~I Am Not Your Friend~
By Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
Valdosta, Georgia
January 16, 2017 1:07pm CST
You see, you will have plenty of people to call your "friend" through out your years on Earth. Some will be better than others. All have a purpose for being in your life at the right time and leaving your life when necessary.
I am NOT one of them though. God appointed me to be your PARENT-not your friend. Sometimes you will love me-sometimes you will hate me. Either way, my job is to keep you safe, healthy and raise you to the best of my ability.
My children found a new app that I had no idea about until today. It's not safe since it's live streaming with complete strangers. In case your kids ever mention it...it's called live.ly. My children hate me right now because I banned it 100%...which is fine. As I said above I am NOT their friend, I'm their mother.
Sometimes I really hate my job...but mostly I love being a mom of course. Just hate being the bad guy at times. Of course it's necessary though. 
48 people like this
51 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@DWDavis I absolutely agree. People don't realize kids have more than enough friends through out their lives. I am not here to be one though. I wish more parents did realize this.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
16 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies My oldest is 25 and an Air Force Officer. He and I can be friends now, but there are still times he needs his dad. In November he came home on leave and the airline cancelled his return flight by mistake. They kept telling him it was his fault. Then DAD got on the phone. Three minutes later I was talking to a supervisor. Three minutes after that they'd fixed is ticket. He got back to duty with no delays. When a child understands who the parent is, they know who to turn to when they need someone to stand up for them.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
17 Jan 17
@CoralLevang You sound like every teacher I know. We tried to keep cell phones out of our schools but helicopter parents pitched a fit. They said their babies needed to be able to get in touch with them during the day. Now we're fighting a battle to keep the phones turned off because the mommies can't text their kids during class.
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jan 17
I'm glad to see there is at least one other parent out there in the world who understands what their job is! It drives me crazy seeing parents who do nothing to discipline their kids, or give them good life advice, or help them navigate the pains of growing up, all because they are too busy being their kid's best friend. I've made it very clear to both of my kids that I am their parent, not their friend.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@moffittjc A lot of parents I have met drive me crazy trying to be their kids friends as well. I can't stand it! If my kids hate me for a while-but their safe than so be it!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies Someday your kids will thank you for actually being a parent to them. I remember how many times I got upset with my parents for not being "cool" or "nice" to me and my brother. I never fully understood until I finally had kids of my own. Now I totally get it.
All those parents who are being "friends" to their kids? Well, those kids are in for a rough life, in my opinion.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (165952)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Jan 17
It is a tough job that's for sure. My job here is to make sure the rules are abided by and that we keep on track. I really get the hate sometimes. My daughter has gotten better but the teenaged grandson can be real hateful sometimes.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (165952)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies .....Don't your kids do as they are told? Imagine if they just ignored you and had a big anger tantrum if you kept at them to do something. Something important. I mean we don't even make him do chores or anything. So, when we ask him to do something why can't he just do it? We ask him for VERY little.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@celticeagle Yes it is! I'm sorry things are hard with your grandson.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
19 Jan 17
@celticeagle They have their moments like all children but when they know we are serious yes they do what we say.
I believe your grandson has medical reasons though right? That's tough... If my kids ignored me I have no problem spanking them if need be.
I absolutely believe in spare the rod, spoil the child.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jan 17
Oh geez! Dani told me of this story where live streaming of little girls bedroom were being broadcasted. The kids bedroom had cameras (?) I don't know but installed by parents for safety reasons like security ones. Those were hacked unknown to them.
So, yep! Good call. No live streaming apps!
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@Daljinder These kids on there are in their bedrooms making videos of themselves...talking or doing whatever. The thing is, some of them are really young and could easily get preyed on by adults pretending to be kids. It's scary!
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
16 Jan 17
I am glad that you discovered it and put a stop to it. I know being a parent can be tough but someday they will thank you for keeping them safe and being a mom and not a friend. I know when my daughter was a teenager it wasn't always easy and I was often the bad guy but today she thanks me for saying no when I did even though at the time she thought I was just mean. Having a daughter of her own she realizes why things were the way they were when she was growing up! You are a great mom and they will get over being mad.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@Happy2beme Yeah I'm glad I found it on one of their phones. They were now told they better ask our permission before downloading anything else. If they don't phones are ours for good until their more mature and responsible.
I'm hoping ours will feel the same way when they get older.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies I hope they learned their lesson.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@TheInvisibleMan I'm sorry you have never had a friend before...but I have and do.
