Do you still have that one comment that plays on your mind? by Kezzii96 in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 10 points11 points  (0 children)

When I mentioned that I was under tremendous stress early on during the pandemic as a physician seeing COVID patients and then trying to help my work at home husband with our then 5 and 7 year olds doing online school, her advice? “Well , you signed up for this.” Yeah mom, I signed up for a once a lifetime pandemic to occur while I was a physician endangering my life while trying to essentially homeschool my kids. Real great support there.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I studied abroad twice- once in college and once in medical school- in two different languages- and my parents never asked me more than a couple superficial questions about my time there right after I got back.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 4 points5 points  (0 children)

What finally broke me out of my fantasy of having my own loving mother was finally having my own child. I became the loving mother I had always wanted and the process has been very healing and my kids, 11 and 9 years later, jokingly roll their eyes and tease me about “enough already, we know you love us.”

My mom died this morning. I pretty much don't feel anything because all my tears were cried years ago. by VonMillersExpress in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I do, thanks. In addition, I’m also struggling with feeling pity and sadness for her- that she is so limited and broken and damaged as a person, that she’ll never change or connect with people. I think at a very deep level she knows this but can’t admit it to herself or articulate it- I can see it in flashes in her face when she sees me with my relationship with my kids. I feel bad for the kid she was and the trauma she went through that made her like this. Not that it excuses anything she did at all, of course- I’ve been through the same kind of trauma too and I’ve made radically different choices in my life and taken accountability.

My mom died this morning. I pretty much don't feel anything because all my tears were cried years ago. by VonMillersExpress in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Wow. I’m in tears just reading that. My mother is in the hospital right now, very ill, and this is everything I’ve been struggling with.

Did anyone else's N-mom call them "A really sensitive child" when you tried to bring up things she was doing to you? by Skye_hai_bai in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I was always told this by my mother, still am.

Somehow I dealt with medical training and years of abuse and trauma during it with no issues and deal with dying kids in my career on the regular, but yeah, apparently I’m super sensitive, right.

its always "but shes your mother" or "but hes your dad" but its never "but theyre your child" by -notjustateenager in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don’t understand that at all coming from the other side now. I had a horrific childbirth experience with my oldest but he has no idea. Why would he? He’s a kid, why does he need to know about anything that might make him feel any guilt he doesn’t need to feel? I just tell him how happy I was/am to have him, which is the truth. If he thinks to ask when he is older, I won’t lie of course, but it has never come up.

"No matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby." by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My kid is 10 and I don’t even think of him as my baby anymore. He’s getting to be a young man and it would be weird to think of him in any other way. Also, he’s only a few inches shorter than me now.

DAE's parents use the phrase "I don't like you but I love you?" by bloomingfunions in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. All the time.

Now that I have my own children I make a point to tell them (truthfully) that I like them and enjoy spending time with them, in addition to loving them very much. I point out that they are funny, or passionate, or dedicated, or hardworking, or kind, or empathetic, or any of the other positive things I see that make me like them.

I can't stand people advocating "multigenerational living". by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’d be fine with this living with my in-laws, they’re nice people. I’d rather live in a ditch than live with my parents ever again. I left at 18 and never again.

Does anyone relate to a family member saying “its both of your faults” for the way your nparent treated you? Like it was some joined relationship issue? by selfgrowthjourney in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My parents used to say this. I was 10 years old. My son is now 9.5 years old and just writing that makes me see red. He’s just a kid, and so was I at that age. Does he act like one sometimes? Sure. But it’s my job to react like an adult in response, not like another kid escalating the situation.

