Relationships involve compromises, communication, boundaries and, yes, rules.
But sometimes, these rules can get out of hand. A TikToker recently shared an example of the rules that her (thankfully) former boyfriend set up for her.
Buckle up, because it's a bit of a wild ride.
In her initial video, which has been made private, Carolyn went through each one of her boyfriend's rules.
A typical relationship rule might be something like "don't cheat" or "do your share of the housework", but Carolyn's ex had some more controlling ideas.
This is one of her ex's top rules. If Carolyn actually followed this guideline, it would be really hard for her to leave the house.
But wait, it gets worse. Another rule was "approve all outfits you wear past me and your mom."
While she fully understands that her ex is a controlling jerk, she's not sure why he'd care about what her mom thought of her outfits.
"I don't see what you or your mom have to do with what I wear," she said.
In a follow-up video, which you can view below, Carolyn said that the rules were a breaking point. She then dumped her controlling boyfriend, blocked him on social media and let her parents know what had happened.
Carolyn adopts a bit of a jokey, incredulous tone in her videos, but she makes it very clear that she isn't making light of the situation.
Not everyone would make jokes about this kind of thing, but that doesn't mean it's wrong to do so. It's a form of gallows humor.
While her ex's list was controlling and constitutes emotional abuse, there's no indication he was physically abusive. Despite this, it's a powerful reminder that abuse can come in many forms, and is often so insidious that it can be tough to recognize.
It's a relief to know that Carolyn isn't with her ex anymore, and it's impressive that she's now so dedicated to helping others get through similarly tough spots.
How would you handle it if your spouse gave you a ridiculous list of rules? Let us know in the comments!
