When I saw this, I asked Shannon what typically happens when the child fails to live up to making the narcissistic parent “look good.” Unlike a healthy parent who does their best to love and encourage their child regardless of how they perform, a narcissistic parent will turn “love” on and off like a faucet depending on how the child meets their expectations of fulfills their need to be the spotlight. Of course, this isn’t really love at all but a manipulation and/or punishment.

*Note that in the title, I spelled “favourites” the correct, Canadian, way.