Is it ok for Parents to be friend with their children?

I have always had great communication lines with my kids ever since they were very little and understood how to carry conversations. I have always been known as Ms. Huckstable, as they called me because when I was upset with them and or punished them I always sat them down and explained the reasons. I have always considered that although they were my children and kids they were still people, little one but still people. So although they understood I was in charge, as soon as they became teens we naturally developed a great friendship as well. Although my methods may not work for everyone I can certainly say that not only do they respect me as mom first they are the best friends I could ever have.

Until children become adults, I don't think it's a good idea. There should never be any question who's the "boss" (not in a bad way, but who has authority) while children are growing up. It's tempting to want to be your kids' best friend but the problems outweigh the benefits. One of my brothers is like this with his children and they're horrible. Another brother maintains his authority while being reasonable, understanding and friendly (but not a friend) and he's the best parent I've ever seen. Once kids grow to adulthood, I think it's a lot easier for this to work. I was fortunate enough to become more of a friend with my mum after I finished University: I was old enough to make my own decisions (and mistakes) and she didn't interfere, which meant we could go shopping, laugh, chat and joke like friends without ever forgetting that she deserved my respect as the lady who'd brought me up. It's a tough line to walk, isn't it?

That's a good question momma! My initial thought was that sure it's ok to be friends with your children as long as you keep being a parent first. But then I thought, I going to ask my 10-yr old daughter if she thinks I'm her friend. If she says yes then I will stick with my answer here. If she says no then my new response will be no, parents need to be parents and friends after kids have moved out on their own. Cheers, Stan

I think it is great if you can be friends with your child or children. I think you should not mix parenting with the friendship though. They should know that you are their parent but you are also there for them as a friend. I don't think there is a certain age. I guess it is when the child can understand the friendliness.

Hi. 34momma. I have a strong relationship with all of my three kids. It is very fun too. I love talking to them and enjoying their company. They are special to me and they are close and dear to me too. As they become older, I will have a stronger relationship that is maintained into a mutual friendship. So as they get older they will call upon me. They trust me enough to share with me many things that are on their minds.

No, I don't think this is good at all. Often when parents treat there kids like their friend nothing good comes out of it. The children start to talk to the parents any way, they feel they don't need to listen to their parents. Why because "we're friends" friends let me stay out late, or I don't need to listen to you, you're not the boss of me. Often kids loose a lack of authority respect for their parent because they are use to getting away with certain things. Then the moment the parent decides to act like a parent instead of a friend, things are no longer the same and they will tend to walk over you regardless. I've see this happen to may time, you can see this for example in the supermarket and tell who's the boss the children or parents.

Parents should never be their kids best friend, because they will lose their authority. Kids need responsible parents more than they need another friend.

Of course you should be a good friend to your child whatever the age. Of course as the child matures so should your friendship mature. If your kids can't rely on you as their friend then who can they rely on

hi 34momma yes as long as you do not forget you are the parent and he or she or they are your children. It should be a gentle gradual thing with mom and children so that by the time they are teens they will not be afraid to come to you with any problem.then is the time to be sure all lines of communication are open. ANd always make certain that your child knows who is the authority around your home, YOU not your children. This way they will love and respect you always. respect them always as they are your little ones and human beings too that way as they grow up they will never be rude and disrespectful to you you. Many parents do not tend to respect their own little kids.they are your children and they do not need to earn your respect as it should always be there.

I do think that it's alright to be friends with your kids, so long as you and your children remember that you're also their parents. There has to be a line.

Friends from birth through out life.

My children are in their 40s and 50s now, and we are best friends. However, we were not friends when they were children and lived at home. Children need parents.

Yup! It must be, friend. Because if we friend our kids. They are not shy to tell what their problems are... This is good thing because we can safe guard them to be friend with someone which is encourage them to do bad things...

I do not believe a parent should be friends with their children. The parent is the parent, not a friend, not a peer. A parents job is to guide, to love, to encourage good behavior and to punish bad behavior. A parents job is not to be liked by the child, but to form the child to be liked by others. A child needs guidance to be the best person they can possibly be and if they are not raised with a clear definition of right and wrong, the society around them will suffer. I often wonder what kind of childhood and parenting people like Bernie Maddoff and those involved in the Enron scandal had. Greedy people, who had no eye for the good of their companies, employees and those who invested with them. Children who are raised with a clear definition of what is right and what is wrong, rarely do such things. A parent who is a friend blurs those lines. You can have fun with your child, yet still be the parent.

My mother and I are friends, but I am an adult living my own life, so it's fine. For a parent to be a friend during the childhood would be a conflict of interest.

I think that parents cannot be friends with their children because that is not the relationship that's intended. Parents are to be guides until their children can stand on their own. You can be a friendly voice to your kids but never their friend, your friendship will allow them to make mistakes that will cause a casual relationship to form. Kids need to be able to rely on their parents as givers not acceptors.

A parent can certainly be a friend to their child. it is not the only relationships they should strive for. It is important to know when to just be the parent and when friendship should intervene,

It is saying in my society that when the size of child's shoes are same as perents shoes than you treat your child as friend. But I think when child is became teenzer, attain to age of 17 the parents must be treat them like a friend.

I don't think so. It's better to keep the parent role for the children so that the same respect will be given. I can site an example of that basing on my cousin. Her parents' treatment to her was like a friend so my cousin used to yell and get mad to her parents. Which makes me wondering how can her parents let her do that attitude to them? But I guess it's too late for them to change the relationship because whenever they want to scold their daughter, she will definitely shout at them. Too bad for a daughter. They can't do anything else but to go with their daughter's attitude so as not to make their kid rebellious and stop studying hard. By the way, my cousin became a CumLaude upon her college graduation. Such a good gift to her parents indeed even though she acts rude.

No it is not okay for a parent to be friends with their child because then the child would think that they can talk to them any way they like as if they were an actual friend. Also, The child wouldn't want to listen to someone they see as a friend so this wouldn't work any way you put it because parents aren't meant to be friends with their kids.