Engulfing or Ignoring
Types of Maternal Narcissists
Written by Randi Fine, Narcissistic Abuse Expert
Narcissistic Abuse Awareness and Guidance with Randi Fine
As is true with all narcissistic parents, mothers may be engulfing or ignoring. They may be one way or the other, a combination of both, alternate between the two, or engulf one child and ignore the other.
Engulfing mothers try to dominate and control every aspect of their children’s lives. They dictate how their children look, how they feel, how they should act, and what they should say. Children are enmeshed and smothered to prevent them from becoming independent.
Engulfing mothers are very needy and envious of anything that takes their child’s attention away from them: friends, after curricular activities, social life, job or career.
They may tell their children they love them, just so they can hear it said back. What these mothers call love is not love at all. It is parasitic neediness.
Because they seem so attentive, engulfing mothers make a good show. By all appearances, they look like good mothers to those on the outside. What goes on behind closed doors is another story.