Co-Parenting Solutions, LLC

06/27/2025

Sound familiar to anyone? Read the book “The Covert Passive Aggressive Narcissist” by Debbie Mirza! It will open your eyes and help you heal!

**Life With A Covert Narcissist**

You will enter the relationship thinking they love you, because they call you their soulmate and best friend. They’ll mirror your values, likes, and passions. In the beginning, you’ll feel seen in a way you never have before. They’ll say all the right things and behave like the perfect partner. They’ll listen attentively, shower you with affection, and make grand promises about your future together. It feels magical — like fate. You’ll believe you’ve found someone who truly understands you.

But over time, subtle shifts begin. They’ll start to criticize things about you that are intrinsic to your identity — how you laugh, your tone of voice, your hobbies, your friendships. These won’t be blatant insults, but backhanded compliments and comments framed as “helpful suggestions” or “just being honest.” You'll begin to feel confused, like you're constantly doing something wrong. They’ll start pulling away emotionally, withholding affection or conversation, only to come back later with a gift, compliments, or an apology — just enough to reel you back in and keep you doubting your intuition.

You’ll start questioning yourself constantly. “Maybe I *am* overreacting.” “Maybe I *am* too sensitive.” They’ll use your empathy against you, guilt-tripping you for being upset. The relationship becomes a cycle of emotional highs and crushing lows. They will manufacture chaos, and then act like the calm savior when you’re breaking down. The psychological manipulation is relentless — they distort reality, deny things they said, and shift blame every time conflict arises.

Your self-worth begins to erode. You may isolate yourself from others because you're tired of trying to explain what’s happening. Friends and family may not understand — after all, the narcissist is so “kind” and “charming” in public. But behind closed doors, you're walking on eggshells. You dread their moods, their silences, their cold stares. You apologize just to keep the peace. You begin to feel physically ill — anxiety, insomnia, even chronic pain — because your body can’t take the emotional toll.

Conversations become circular. You try to express how you feel, but it always turns into how *you* hurt *them*. You’ll be accused of things you never did, and when you defend yourself, you’re told you’re “too defensive.” Every discussion becomes a trap.

Eventually, you look at the person you once loved and feel nothing but confusion, sorrow, and fear. The mask slips completely, and you realize: they were never who they said they were. You've been in love with a carefully constructed illusion — and now, you’re left to rebuild yourself piece by piece.

06/25/2025

Great article!

I’ve been thinking a lot about what equal parenting time means with regard to divorce. Does equal parenting time mean equal parents?

06/04/2025

Co-parenting is no picnic. I should know; I have been doing it for going on five years now. I also know that the learning curve is pretty steep and the stress of figuring out a separation or divorce is enormous. Naturally, it’s a very emotionally charged event when you and the person you share chi...

05/30/2025

Here is my latest blog on an interesting topic - what do you do when you are pressured by family members to fight for more Parenting Time, but you know you are not going to be a more involved parent? Is that fair to your child or your Co-Parent? Relationships between your child and extended family is a high priority but find out why what you are doing may be hurtful to your child and your Co-Parenting relationship and find strategies for a better balance.

Spread the loveIn Co-Parenting Facilitation, sometimes I meet with parents where one has always been hands-on and involved with the kids, and the other parent has not shown much interest in their child. That’s sad enough for the child, but the parent who lacks interest usually hasn’t pursued a p...

05/27/2025

Check out my latest article on irooze.com - “Co-Parenting After Broken Trust: How to Keep Your Kids First After the Affair”

https://www.irooze.com/divorce-articles/parenting-after-broken-trust-how-to-keep-your-kids-first-after-the-affair

05/12/2025

Very excited to have my first article written for the Irooze Divorce Community posted! Check out my article that gives concrete tools about ways to handle role transitions parents undergo post-divorce and how to avoid feeling threatened and undermined! Ravit Rose 🌹 Everything Divorce
Jordana Wolfson, LMSW, M.A., Ed. Sp.


https://www.linkedin.com/posts/co-parentingsolutionsllc_co-parenting-is-tough-especially-when-everythings-activity-7327821690296496128-ZhlA?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAAyvljoBQ2FM1v_ta73ShL75jcJ6YqpkNsw&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link

03/23/2025

What can you do when everyone tells you that your Co-Parent cannot be held accountable for inappropriate behaviors that hurt the Co-Parenting dynamic and ultimately the children? Check out my latest blog for tips and tricks!

Spread the loveIn Co-Parenting Facilitation, there are people I refer to as UTR—Under the Radar. That’s because the things they do to knock their co-parent off track are troubling and not nice, but not significant enough (or provable) for a court to take action. That doesn’t mean they aren’t...

