10 Signs You are Co-Parenting With A Narcissist – And What To Do About It
Co-parenting can be a difficult situation to navigate. If you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of sharing parenting duties with someone who is a narcissist, it can be even more challenging. But, don’t despair! This article will outline 10 warning signs that you are co-parenting with a narcissist – and provide some guidance for what to do about it.
Introduction: What is Co-Parenting with a Narcissist?
If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, you may be feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Narcissists are notoriously difficult to deal with, and when you’re trying to raise children together, it can be even more challenging. There are some warning signs that you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, and knowing what they are can help you to better deal with the situation.
Narcissists tend to be very controlling and want things to go their way. They may try to micromanage every aspect of co-parenting, and this can be extremely frustrating. If you’re finding yourself constantly arguing with your ex about how to parent or being told what you can and cannot do, it’s likely that you’re dealing with a narcissist.
Another warning sign is if your ex is always putting their own needs first. Narcissists have a hard time empathizing with others, so they may not be considerate of your schedule or your feelings. Everything is about them, and they will often make decisions that benefit themselves without regard for how it will affect you or the children.
If you suspect that you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, there are some things you can do to make the situation more manageable. First, try to set clear boundaries and stick to them. This will help to minimize conflict and keep the narcissist from trying to control everything. Second, try to communicate as much as possible so that there is less
Warning Signs You’re Co-Parenting with a Narcissist
It can be difficult to co-parent with someone who has different values and parenting styles than you do. But when you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, it’s even more challenging. Here are some warning signs that you may be co-parenting with a narcissist:
Narcissists always need to be right. They will never admit that they’re wrong, even when it’s obvious to everyone else. This can make compromises and negotiations very difficult.
Narcissists are master manipulators. They may try to manipulate you into doing things their way or taking their side in arguments. They may also try to use your children as pawns in their games.
Narcissists need to control everything and everyone around them. This can include trying to control how you parent your children or what decisions you make about their care. If you don’t do things the way they want, they may become angry or withdraw their support (financial or otherwise).
Narcissists only care about themselves and their own needs and wants. They will rarely consider your needs or the needs of your children when making decisions. Everything is about them and what they want or need in the moment.
1. Toxic Communication
Toxic communication is any form of communication that is harmful to the relationship. It can be either verbal or nonverbal, and it can be intentional or unintentional. Toxic communication can damage the trust, respect, and emotional bond between co-parents.
There are many different ways that toxic communication can manifest itself in a co-parenting relationship. One common example is when one parent consistently puts the other parent down in front of the children. This not only hurts the relationship between the two parents, but it also teaches the children that it is acceptable to disrespect and hurt people who are important to them.
Another way that toxic communication can manifest itself is through chronic criticism. This could be either constructive criticism that is intended to help the other parent improve, or it could be destructive criticism that is meant to tear the other parent down. Either way, chronic criticism can damage the relationship and make it difficult for the parents to work together cooperatively.
Finally, toxic communication can also take the form of stonewalling. Stonewalling occurs when one parent refuses to communicate with the other parent altogether. This can make it extremely difficult for the parents to work together on anything, and it can put a strain on the relationship.
If you suspect that you are co-parenting with a narcissist, it is important to take action to protect yourself and your children from their toxic behavior. There are many resources available to help you deal with a narcissistic co-parent, and you
2. Gaslighting
If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, you may be the target of gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse in which the abuser tries to make the victim question their own memories and perceptions. This can make the victim feel like they’re going crazy, and it can be very difficult to spot.
Some signs that you may be being gaslighted by your co-parent include:
– Feeling like you’re always second-guessing yourself
– Constantly questioning your memories or perceptions
– Feeling like you’re walking on eggshells all the time
– Feeling isolated from friends and family
If you suspect that you are being gaslighted, it’s important to reach out for help. Talk to a trusted friend or family member, or seek professional help. The most important thing is to not blame yourself – gaslighting is a form of manipulation, and it’s not your fault.
3. Triangulating
When you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, it can be difficult to see the warning signs. They may be subtle at first, but over time, the red flags will start to add up. Here are some common warning signs that you’re co-parenting with a narcissist:
1. They’re always right – Narcissists always have to be right. If you disagree with them, they’ll find a way to prove that you’re wrong and they’re right. This can make conversations and decision-making extremely difficult.
2. They’re never wrong – On the flip side, narcissists also never admit that they’re wrong. If there’s a problem with something they’ve done, they’ll find someone else to blame. This can make it hard to resolve conflicts.
3. They gaslight you – Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse where the abuser tries to make their victim doubt their own memories or perceptions. Narcissists will often gaslight their co-parents in an attempt to control them or make them question their own sanity.
4. They play games – Narcissists love games and they’ll often use co-parenting as a way to get what they want. They may try to pit one parent against the other or play mind games in order to manipulate the situation to their advantage.
5. They’re always on the lookout for an opportunity – Narcissists are always on the lookout for an
4. Blame Shifting
If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, you may find that they are constantly shifting blame onto you. They may do this by gaslighting you, making false accusations, or simply refusing to take responsibility for their own actions. This can be extremely frustrating and can make it difficult to trust them. If you suspect that your co-parent is shifting blame onto you, it’s important to keep track of their behavior and to document any incidents. You may also want to consider seeking counseling or therapy to help deal with the situation.
5. Emotional Manipulation
If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, you may be the target of emotional manipulation. Narcissists are experts at playing on people’s emotions and using them to their advantage. They may try to make you feel guilty or ashamed in order to get what they want, or they may try to manipulate your emotions in order to control the situation. If you’re feeling emotionally manipulated, it’s important to understand what’s going on and how to deal with it.
