Friend of Last Resort

I am not a huge proponent of parents being their children’s friends.  In my view, being a parent is a unique role.  Parents who try to be their child’s best friends often struggle to be clear about rules and boundaries.

The kids often come off looking disrespectful because they speak to their parents as they would their pals.  It blurs the line in the child’s mind, causing them to take the parent’s authority for granted.

That said, when I was growing up and having a hard time socially, my mom would always remind me that she was my ‘friend of last resort.’  She didn’t mean that we were equals or that I could question her authority. Instead, it was a way for her to show up for me when I was sad or lonely.

We would go to the movies, play board games, go out to lunch or go for a walk.  She helped me pass the time when things with my peers weren’t going too well.

Our Takeaway

As parents to kids with special needs, we may need to play this role a little more often than the average Momma Bear. That’s okay.  We’ll make sure our kids feel loved and seen when the rest of the world is too busy, even if that just means taking a few minutes to take some silly selfies.