HOW TO DEAL WITH A NARCISSISTIC TEENAGE DAUGHTER

If you feel that your daughter is more concerned about herself and seems as if the whole world revolves around her, then, believe me, she is not alone to think like this, and this has nothing to do with your parenting style. It is a phase, and it will pass. But that doesn’t mean that you should not do anything about it.

Being narcissistic is a normal part of teenage life, but sometimes it can lead to another extent. And she may develop a personality like this for the rest of her life.

Here are some ways through which you can help and cope up with your daughter during this phase of her life.

• BUILD EMPATHY

Make her understand the feelings of other people and feel the same way as the other person is feeling.

It’s essential to teach her to respect and understand the feelings of others.

• VOLUNTEER TOGETHER

Just saying that the amount of food she is wasting can be a dream for some low-income families won’t make her understand the importance of things she is consuming.

Start volunteering, participate in charity, distribute foods and clothes to needy people.

• INDUCE AWE

Force her to wonder, wonder how big the world is and how she is only a small part of the whole world. Tell her that there are many things in and around her.

You can show pictures, or show her the stars in the sky and anything would work.

• BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL

Parents are always a mirror for their kids. Kids learn most of the things from their parents. It would be good if you set an exemplary example for her so that she could learn and teach many things from you.

Your kindness, helping nature, and thinking about others before self can force her to think about her behavior and change for the better.

• ENCOURAGE YOUR TEENS TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES

She may always think in one way or negative way if something uncomfortable has happened to her or something which she didn’t expect has turned around. But ask her and give her some possibilities, that is the only reason available.

Encourage her to think of many alternatives.

• DON’T MAKE CONSEQUENCES ALWAYS ABOUT MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

If you will give attention to mundane things, she would also believe that material possessions are the essential thing in life.

Everything is necessary, but excessive of anything is hazardous. Make sure you teach your daughter not to get too attached to worldly possessions.

• REFUSE TO OVER INDULGE YOUR CHILD

Every parent wants to surprise their child with gifts or things which she wants, but make sure you are not making her feel extra special. You can show love through donations, but this may backfire in other ways too. Like she may get too much attached to things, get involved in showing off to others.

Set a limit to everything.

• LIMIT ELECTRONIC USE

Give her some freedom to use electronics, but make sure you set a time limit. As today’s kids learn and develop lots of negative habits through the internet and online world. You should make sure that she is not getting obsessed with electronics and not involved in anything which is not suitable for her.

• FOCUS ON YOUR TEEN’S EFFORTS

Everyone likes to get praised for their efforts. So it won’t take much of your time to give your girl a bit of appreciation for her hard work and efforts even if she is not able to get success in a particular task.

This way, she would try again and get success one day.

• FIND ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SELF IMAGE

Inculcate activities in her daily schedule that would help her in building a healthy self-image. Maybe some music classes or dance lessons, anything which she likes to do.

• ASSIGN CHORES

It’s imperative for every kid, be it a boy or a girl, to learn to do the daily household chores. Parents usually commit a huge mistake of not involving their kids in household activities. But these things are critical. They could earn and develop many skills through household chores.

• TEACH HEALTHY COPING STRATEGIES

Sometimes kids are surrounded by negative energy and get angry, arrogant in most situations. Talk to her about emotions and how to control her emotions. Teach her to know her feelings and react in the right way.

• PICK YOUR BATTLES WISELY

You can’t always start to yell at her in every mistake committed by her. You need to be calm sometimes. Wait for situations and make her understand her mistakes. Sometimes it is better to ignore her rather than arguing with her all the time. 

• MAKE YOUR TEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR HER CHOICES

Narcissists usually have a habit of blaming others for their failures, and parents sometimes ignore this behavior, and then the kids develop a habit of blaming others all the time. Don’t make this mistake, make her realize of her mistakes and ask her to take a stand for it and try to act upon her mistakes

• SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

If your daughter is facing problems in her life due to the narcissistic behavior, you should, without any line of doubt, go to seek professional help. Because if not taken a step today, this could lead to a severe problem for her in the future.