This becomes impossible if you're doing it right. Its ok to be "friends" up until ~10, kids need companionship and someone to explain things that they can trust. Later, when they start being all-knowing assholes, if you try to remain their "friend" and let them be little despots, that's when the trouble begins. At first you should be as close as you can at any cost. Someone you trust is really rare even as adults. Rigjt now, my daughter hates my fucking guts, but she TRUSTS me, and in the interest of full disclosure, i don't like her too much either, but i still unconditionally love her and tell her so. Its a fine line. Maybe im completely wrong. I can accept that if that's the case, i genuinely tried.
who had "friends" instead of actual parents.
This becomes impossible if you're doing it right. Its ok to be "friends" up until ~10, kids need companionship and someone to explain things that they can trust. Later, when they start being all-knowing assholes, if you try to remain their "friend" and let them be little despots, that's when the trouble begins. At first you should be as close as you can at any cost. Someone you trust is really rare even as adults. Rigjt now, my daughter hates my fucking guts, but she TRUSTS me, and in the interest of full disclosure, i don't like her too much either, but i still unconditionally love her and tell her so. Its a fine line. Maybe im completely wrong. I can accept that if that's the case, i genuinely tried.