Are you saying “yes” just to keep the peace—while quietly losing yourself in the process? If you feel trapped between avoiding conflict and honoring your own needs, you’re not alone. Amy Ballantyne, executive coach and host of Power to the People Pleasers, breaks down how people-pleasing patterns show up in co-parenting—and how to start setting boundaries without guilt, escalation, or self-abandonment.

Learn more about Amy Ballantyne at: https://www.amyballantyne.com/

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Other Resources Mentioned:
• Celebrate Yourself by Amy Ballantyne
• Power to the People Pleasers Podcast

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Watch This Episode: https://youtu.be/hV6YuttGURU

Keywords
people pleasing in relationships, co-parenting boundaries, high conflict co-parenting, setting boundaries with ex, self worth and boundaries, people pleaser recovery, communication skills co-parenting, conflict avoidance psychology, parenting after divorce, emotional intelligence parenting

Takeaways

• The Approval Trap: How early conditioning drives people-pleasing—and shows up in co-parenting communication.
• The Boundary Reset: Identify your non-negotiables before the conversation so you don’t default to “yes.”
• The “No Without Drama” Method: Use simple, respectful language (even just “no”) without over-explaining.
• The Win-Win Lens: Shift from control to collaboration by finding outcomes that work for both parents and kids.
• The Self-Worth Link: Why stronger boundaries come from self-love—and how to start building it.
• The Pattern Breaker: What your child learns from your boundaries—and how to model healthier dynamics.

Chapters

00:00 The People-Pleasing Trap
01:00 From Helper to Coach
02:00 The Approval Pattern in Co-Parenting
03:00 Where People Pleasing Begins
05:00 The Biggest Myth About People Pleasers
06:30 Why Saying No Feels So Hard
08:30 Boundaries vs. Self-Abandonment
10:00 Big Picture vs. Petty Fights
12:00 When Co-Parenting Feels Impossible
13:30 Setting Boundaries That Stick
15:00 How to Say No Without Escalating
17:00 What Kids Learn From Your Patterns
19:00 Teaching Boundaries to Your Child
22:00 The Link Between Self-Worth and Boundaries
23:30 A Simple Self-Love Practice
24:30 Handling Disrespect Without Losing Yourself
27:00 Lightning Round: Boundaries & Self-Respect
31:00 One Step to Start Changing Today

What if your co-parent’s toxic messages never even reached you? Thousands of parents are already finding peace with the BestInterest Coparenting App. As a listener, you can too. Claim 40% off an annual subscription here: https://bestinterest.app/beyond