There are various signs that your ex may be a narcissist. When co-parenting with a narcissist, it may feel nearly impossible. Unless the other parent is violent or abusive towards your children, you still have to share custody with your former spouse.
According to Psychology Today, the only way to co-parent is to have strict boundaries and to rely on the court system.
Uphold strict boundaries
A narcissist may try to complicate your life. For instance, he or she may attempt to refuse to hand your kids over during visitation and may ask your kids to take photos or videos of your home. Set boundaries in advance. You do not need to share your schedule with your ex. You only need to ensure that both of you follow the parenting plan. If your ex attempts to keep your children or does not follow the parenting plan, you can bring him or her back to court.
Have legal paperwork
You need to have everything in your parenting plan spelled out. Narcissists often look for loopholes in everything. Make sure your plan covers how to handle unexpected changes to the schedule, including emergencies and holidays. Keep track of times your spouse tries to keep your kids for too long or refuses to abide by the custody schedule.
Suppose the other parent spreads lies about your or attempts to alienate you from your children. In that case, you may be able to go through court to protect your kids from parental alienation and to restore your relationship with your children. Whenever a narcissist breaks the rules of the parenting plan, take action to prevent him or her from trying again.
