Protecting Your Peace: Setting Boundaries with Difficult Family Members with Lauren Auwood Artwork

The Sparkle Project

(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)

The Sparkle Project is a feminist podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their sparkle, if you will.

So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside a patriarchal system that expects us to give endlessly, stay quiet, and lose ourselves in the process. This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.

Hosted by Emily Rose MacDonald, a divorced mom of two on her own journey to shine a little brighter, each episode explores the realities of modern motherhood through a feminist lens that values equity, autonomy, mental health, and the humanity of moms.

You’ll hear conversations about identity, mental health, self-care, healing, and the many ways we can reclaim ourselves in a world that often overlooks the needs of mothers.

If you’re a mom who believes we deserve more than survival, and that our culture has to evolve for moms to truly thrive, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to The Sparkle Project.

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The Sparkle Project

Protecting Your Peace: Setting Boundaries with Difficult Family Members with Lauren Auwood

March 18, 2025 • Episode 140

Navigating boundaries with family can be one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood — especially when dealing with difficult or toxic dynamics. In this episode, I'm joined by licensed therapist and mom of two, Lauren Auwood, to unpack the complexities of setting and holding boundaries with family members, from well-meaning in-laws to overbearing parents. If you’ve ever struggled with guilt, confusion, or frustration when trying to protect your peace, this conversation is for you.

In the episode, Lauren and I discuss:

🌿 Boundaries in Motherhood: Why they matter and how to set them with confidence
👵 Generational Dynamics: Understanding why older family members may struggle with boundaries
💬 Compassionate Communication: How to address boundary-crossing behaviors with curiosity
❌When Enough is Enough: Signs it might be time to limit or end contact
🔑 The Follow-Through Factor: Why boundaries only work when you uphold them

A little about our guest:

Lauren Auwood is a licensed therapist and mom of 2 who truly understands the chaos of motherhood—especially when it involves navigating boundaries. She specializes in empowering millennial moms to confidently manage complex family dynamics, whether it’s in-laws who show up unannounced or parents with an endless stream of advice. Lauren helps moms safeguard their peace and say ‘no’ without the guilt.

To connect with Lauren, follow her on Instagram @laurenatherapist or visit her website www.laurenatherapist.com.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @honestlyemilyrose and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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