Children of covert narcissistic parents may also experience emotional enmeshment, but for different reasons. Having been their peacock parent’s constant source of validation – possibly even a quasi-partner at times – they may struggle to ‘leave home’. They will often develop low self-esteem and a fear of the future.

Their sense of self becomes intertwined with taking care of others, and they will often feel responsible for managing other people’s emotions, abandoning their own needs in the process. Emotional repression is also common among adults who were taught as children that their emotions didn’t matter as much as their parents’ emotions.

Whether a person was raised by a grandiose or covert narcissistic parent, the experience may affect their romantic relationships in adulthood. In my therapy room, I often see adult children of peacock parents who seek validation from partners rather than feeling secure within themselves. They may struggle with anxious or avoidant attachment styles (often displayed as a fear of abandonment or intimacy) and find it difficult to set boundaries. They tend to be too accepting of toxic behaviour – normalising manipulation, control or emotional unavailability and being overly accommodating or shutting down to protect themselves.

The good news is that being raised by a peacock parent doesn’t mean you’re doomed to repeat the cycle. Recognising these patterns is the first step forwards. Therapy, self-reflection, education and validation can empower individuals to build healthier relationships and reclaim their autonomy. Understanding the long-term impact of peacock parents is crucial – not just for personal healing, but to prevent these dynamics from passing to future generations.

My Parent The Peacock: Discovery And Recovery From Narcissistic Parenting by Kathleen Saxton (Sheldon Press, £15.99) is out on 25 September

Did you grow up with a narcissistic parent? The two types of ‘peacock parent’ and how to spot them