01/30/2025

Exciting Update! In a few weeks, I will be adding a new title to my professional trainings: Life Coach! I have been spending the year working on my Life Coaching training through the Center for Coach Development accredited through the International Coach Federation and I am honored to have the opportunity to help train a new cohort of future Life Coaches/Social Workers at Bar Ilan University in Israel starting in February! Love learning and growing in new ways!

Spread the loveIn my line of work, you can never have enough training. At least, that’s my perspective, and it’s why I’ve earned certifications as a Licensed Master’s Social Worker, earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Leadership, and became trained as a Collaborativ....

12/08/2024

Check out my latest blog - it is never easy Co-Parenting with someone that has a High Conflict Personality, but I offer some tips and strategies to help!

Spread the lovePeople are fond of invoking the n-word in Co-Parenting counseling sessions. The n-word I’m talking about is narcissist, and it’s usually an accusation lobbed at one’s difficult or high-conflict ex. And while there are definitely situations where a former spouse may well be narc....

10/31/2024

Whether you are a recently divorced or separated co-parent, transitioning from a one-household family to a two-home family can be overwhelming for both adults and children. During this time, look for ways to show the kids that Mom and Dad are both still here for them. Believe it or not, Halloween...

10/27/2024

I try hard to work on the concept of “Radical Acceptance” with some of my clients. It is hard for people to face but some Co-Parents just are not going to change and grow even after you finally leave. To be a better parent yourself you have to accept it and heal because your kids need one emotionally healthy parent. If they watch you continue to fall apart and/or watch you try to change what you cannot in the other person that is what they will learn as well!

10/20/2024

So many of my clients come in with self doubt during and long after the divorce. While maybe not divorced from someone with full blown Narcissistic Personality Disorder, many have experienced someone who show several symptoms. My next blog will be on Co-Parenting with someone with these tendencies, and recovery from
Narcissistic Abuse. I cannot recommend highly enough the book “It’s Not You” by Dr. Rumani Durvasula if you believe you experienced this.

Marriage to a narcissist

"Be careful who you date and marry, because the greatest prison in the world is a home without peace.
The person you decide to share your life with will have a profound effect on your happiness, well-being, and overall trajectory. It's crucial to understand the importance of choosing a partner who contributes to your peace rather than one who drains it.

This is especially true when dealing with narcissists, who are often referred to as toxic energy vampires, who are skilled at playing games and manipulating people.

Narcissists can be incredibly charming and convincing at the beginning of a relationship. They are experts in creating the illusion of a perfect partner, often called "love bombing".

During this phase, you will be showered with tenderness, compliments, and attention, making you feel extremely special and appreciated. This intense flattery and focus can be intoxicating, leading you to believe you've found someone extraordinary.

However, this is a tactic to quickly win your trust and loyalty.
Once they have gained your affection, narcissists often begin to subtly change their behavior.
They can begin to devalue you through criticism, manipulation, and control, all while retaining a facade of charm and concern.

This gradual shift can be confusing and disorienting, leaving you to question your perceptions and feelings.

Narcissists are adept at gaslighting, a manipulative tactic designed to make you doubt your own reality and become increasingly dependent on their approval and validation.
In relationships with narcissists, the ups and downs can be extreme.
They can vary between the period of affection and approval and the period of coldness and criticism.
This cycle creates a rollercoaster of emotions, keeping you off balance and focused on reclaiming their approval. These dynamics are emotionally exhausting and can lead to a significant loss of self-esteem and self-worth over time.

A home with a narcissist is often full of tension and conflict.
Narcissists thrive in control and dominance, often disregarding your needs and feelings. Their inability to empathize with others can lead to a lack of genuine connection and mutual respect. Living in such an environment can seem like a constant battle, draining your energy and disrupting your peace and happiness.

Recognizing the signs of narcissistic behavior early on in a relationship is crucial to protect your well-being.
Look for red flags such as excessive self-centeredness, lack of empathy, need for constant admiration, and tendency to manipulate and control.
Trust your instincts and prioritize your peace and happiness. Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries is key when dealing with potential narcissists.

In short, be careful who you date and marry because the greatest prison in the world is a home without peace.
Narcissists, or poisonous energy vampires, are adept at playing games and manipulating people to secure their own needs and desires. By understanding their tactics and being cautious, you can protect yourself from entering a relationship that drains your energy and undermines your peace.
Your home should be a haven of love, respect, and peace, not a battleground for domination and control.

Choose wisely and choose your peace over everything else. "

Taken from the Carousel page