How to handle a selfish parent

How to deal with a selfish parent (Photo: iStock)

When you think of parental love, it is universally associated with selflessness, love and kindness. However, the reality for many children involves navigating a family dynamic defined by emotional and material self-focus from their parents.

This is not the benign self-care that is healthy; this involves a sustained pattern of behaviour where a parent’s needs, feelings and desires consistently eclipse those of their children, regardless of the child’s age, circumstance or situation.