Does a Parent's Role shift to Friend When their Child Reaches Adulthood?

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   threekeysposted 7 years ago

   Does a Parent's Role shift to Friend When their Child Reaches Adulthood?
   
   If so in what ways? If not how do parents become?
   
   

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   Cissy1946posted 7 years ago

   I would say no. No matter how old you get there are still things that you don't want to share with parents. At least I didn't. And there are things that parents don't want to share with their children. Unfortunately if parents develop dementia as they age then some of the private moments or events of their lives get revealed. A caring and thoughtful child will keep those ramblings to themselves.

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      threekeysposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      To me cissy I understand what you are saying about personal moments and the privacy of that. And those personal boundaries being held and valued. But yes when one gets elderly and freely chats without realizing it needs the listener to hold all quiet

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   Ericdierkerposted 7 years ago

   I disagree with common notions on this issue. Parents can be could friends with the children at all ages. I was a boss and had several employees that were good friends. I was an employee and had bosses as good friends. Humans in general are capable of having different relationships with the same person. I definitely have good friends where sharing each other's love life is basically not done. So boundaries are perfectly acceptable among friends. The concept of TMI applies to friends and family. My children both adult and very young are my best friends. None of us have emotional, social or mental problems because of that.
   For me the friends relationship as my children become older simply becomes stronger over time. Mutual trust is essential for parenting, just as it is for friendship.

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      threekeysposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Yes...the foundation of mutual trust..the engagement of a two way relationship rather than a one way relationship ...

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   dashingscorpioposted 7 years ago

   
   
   I've seen it happen mainly between mothers and daughters especially after the offspring has gotten married and had children of their own.
   Generally speaking it's the daughter who claims her mother is her "best friend" and not the other way around.
   Maybe it's because a daughter has a different take on her mother and newfound respect after having gone through similar experiences and therefore she trusts her more when it comes to giving advice.
   I have also witnessed divorced mothers with single daughters out in nightclubs behaving like party girls too. You don't see sons out nightclubbing with their fathers though.

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      threekeysposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Why do you think sons don't go nightclubbing with their Dads?

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting ThreeKeys. My son is a singer in a rock and roll band, actually more California Funk. I have to go "clubbing" in order to support him in his art and listen to his music. Just saying ;-)

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      dashingscorpioposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      When it comes to hitting the nightclub scene most guys would rather hang out with their buddies. It's also possible most fathers have no interest in being seen as the "old creepy guy" in the bar drinking shots and hitting on young girls.

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      Ericdierkerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Too funny, how did you know that is how I feel. But I am home in bed with my wife by ten.

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      dashingscorpioposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Eric, No one would ever accuse you of being the "creepy old guy"!
      In bed by 10? That's when young people head out! LOL!

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