Divorceworkshop Blog
When Your Child Picks Up a “Flea”: Traits Learned from a Narcissistic Parent
I was attending a training on narcissism when the psychologist said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“Children who grow up around a narcissistic parent can sometimes pick up a few fleas.”
She explained that “fleas” are the coping traits children develop after living in a toxic or self-absorbed environment. It doesn’t mean they become narcissists, far from it, but they may carry behaviors they learned to survive.
It’s understandable that the odd “flea” might show up in your children, too; they spend time with that parent and naturally pick up some behaviors. But it’s rarely intentional; it’s usually just a reflection of the environment they’ve had to adapt to.
"I'm So Angry at My Ex": Why It Happens and How to Manage Divorce Anger
We are closing out the final week of January, a month often called "Divorce Month" because of the spike in filings and the end of holiday truces. If you entered this year hoping for a "fresh start" but find yourself feeling more consumed by rage than peace, you are not alone. The reality of high-conflict divorce can quickly derail New Year’s resolutions.
A month after I left my toxic marriage, I found myself sitting in my car, screaming at my ex on my cell phone. I was so done. with the marriage, with everything I’d endured. Did this outburst help the separation process? Not at all. Did he deserve my anger? Absolutely.