I consider myself fortunate — neither of my parents were narcissists. I know that’s a gift, and I have deep empathy for those who grew up in the daily confusion and emotional starvation that comes with narcissistic parenting. You all are true survivors.
Still, narcissism found its way into my world — through extended family.
My dad was one of ten children, and my mom one of eight. That’s a lot of family — and it took me a very long time to sort out who was who. Some were so covert, so charming and helpful on the surface, I never would have known if someone hadn’t tipped me off. Others I suspected but wasn’t quite sure — were they narcissistic… or just difficult?
And then there were the other cast members we all come to recognize: the enablers, codependents, scapegoats, and golden children. Patterns started emerging. I began to realize why my father quietly kept his distance from certain relatives — something I never understood as a child.
Now, as a parent myself, I worry deeply for my own children. Once you start seeing these dynamics, you realize how deeply they run — and how important it is to break the cycle.
If you’ve untangled your own web of narcissistic relatives, or if you’re just now waking up to the patterns — this space is for you.
