Reactivity is a normal part of being human. But that doesn’t mean you need to allow someone to vent it at you. As adults, we are responsible for managing reactivity and not letting it splash onto others. When we fail at this, we are responsible for initiating repair. Unfortunately, this may not be what was modeled for you growing up. You may imagine that name-calling, blaming, guilt-tripping, or stonewalling are acceptable parts of any relationship. Setting life-serving boundaries with these behaviors is not about expecting someone to be perfect. It’s about letting them know that you aren’t going to participate in those kinds of relationship dynamics.