What are your thoughts on the parents who try to be their children's bff instead of guiding & parenting them?

I'm friends with my aunt

I think if you were supposed to be their friend you wouldn't have been their parent. I fully believe in only befriending your kids after they're grown.

I hate them. You're not doing anything to help them by being their friend and not their parent. I mean... There's a reason they are two different things. My grandma's doctor is like that; he tries too hard to be her friend more than her doctor and he is doing nothing to help her. Honestly, people that do that irritate me so much. You should not be putting your responsibilities as a parent or a doctor or a teacher or whatever aside just to be the person's friend. It's wrong.

Parents and friends are totally different. Your child can be completely honest and open to you without having to be labelled as a 'friend'.

A friend is a casual acquaintance, and at some point will leave you.

A parent is someone who brought you to this world, and won't leave without you. They will do anything in their power to protect and guide you through life. Stand by your side, take care of your needs, and make sure when the time comes when you are of age, you are prepared to go out on your own. A friend won't do that. Not even a best friend.

My mom is my best friend, even when I was growing up. IDGAF if people think that's wrong.

This.

I don't think it's a good parenting technique tbh. I feel like there should be some trust and the ability to confide though, but no - not a "friend".

I have a hate and envy for them. In some cases it actually works but it's really rare. Mostly the child has no sense of authority. I'm african so I aint ever seeing that kind of relationship with parents. The most used phrase by african parents and their disobedient children is "Em ah your ejj mett?"

It's fine when the child is doing well and behaving as they should. However when they aren't that's when the parent needs to come out. I believe in a balance.

This is what I was trying to say haha

I think parents must act like parents. Later in life there always comes a point when you become friends with them, but parenting must always come first for the child to grow properly.

i'm bffs with my mom and it worked out pretty well for me

Who said they both cant work?

You should be a parent first, a friend second.

I hate when people have the "I'm going to be friends with my kids and be the 'cool parent'" approach. It doesn't help. One of the most important parts of being a parent is setting boundaries and letting your kids know that you are an authority figure first, not a peer. Being able to talk about personal things with your child is completely fine and preferred, but trying to put yourself on the same level as your child's friends who are their own age is ridiculous. You are the parent, you are the adult, you are the one who sets the rules that the child must follow. I think that if you try the friend approach as a parent your children will end up immature and rude because they think that they can do whatever they want with no repercussions. Children need to be told no sometimes otherwise they'll end up spoiled brats who nobody wants to deal with.

I don't wanna be friends with a child let alone my own. I understand we can joke, laugh, have a good time, bond, etc etc but there is a line. That line is often erased and stepped over when parents get too involved.

There should be a relationship of friendship but not a literal one. There should be still a line between parenting and being a friend.