Anonymous
Post 08/15/2023 15:50     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
Our kids are all adults and probably ARE my best friends.
Anonymous
Post 08/15/2023 15:49     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
Your family members are friends for life, so in some sense they are among the best at being your friend by virtue of lasting so long on the job.
Anonymous
Post 08/15/2023 13:32     Subject: Re:Calling your kids your best friends?
Is this Facebook?

Her kids are probably not on Facebook and neither are their friends. They probably don't care what their mom posts.
Anonymous
Post 08/15/2023 13:30     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
I can only assume they don't have a dog.
Anonymous
Post 08/15/2023 13:18     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think about it like that, but I have to admit that sometimes, my teen daughter and I have a bond of mutual non-verbal understanding that it entirely lacking between my husband or my son, who are both on the spectrum, albeit high-functioning. They don't get non-verbal cues. With them, you can't do a little flash of eye contact and transmit slivers of intelligence. With my daughter, I can. It's a great relief to have at least one person in my family like this.

So in that sense, she's my best friend. But I would never say that out loud, or write it out except anonymously. Because of course we also have a parent-child relationship.


I'm sad about your casual dismissal of connecting with your child just because they have a different way of communicating.


My best friend doesn't even live in the same state of me. Winking isn't what makes someone a best friend.


Anonymous
Post 08/15/2023 10:44     Subject: Re:Calling your kids your best friends?
That’s not for me and that’s okay. You do you!

My 5yo—when she gets mad—will say to me, “ Well then you’re not my friend anymore!” I remind her that I am not her friend—I’m her mom—and that I will love her forever no matter if she is mad at me or not.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 20:27     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
I don't think about it like that, but I have to admit that sometimes, my teen daughter and I have a bond of mutual non-verbal understanding that it entirely lacking between my husband or my son, who are both on the spectrum, albeit high-functioning. They don't get non-verbal cues. With them, you can't do a little flash of eye contact and transmit slivers of intelligence. With my daughter, I can. It's a great relief to have at least one person in my family like this.

So in that sense, she's my best friend. But I would never say that out loud, or write it out except anonymously. Because of course we also have a parent-child relationship.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 20:23     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
I don't think lying about it is great. But if it's true, it's OK.
Beware of putting too much on your kid's shoulders, though.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 19:07     Subject: Re:Calling your kids your best friends?
Divorced parent who calls her young kid her best friend. It’s just us. And we hang out and have fun. I obviously don’t share my hopes and dreams with him, but we hang out and go on outings. It’s mostly a joke. OP, why do you care if a single parent is close to their kid?
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 18:44     Subject: Re:Calling your kids your best friends?
I call my 5 year old my best friend. It makes him feel important. I don’t tell him it’s not true—he certainly doesn’t relate to me as a peer nor does he have my life experience. I don’t say it in front of other people (except my DH—again, it makes the 5 year old feel important “I’m mommy’s best friend!), I don’t have social media, and I can’t imagine saying it when he’s 10. For now, he’s little. It’s not a big deal.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 18:42     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
Not weird, just unusual. Are you this judgmental irl?
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 18:36     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
It's not weird- a lot of people do it. It's just not for me.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 18:34     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
Yes it is weird and IMO indicates a dysfunction. My personality-disordered ex friend's dds often post on social media about their mom being their best friend. Most dysfunctional person/family I know.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 18:27     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
I agree, and feel the same when people their mom is their best friend.

A good relationship is wonderful, but best friend? Weird.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2023 18:26     Subject: Calling your kids your best friends?
Friend is divorced and will post pictures of herself with her kids saying “took my best friends to Old Dominion”, etc…..I think it is weird