RULE 102

Don’t try to be their best friend

Now this is a mistake that many otherwise excellent parents make. It’s just so tempting. After all, you love your children more than anyone (except maybe your partner, who is already your best mate) so of course you want them to be your best friend.

Ah, but your child doesn’t want you as their best friend. They may not realize it, but they really don’t. I have one friend who tells me proudly that she is her daughters’ best friend. And she is too. She’s not just saying it. She treats them as she does her best friends, and they treat her the same. She thinks it’s wonderful, but I feel sorry for her daughters.

You see, they’ve already got best friends. Lots of them – they don’t need any more. And they’ve ...

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