Is My Co-Parent a Narcissist? Warning Signs, Boundaries & How to Protect Your Kids

22 Oct 2025 · 50 min · Episode 217

Episode Is My Co-Parent a Narcissist? Warning Signs, Boundaries & How to Protect Your Kids

0:00 49:38

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

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You constantly walk away from conversations with your ex feeling drained, confused, or second-guessing yourself.

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Co-parenting feels more like a battleground than teamwork.

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You suspect your ex might be narcissistic or manipulative, but you're not sure what to do about it.

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You want to learn how to protect your children emotionally while staying calm and in control.

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You're tired of being baited into fights and want tools to respond, not react.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses family violence, coercive control, and trauma recovery. 📌 Disclaimer: This episode is for general information and education only. Please seek your own legal, psychological, or medical support for your specific circumstances.

📑 Free Disclosure Checklist

https://www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/disclosurechecklist

💻 The Divorce Course Free Resources

https://www.thedivorcecourse.com.au

What You'll Learn: Is My Co-Parent a Narcissist? Warning Signs, Boundaries & How to Protect Your Kids

💔 Recognising the Signs: Mia explains how narcissistic or high-conflict co-parents reveal themselves — through blame-shifting, entitlement, image obsession, and control.

⚖️ The Court Reality Check: Lyn shares why using the word "narcissist" in court can backfire — and how to instead describe their behaviours (the "ingredients" rather than "the cake").

🧱 Setting Boundaries That Stick: How to stop being pulled into chaos, manage constant conflicts, and accept "who you're dealing with" so you can regain power.

🧒 Protecting the Kids: Red flags to watch for in how your ex uses or manipulates the children — and how to model calm, consistent parenting when they don't.

💬 Parenting Teenagers of Narcissistic Exes: Mia and Lyn dive into the tricky years — when kids start echoing their narcissistic parent's behaviour — and how to hold firm without turning into your ex.

💪 Your Healing & Hope: Why the most powerful move isn't "winning" against your ex — it's rebuilding your self-trust, removing their emotional "buttons," and staying in your own lane.

🔗 Guest Expert

Mia from Grey Rock Consulting — https://www.greyrockconsulting.com.au/ Lawyer, founder, and Australia's first certified Master High Conflict Negotiation Coach (trained by Rebecca Zung). Mia helps clients and lawyers navigate high-conflict personalities with strategy, clarity, and self-preservation.

⏱️ Episode Timeline –

00:00 — Intro: Are You Co-Parenting with a Narcissist? Signs to Watch For

00:34 — Meet Mia from Grey Rock Consulting: Expert in Narcissists & High-Conflict Exes

02:11 — What Narcissistic Co-Parenting Really Looks Like (and Why It's So Draining)

13:51 — How Narcissistic Co-Parenting Affects Kids Emotionally and Psychologically

18:25 — Setting Boundaries with a Narcissist: Staying Calm & In Control

21:49 — What to Include (and Avoid) in Parenting Orders or Plans

26:22 — Custody Chaos: When Your Narcissistic Ex Twists the Rules

26:45 — Unexpected Changes & Power Plays: How to Handle Parenting Plan Disputes

27:32 — Dealing with Difficult Co-Parents Who Refuse to Cooperate

29:12 — Emotional Recovery: Healing After Narcissistic Abuse

29:53 — When to Push Back (and When to Let It Go) in Co-Parenting Conflicts

35:08 — Teenagers & Narcissistic Parents: What to Do When Kids Mirror the Ex

37:38 — Maintaining Boundaries, Consistency & Emotional Safety at Home

40:39 — Becoming the Positive Role Model Your Kids Need

43:22 — Focusing on You: Self-Growth, Strength & Rebuilding Confidence

46:44 — Where to Get Help: Support, Counselling & Co-Parenting Resources

49:15 — Final Thoughts: Finding Freedom from a Narcissistic Co-Parent

Related Episodes:

Is it emotional abuse?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bSCQ3JdcU4xxW7D4LJUxG?si=VV8mR7aYS7uJYstTMYwZvg

Post Divorce Glow Up

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JoSZEPWiMgM1N1G1C6WSU?si=HDBpOPXqTnmzzrIudA16tQ

Divorcing an abuser…

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