As someone who has spent nearly 20 years helping families heal from narcissistic dynamics,

I've witnessed first-hand how a narcissistic mother systematically destroys her own family from within. What looks like a normal home on the outside is, behind closed doors, a place of emotional confusion, manipulation, and control. Recognizing the pattern is the first step. When we can name what's happening, we can begin to choose something different for ourselves, and for the generations that follow. 📍She Turns People Against Each Other She tells one family member one thing, then tells someone else the opposite. She plays favorites and starts drama so people stop trusting each other. It's like she breaks the family into little teams and makes sure she's always in charge. 📍She Makes Everything About Herself If someone's sad, she's sadder. If someone's happy, she finds a way to ruin it. Her needs come first even if someone's sick, tired, or hurting. Over time, the family learns to stay quiet or pretend just to keep the peace. 📍She Controls Through Fear and Guilt She uses guilt to get her way, saying things like "After everything I've done for you" or "You've ruined my life." She might even cry or get angry until people do what she wants. It keeps everyone walking on eggshells. 📍She Tells Lies to Stay in Control She lies about what was said, what happened, or even what you remember. If you call her out, she denies it or makes it your fault. Over time, people doubt themselves and stop speaking up just to survive.