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He appreciates nothing, has zero empathy for others, and is starting to exhibit sociopath behaviors and habits, (has been for a number of years now). I have compared his behavior with the symptoms listed in the DSM-IV for NPD, and he exhibits 9 of 9 criteria.

Background:

He is 14, single child in a wealthy home. Adopted and raised by his grandparents (my mom). His biological father was abusive when he was very young, and his biological mother is mentally incapable of raising children, hense the infamily adoption.

He does see a therapist for multiple problems, however they have him diagnosed with ADD, and ODD. While these are legitimate problems, I'm concerned that his primary problem of NPD hasn't been addressed or diagnosed. In fact I find it kind of shocking because he is the worst narcissist I've ever met.

I have little tolerance for his overboard attention seeking behavior, and I always come away from visits feeling infuriated at how disrespectful, self-centered, manipulative, and often abusive he acts towards others. Especially my daughter, whom I often have to take extra time to consul her after visitations at my moms house.

My mom often seeks my advise on parenting issues. Strange, my own mother asking me for advise in these areas. I'm planning on introducing her to the idea that my nephew quite possibly has NPD, (no doubt in my mind). However outside of offering my unprofessional diagnosis, I really don't know what else to tell her, other than bring it up with the therapist. I've googled this topic extensively and it seems to me there is no real practical way to treat or correct NPD, especially in children. Its often overlooked because it's normal for young children to be narcissistic. In short I gather it's not a problem until it is a problem, (if that makes any sense), and its becoming a problem.

My relationship with the boy is odd, he both admires and despises me all at once. I didn't understand this until I recently researched NPD. I think he has a lot of potential if he could only apply himself towards a goal that makes him happy without the requirement of an audience.

I'm looking for any advise from people that have to cope with NPD children. Specifically, how to curb the behavior, as well as how to instill and cultivate genuine empathy towards others.

I live in central Oklahoma, and my yard is mostly bermuda grass. My problem weeds are henbit in the spring, and yellow foxtail mid summer. I have been bagging every time I mow to prevent spreading and propagating the weeds. Last fall, on the last mowing, I cut the grass on the almost highest setting on the mower. The reason I'm asking is because I've been given advise to leave it tall in the fall, and cut it very short in the spring, (almost scalping it), then raising the height slowly as the summer warms up. I'm not sure this is good advise.

Every time it snows, whomever is the first to go out driving creates a tire track trail, that everyone else behind him tends to stick to. If everyone made an effort to drive ten inches to the right of or left of the original tracks, the roads would be less hazardous. If everyone drives within the same tire ruts, it creates a tramline effect, making the roads a lot more dangerous.

So what is the deal? Are people lemmings? Do they mistakenly believe, traction is somehow better on the ice than on the snow?

Background:

There is a young lady who is forced to live with her abusive father, whom has custody, in Arkansas. She really would much rather live with her non-custodial mother in Alaska. Attempts to transfer custody to the mother have failed, and has become too expensive to pursue legally.

Arkansas only requires that one parent give consent, as long as she is 16, and her boyfriend is 17 years old. (He's 18, trustworthy, and willing to help). What if the mom, (non-custodial parent), were to fly to Arkansas to legally approve the marriage? The goal is emancipation thru marriage. At that point she could go live with her mom in Alaska, without having a custody battle. As soon as she turns 18 she can simply file for a dissolution or divorce, and live her own life.

2 main questions come to surface.

1) Will the non-custodial parent be allowed to approve the marriage? Will they even check for custody?

2) Will the custodial father have the power to annul the marriage? (he would do this primarily so he could continue to receive child support payments).