L.A.
I have two children and love to spend time with them, like friends would. But when I was a teen my mom was someone I had a GREAT relationship with and she was very cool, according to all my friends. She loved thinking we were like friends and it drove me NUTS!! We had an exceptional relationship but I had friends and didn't need her to be one .. only one mom and dad that I needed and preferred for them to act that way. I loved that they were fun and enjoyed my friends, but I rebelled from 16-17 and was awful before coming back to normal. I had a friend a few years ago who was my neighbor growing up and she said she always loved the relationship my mom had with us. She was trying to do the same thing with her teen daughter but was having a tough time with her behavior as a teen. I told her how it made me feel and she said it had a huge impact on her. She decided to start acting like a mom (still kind, fun and always there for her daughter) but more of an adult/mom role. I love my children with all my heart and we do tons of fun things together (boating, swim parks, etc.), I have always told them we are so blessed that we enjoy spending time together but I am not their friend - I'm mom who can give them advice and discipline and they can not disrespect me by fussing with me like they might do a friend. So far, so good with them and they are good kids. One is in college and the other middle school. Good luck!