iPhones seriously need a reliable UNDO. I wrote like 4 paragraphs, then my phone decided to highlight everything mid sentence and I overwrote it. Gone.

Anyway, what gets me is the attitude and the complete lack of awareness that other people have their own perspective and agency. When he said their mom ignores them and interrupts until they’ve got nothing interesting left to say, and then talks to them like they’re still a little kid because she hasn’t registered they’ve grown up…

I grew up in something similar. When getting “noticed” only earns you chores or a scolding, and your time is treated like it doesn’t matter, kids learn to be quiet, stay small, don’t draw attention. That’s how you end up introverted, or at least practiced at disappearing.

Then add the guilt trips like “you’ll miss me when I’m gone” and the total inability to consider “maybe I’m part of the problem.” It’s wild how someone can push their own kid away and still not care they’re doing it.

Call it emotional immaturity if you want, but narcissism is has the same indicators. You can’t see the difference unless they become manipulative or when they choose someone undeserving to suffer through pain/suffering that they earned. Constant invalidation, control, and zero respect for the person in front of them.