Co-parenting With Someone Who Is a Narcissist

Narcissism is a personality disorder that affects a small percentage of the population. Symptoms of a narcissistic personality disorder include a lack of empathy, a strong sense of entitlement, and a need for constant attention. A narcissist will not be able to understand how they could be wrong in situations and also have little motivation to change as they will not take responsibility for their actions.

Narcissism can present in different ways in parents. One of the more common ways is through the parent trying to gain the upper hand in situations that are supposed to be co-operative. Narcissists can also be extremely stubborn and can often make decisions based on what best aligns with their personal beliefs rather than what is best for the child. This can make things difficult when it  comes to parenting and disciplining your child.

Co-parenting can be difficult in itself, but co-parenting with a narcissist can be a constant battle. If you or someone you love is co-parenting with a narcissist and needs some legal assistance, the team at Mattis Law, A.P.C., is here to help you. While you cannot change the person you co-parent with, a San Diego divorce lawyer can assist you to create boundaries to protect yourself and your children.

How to Best Co-parent With a Narcissist

We can understand how difficult it may be to understand a narcissist, let alone co-parent with one. Here is a list of things you should do to best co-parent with a narcissist:

1. Come Up With a Parenting Plan

The best time to come up with a parenting plan is during the divorce process. This is because you have family law professionals that can help you address some of the elements that should go in the plan. A parenting plan can just look like a simple child custody agreement. However, some people prefer to go deeper and into the rules and values around how you want your child to be raised. Mattis Law, A.P.C., can assist you in formulating a parenting plan that best meets your criteria.

2. Prioritize Your Children Above the Co-parent

You should always be doing what is best for your children, even if this involves putting their needs above yours. Someone with narcissistic personality disorder will often put their needs first and not have the empathy or understanding to prioritize their children’s needs. It is difficult to make a narcissist aware of their problem, so you’ll need to take steps to protect your children and create boundaries for them.

3. Set Rules for Communication

Setting rules for communication allows you to leave emotions out as much as possible. People with narcissistic personality disorder often enjoy getting a reaction out of you, so leaving communication to email or text can negate this issue. This way, you can review what you are going to say to ensure that you are communicating in a plain and straightforward manner.

What if Divorce Seems Like the Best Option?

If you have been co-parenting with someone with narcissistic personality disorder, and divorce seems like the best option, the team at Mattis Law, A.P.C., can assist you. We understand how difficult and stressful this time will be for you and want to help you ensure your legal case will run smoothly.

Mattis Law, A.P.C., is capable of protecting the future of you and your children and taking care of figuring out what to do next.

Give us a call today at (858) 328-4400 for a free consultation.