There’s an order of operations to setting expectations and keeping boundaries, but it’s easy to mix up. Often we set boundaries and then hold high expectations, rather than setting clear expectations and maintaining our boundaries. The former (setting boundaries and holding expectations) mostly leaves us disappointed when no one seems to “get us”. Whereas when we are clear from the outset about what we expect, then we can focus on our boundaries. We’ll mix up the order now and then, but it’s interesting to notice how relationships develop when expectations (clear rules of engagement) are laid out before boundaries (fence lines).