It’s not called the “terrible teens” for nothing.
Parenting an adolescent can be notoriously difficult; even kids who displayed empathy and kindness when they were younger can demonstrate entitlement, impulsiveness, selfishness, emotional outbursts and a preoccupation with themselves upon entering their teen years.
But if your teen is exhibiting these narcissistic qualities, does that mean they’re going to end up a narcissist? Not necessarily.
“I always tell parents of adolescents to put it on ice for a minute,” Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist and author specializing in narcissism and narcissistic abuse, says of parents concerned their teen is a narcissist. “Their personality is in flux. I say, ‘Call me in about 10 years, and let’s see where you’re at.’ “
