The Covert Narcissism Podcast

I Thought I Was Losing Him: Hope for Parents Raising Kids Through Narcissistic Abuse"

May 24, 2026·24 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Today my older son moved out. He is 26 years old. And as I watched him go, the last 26 years played through my mind — the good, the bad, and everything in between. If you are a parent in a narcissistic relationship, you know the fear I am talking about. The one that sits in your chest and doesn't announce itself. The one that whispers — will my child be okay? I lived with that fear for years. I watched my son go through depression, isolation, and seasons so dark I genuinely wondered if I was losing him. In January of 2019, my worst fear almost came true. In this episode, I am sharing what I learned from the hardest years of my life — the mistake I was making without realizing it, the conversation with a dear friend that changed everything, and two recent conversations with my son that I will carry with me forever. If you are parenting through narcissistic abuse and wondering if any of it is getting through — this episode is for you. What we cover: — The impact of narcissistic abuse on children and what they carry — The mistake well-meaning parents make that buries their child's pain deeper — Why safety, love, and time are the most powerful things you can give — What is actually possible on the other side — from a mom who has lived it. If any of these topics resonate with you, this episode was made for you: narcissistic abuse, parenting through narcissism, children of narcissists, co-parenting with a narcissist, raising kids in a narcissistic home, covert narcissism, emotional abuse, hope and healing, narcissistic relationship recovery. Links mentioned in this episode: "A Plea to Parents" blog post: https://www.covertnarcissism.com/blog-home/a-plea-to-parents "You Want to See My Bruises? Look at My Kids" episode: https://bleav.com/shows/the-covert-narcissism-podcast/episodes/you-wanna-see-my-bruises-look-at-my-kids/ The information provided by Renee Swanson, Covert Narcissism Podcast, and CNG Life Coaching is for educational purposes only and is not intended for diagnosis or as a substitute for clinical care. Please consult a healthcare provider for guidance specific to your case. This episode discusses narcissism in general and does not claim that any specific person has narcissism. Permission is not granted to link to or repost this material to support an allegation or claim that any specific person is a narcissist. That would be an unauthorized misuse of the information provided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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