@TheInvisibleMan (17597)
•
16 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies Of course that I have friends, a lot by the way. 
I think you don't understand me correctly... I meant that the word friend should be well used. We have to select the right people. 
I think you don't understand me correctly... I meant that the word friend should be well used. We have to select the right people. 1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81826)
• Onaway, Michigan
17 Jan 17
Yeah gotta watch those apps and what they are viewing. They will get over it.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81826)
• Onaway, Michigan
17 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies Right. Don't you have parental control on the phones that let you know what they are doing?
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
19 Jan 17
@Tina30219 I don't know if we have that option on our prepaid phones.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@Tina30219 Now I will be much more aware and they will show me before they download anything.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@LadyDuck Thank you. Sometimes it's harder than other times but I try to be a good mom.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
19 Jan 17
@LadyDuck Thank you very much! =)
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (470745)
• Switzerland
18 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies I am sure that it's not easy to be a good Mom, but you surely are.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Jan 17
Three cheers for you!!!!! You are so right. Parents are parents and not friends. There is a big difference.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@Abbygreenhill Thank you. They will have plenty of friends in their lives.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
18 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies I think too many parents are friends instead of parents and that is not good.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
17 Jan 17
You did the right thing @LovingMyBabies . It's one thing to be over-protective but quite another to allow some of the 'stuff' out there today into their world. After they get over being ticked off, then explain the why's.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@nanette64 Thank you. Yeah, some things in this world are so dangerous and kids don't even realize it!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
18 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies Abductions being #1.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
20 Jul 17
@HazySue Aw, thank you so much! I am really glad I know you as well. =) I try very hard to keep my children safe and healthy-whether they like me for it now or not. Someday they will appreciate it when they are parents.
1 person likes this
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
16 Jan 17
My kids often do not like my rules, but like you said, being a parent is more important.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@Morethanamom Most rules are easier than something like this for me to enforce. This one was harder because apparently it's something they really enjoyed. But it is what it is.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@Morethanamom I understand why you did that. They were told the next step is phones being taken away for good if they don't ask before they download something.
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
16 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies I have disconnected the wifi to the kids tablets because my oldest was downloading apps without permission. Eventually they will need the access, but they need to be mature enough to understand.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Jan 17
I was always the bad guy when I was raising my sons, hubby the good guy. Not fair but I guess it is what it is. I so agree I didn't have kids to be friends, and thankfully they grew into the men I had always hoped they would be. After they grow up you can be friends, but forever the momma.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@fishtiger58 My husband and I each take turns with the discipline. They do listen to him more than me, of course because I'm more laid back and soft spoken. But they knew this was not something I was playing about at all.
Yeah, when their grown I look forward to having them as children and friends-but not until then.
1 person likes this
@amandajay (23264)
• New Zealand
18 Jan 17
Glad you discovered it before some bad thing happens.... Being a mumis not easy... We all know that..
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
19 Jan 17
@amandajay Me too! It could've been really bad if I didn't catch it.
1 person likes this
@amandajay (23264)
• New Zealand
19 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies yes....you are right.. We should be aware of each and everything they do... A simple mistake can give them a lifetime punishment..
@GardenGerty (160483)
• United States
17 Jan 17
Yay for being an active mom and parenting, even when they hate you.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@GardenGerty Thank you. I try to do my best with raising them.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@jstory07 Yes they did once I talked to them about it.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50080)
• United States
17 Jan 17
Thank goodness you caught them in time.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
16 Jan 17
This reminds me of my teacher days when I told young trainee teachers that they were not the pupils' friends but their teachers. No first name basis! No juvenile behaviour! No acting as if they were on the same level as the pupils. Sometimes it was hard work to convince them.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@MALUSE The teachers allowed the students to call them by first name? That never happened when I was in school, we would get in serious trouble for that!
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
16 Jan 17
@LovingMyBabies Trainee teachers are not real teachers yet. They're fresh from university and feel closer to the pupils tan to older teachers. This is an illusion, of course. You can't behave as if you're a friend and then mark your friend's tests and maybe be responsible for trouble if the achievements of the pupil are not good.
Btw, it was the trainee teachers' idea to use first names. The pupils didn't start this.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jan 17
@akalinus Yes it is. This world can be a scary place at times. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jan 17
@paigea I learned that from my parents when I was young.
1 person likes this