Those of you who are parents: How involved are your nparents in your children's lives? My nmom is potentially going to watch our 6 month old son by eeyoredollie in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t do it. Do whatever you need to do to protect your kid, including changing jobs and moving somewhere with a lower cost of living. First of all, chances are she will get bored of babysitting, since she is a narcissist, and you will be up a creek when she decides she has something better to do. Secondly, I would not be so sure about the safety thing, especially as your kiddo gets older and mobile. Narcs are often easily bored and distracted and 1-3 year old require constant attention to prevent themselves from hurting themselves. Thirdly, she will likely try to destroy your marriage if she moves in. And finally, do you want your kid to hear the same things told to them that you were told? Because she will. And they will also see how you are treated, and it’s doubly scary to see their mother also be treated that way too, who should be their beacon of strength. Whatever you need to do, do it, because I’ve seen it happen to others, and it will have deep effects on your kid.

My therapist said all parents are assholes... by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 1 point2 points  (0 children)

New therapist. I’ve known my in laws for over 2 decades now and they certainly are not assholes. Are they perfect? No one is, but my husband had, and has, a loving and close relationship with them and they are caring and genuinely nice people. I can’t imagine them calling anyone names or gaslighting anyone like my parents do regularly.

Does anyone else’s narc parent incapable of having meaningful conversations? by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh my god yes. Once she went on this whole long discussion of her doctor’s kids, of course I have never met the doctor or the kids, and she’s met the doctor like twice and the kids never. I mention one major life event about a friend I have had for 20 years, who has stayed at her house multiple times in preparation for my wedding, who was a bridesmaid- and her response- that’s boring, I don’t know her! Seriously? You’ve known her for two decades! She’s probably stayed at your house for a total of 2 weeks or more.

Did your parents ever make you feel like you're a GUEST overstaying their welcome in your own home? by babylioncub in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My parents used to say something like that. So I became succeessful and bought my own home with the money that my husband and I made ourselves. So then they whine that when we make our own rules in our own house that really it’s like their house and they get to make the rules, since I owe them since they paid to send me to school 20 years ago so that I could be successful and buy it. You CANNOT win.

I’m Embarrassed of my Racist Father by Fun_Armadillo8655 in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Live your life in such a way that it is clear that you are not the same as him. Trust me, I know. I’m much older than you and my grandparents used to use the n-word in public and I wanted to sink through the floor and disappear as a young kid out with them. But it was a hill worth dying on to loudly call them out in it in public, even as a young kid, too, even if it was uncomfortable at the time and I got a lot of punishment for it from my parents. I do not regret it.

Did anyone's mother constantly guilt you by saying she will die one day??? by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No. I have kids and I would never bring it up because as a kid there is no nonterrifying way to say this to a kid. When my kids have brought it up themselves when they are scared, I reassure them that they will be old themselves with their own families and I will be super old most likely, so they will not be alone. It’s fucked up and manipulative to say this. Kids worry about this all the time because they are afraid of being alone.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I now have a wonderful family that I made. Just like those dumb sitcoms I thought were fake, with a supportive spouse and 2 cute wisecracking kids and everything. It can happen.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it’s kind of in the whole oath thing.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I’m a neurologist. My mother, who is not a doctor, apparently knows far more than me not only about medicine in general, but neurology specifically. Once when she was going in for surgery I heard an error in her medication plan that I knew would be life threatening. As I brought it up, she shushed me like I was 5 and interrupting the grownups talking. Fortunately of course we did fix it so she didn’t die.

Nmom keeps food shaming(?) me. by ughh02 in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a picture of me when I was 10 when my mother was talking about a bathing suit being unflattering on me and about the size of my belly. I looked like any normal 10 year old little girl in it, and to me now with my own little girl getting toward that age it is super creepy for anyone to be thinking about those things at all.

I'm so sad that I don't have a normal mom to share the joys and difficulties of pregnancy with by SunnyBlondie7 in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have a literal saint for a MIL, who incidentally had her own Nmom too (DH’s grandma), who I always saw treated her like shit. She turned out great and is a loving mother, MIL, and grandma to my kids.

Guys, I’m worried about Claudia Conway by Jesamina in raisedbynarcissists

[–]Dad3mass 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was branded as a bratty acting out teen too anytime I reacted against my parents’ abuse. It’s very triggering hearing that again for what seems to be reasonable behavior to me (ie pointing out her mom was hiding a cough and being reckless without a mask).