Narcissists often use emotional manipulation as a way to get what they want. They may try to make you feel guilty or ashamed in order to get you to do what they want, or they may try to play on your fears in order to control the situation. If you’re being emotionally manipulated, it’s important to understand what’s going on and how to deal with it.
There are a few things you can do if you’re being emotionally manipulated by a narcissist:
1. Recognize what’s happening: The first step is to recognize that you’re being manipulated. If you can see what’s happening, it’ll be easier to deal with it.
2. Don’t take it personally: Narcissists often manipulate people by making them feel like they’re the problem. It’s important not to take this personally and understand that the narcissist is the one with the problem, not you.
3. Set boundaries: Once you’ve recognized what’s happening,
6. Guilt Tripping
Narcissists love to guilt trip their co-parents. If you’re constantly being made to feel guilty about your parenting choices, it’s a sign that you’re dealing with a narcissist. They may try to make you feel guilty for working too much, not spending enough time with the kids, or for any number of other things. If you find yourself feeling guilty all the time, it’s time to take a step back and reassess your relationship with your co-parent.
There are a few things you can do to deal with a narcissist who is constantly guilt tripping you:
1. Set boundaries. Make it clear what you will and will not tolerate from your co-parent. If they continue to try to guilt trip you, enforce your boundaries by walking away or ending communication.
2. Keep communication concise and to the point. Narcissists love nothing more than getting caught up in long, drawn-out conversations where they can try to manipulate and control the other person. By keeping communication short and sweet, you’ll take away their favorite tool.
3. Don’t engage in arguments. Narcissists love arguing because it gives them a chance to be right and win at all costs. If you find yourself getting sucked into an argument, walk away or end the conversation immediately.
4. document everything . Keep a record of all communications with your co-parent, including text messages, emails, and phone calls.
7. Unreasonable Expectations
If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Here are some warning signs that your co-parent is narcissistic, and what you can do about it.
1. Unreasonable Expectations – A narcissist will often have unrealistic expectations of their co-parent, and will become disappointed or even enraged when those expectations are not met. If you find yourself constantly being put on the defensive or having to explain your actions to your co-parent, it may be a sign that they’re expecting too much from you.
2. Lack of empathy – A narcissist may have difficulty empathizing with your situation or perspective, and may instead only see things from their own point of view. This can make it difficult to come to an agreement on anything, as they’re not taking your needs into consideration.
3. Control issues – A narcissist may try to control every aspect of the co-parenting arrangement, including what time visits take place and what activities are allowed during visits. They may also try to micromanage every detail of their child’s life, which can be frustrating and overwhelming for you.
4. Jealousy – A narcissist may become jealous of your relationship with your child, and may try to undermine it or interfere with visitation in order to get more attention from your child themselves. This can be emotionally devastating for both you and your child.
8. Controlling Behaviour
If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, you may find yourself struggling to maintain control over your own behaviour. Here are some warning signs that you’re co-parenting with a narcissist:
1. Your co-parent is always trying to control the situation and the outcome.
2. Your co-parent is always needing to be right, and will often try to manipulate or gaslight you into agreeing with them.
3. Your co-parent is always putting their own needs first, and expects you to do the same.
4. Your co-parent is always trying to make you feel guilty or responsible for their behaviour.
5. Your co-parent is always putting you down, or criticising your parenting choices.
If you’re experiencing any of these warning signs, it’s important to take action to protect yourself and your children from further harm. There are some things you can do to deal with a narcissistic co-parent:
1. Set clear boundaries with your co-parent, and stick to them. Narcissists need clear boundaries in order to understand what they can and cannot do. If they don’t have clear boundaries, they will continue to push and test until they find them. By setting clear boundaries, you can help protect yourself from further manipulation and emotional abuse.
2. Keep communication short, sweet, and to the point. Narcissists love drama, so the less attention
9. Refusal to Negotiate
If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, there’s a good chance they will refuse to negotiate with you. This can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’re trying to work out a custody arrangement or parenting plan.
Narcissists are often very inflexible and want things their way. They may also try to take advantage of you by making unreasonable demands. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to stand your ground and not give in to their demands.
Try to stay calm and rational when communicating with the narcissist. It’s also important to document everything so you have a record of what was said and agreed upon. If the narcissist continues to refuse to negotiate, you may need to seek legal help to resolve the issue.
10. Telling Lies
It’s no secret that narcissists are masters of deception. They’re experts at lying and manipulating the people around them to get what they want. If you’re co-parenting with a narcissist, it’s important to be on the lookout for signs that they’re lying to you. Here are some warning signs:
1. They’re always changing their story. Narcissists are notorious for being inconsistent. One minute they’ll tell you one thing, and the next minute they’ll contradict themselves. This can be extremely confusing and frustrating, especially when you’re trying to make joint decisions about your child’s welfare.
2. They withhold information. Narcissists often withhold important information from you in order to gain control over the situation. For example, they may refuse to tell you where your child is going to be staying overnight or what activities they’ll be involved in during the day. This can make it difficult to make informed decisions about your child’s care.
3. They gaslight you. Gaslighting is a tactic often used by narcissists to manipulate and control their victims. It involves making someone doubt their own memories and perceptions of reality. A narcissist may gaslight you by telling you that something didn’t happen when you know it did, or vice versa. This can make you feel crazy and uncertain, and give the narcissist more power over you.
4. They lie by omission . Narcissists often omit important details when they’re telling.
Conclusion
Co-parenting with a narcissist is no easy feat, and it can be difficult to recognize the warning signs. By understanding the narcissistic traits that can lead to toxic co-parenting dynamics, you are better equipped to handle any situation that arises. With patience and understanding on both sides, it is possible to have successful co-parenting relationships—even with a narcissist involved. Remember that your children’s well being should always come first, and if communication gets too strained or becomes impossible due to their behavior, don’t hesitate to seek outside help in order support your children’s best interests.