Hi Anirudh, Till they become teenagers u should really parent them and after that u should be friendly with them. But never let ur parent side down, u should always be a parent to ur child.

There are heaps of roles a parent will have to play during the metamorphosis of a baby into toddler-tween-teen-adult....but then I guess being as approachable as a friend through all the stages is of prime importance...team up being a friend with all the other roles and definitely you'd be termed the Super Parent

I agree with Buzz.. Being a friend and an associate in all stages make them term us a great parent. Ofcourse sometimes there is a slight risk of being taken for granted. It depends on our level of hold on the child even being a friend. I started telling my son, and we chant everyday that we are each other's best friends. Even before he understood the meaning of a friend, I started to tell him every day of what happened in office and sit for a conversation with him making him express himself and ask those lovely childish questions.. It kind of opened him up and made him realize the openness in friendship, which may sometimes be masked in a parent child relationship. Today his teachers are surprised when I talk to them regarding everything that happens in class, which no other children in his class seem to have told their mothers. They are happy that he tells even the smallest thing that happens when at school. (including the hug he gave to his good friend in school :) and said she is my best friend in school ma... ). Guess that gives us a feeling of relief and I hope we both stay in the same chords of relationship so that I can make sure he is safe all the time. Be a friend and you will be a great parent...

easier said than done i have a 15 yr old daughter who thinks that she is already an adult. im goin nuts everyday! she hates being screamed at for not studying, she hates being spied on, she hates being corrected, she hates it when i assume things(sometimes), she hates..... my mind knows that i should TRUST her but my heart wont let me!