This just sparked a memory I completely forgot about of my exhusband (also a narcissist/narcissistic). Our daughter was 4/5 at the time. Friends of mine came to visit briefly at our house. She came to join in with the adult interactions and said something I don’t even remember. My ex/her dad laughed in this extra loud and forced way and said, “That wasn’t even funny,” in the most sarcastic tone to everyone as he looked so proud of himself. I was horrified and so were the guests. My daughter had no idea because she was too little.

I stayed way too long with my ex and he was so intentionally cruel and aware of himself that he knew his days were numbered before we actually married. He confessed to me that he thought I might leave him at the altar and not marry him. He knew because he intentionally and actively hid things about himself to “sell” a version he thought I liked.

He tried hard to isolate me from others. On the rare occasions when someone came into our world, it was in those moments that would help me have clarity enough to question what was really happening.