Hoovering After Divorce: How a Narcissist Manipulates Through Co-Parenting

Jan 28, 2025

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A visually striking and emotional illustration of co-parenting struggles with a narcissist, focusing on subtle manipulation. The image features two adults standing apart on opposite sides of a custody calendar, with a child in the middle looking confused and torn. One parent has a calm and composed demeanor, holding a shield representing boundaries, while the other appears shadowy and manipulative, subtly pulling strings like a puppeteer. The background includes faint symbols of communication apps and text messages to represent modern co-parenting challenges. The overall tone is poignant, highlighting the complexity of navigating these dynamics.

Co-parenting with a narcissist after divorce can feel like walking a tightrope while dodging invisible traps. Among the many tactics they employ, "hoovering" is a particularly insidious one. Derived from the vacuum brand, hoovering refers to manipulative behaviors aimed at drawing you back into the narcissist’s web of control, even when the relationship…

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