation has wanted their children to do better and have a higher standard of living. But I think there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/i-think-every-parent-every-generation-has-wanted-their-children-to-do/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [The most you get is what you ask for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/the-most-you-get-is-what-you-ask-for/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) [Explore all 131 Phil McGraw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) ## More Boundaries quotes > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. 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