Anyone else feel like their narcissistic parent makes it harder to be proud of where you come from?
I’m in an intercultural relationship. I’m from a developing country, he’s from one of the most developed in the world. I already feel pressure to represent myself well and not be a stereotype. I want our families to meet and I want to be proud of where I come from.
But my mum makes that so hard. She’s a total try-hard, really insecure, always needs to be the centre of attention. Just being around her stresses me out and dysregulates me completely.
I’m now too embarrassed to have her meet his family. And I feel awful about that, like I’m ashamed of my culture or my background. I’m not. I love where I’m from. But she makes it hard to show that side of me with confidence.
She’s the one who made me so self-conscious in the first place. And now it’s affecting something really important to me.
Has anyone dealt with this?