Little Girls and Narcissism

Posted on June 23, 2009 
Filed Under Fathering, Parenting

I’m fortunate to have three beautiful daughters, two of whom are already in their teens. We’re trying our best to give them a healthy self-image – without going overboard and artificially inflating their sense of personal worth.

Recently, Megan Basham wrote in the Wall Street Journal about a trend she has observed, with a lot of parents concentrating too much on “the little princess” aspects of their daughter’s lives. She’s right – parents do seem  to tell girls they are special, they are royalty, they deserve the best. Nothing wrong with some of that input, but constantly reminding our children that they’re special may cause an over-inflated view of self, don’t you think?

Over the years Dr. Dobson has addressed the need for parents to help their kids develop some good self-esteem, and has also reminded parents of the dangers of raising self-absorbed, egotistical children. Here’s one short article by him about the subject. I’m sure he’ll address the matter more in his new book, Bringing Up Girls, which he’s working on right now – to be published sometime during the next year.

Comments

2 Responses to “Little Girls and Narcissism”

  1. Beth on June 26th, 2009 7:06 am

    Interesting post. I agree wholeheartedly that our parents have nurtured the “little princess” mentality. I read an article written by a teen girl that was amazingly profound on this same subject. http://www.beautyfromtheheart.org/2007/05/youre-such-doll.html In fact, she and another teen girl are doing conferences around the country on the subject, so I am wondering if you have heard of them? ( http://www.beautyfromtheheart.org) Our family got to go hear them speak on the subject of beauty and our culture and were blessed.

  2. Lori on December 27th, 2009 12:04 pm

    Thank you for this insight. At present I know of a teenage girl who said in public that a much older relation deserved to die because all older people should do so and leave their money and possessions to younger people like her. The girl had fallen into a passionate relationship with an anti-Christian girl whose influence is nearly complete over the girl’s behavior.

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