Sure, you may be friends with your parents. You may also SAY to people that you are friends with your parents. But, really, when you think about who your mom and dad are (granted they are still with us), as people and not as your parents, do you think you'd still be friends with them?
I'm not sure how things were in previous generations, but it seems like lately people have less than ever in common with their parents. That doesn't necessarily make for an un-friendly situation, but it is food for thought. The things we care about may seem different of course, but we haven't lived as long as our parents (in most cases) and we haven't had the same experiences they've had--the kind that change the very core of our beings. Things like having children of our own put us more on the same page with our parents every day, whether we realize it or not.
And perhaps that's what it is--can you be friends with someone with whom you have too much in common? Or does friendship come down to more than things in common versus not? Many people have said to me, I don't have to like my family--they're FAMILY. I've also heard that while you love your family, you may not particularly like them (anyone got that funny uncle everyone's always talking about?). Others feel that they have a strong bond with their parents that outshines that of the biological bond.
What about you? Would you be friends with your parents if they weren't related to you?
1. It's funny, I was just having this discussion with my husband the other day (but about my entire family). If I were to meet the different people in my immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister) at a party or walking down the street I think I would defintely become friends with my brother and would probably really enjoy my dad, but we would probably be more friendly aquantences.
My sister and my mother, however, I wouldn't even like and wouldn't say more than hi to; even in just meeting them.
Oddly enough, my parents are still happily married after 39 plus years; but I spend most of my time growing up with my dad and brother.
Posted at 11:51AM on Jul 4th 2008 by Jenni