I don't really know how to introduce this

[Donuthole]

That last line though really doesn't sit well with me. "We were and are not their friends. We were their parents." My dad was a good friend to me, and I always knew he was my dad, was boss, and was my parent. But, he called me his friend, and that was a great feeling.

I can't count the number of times I heard these statements from my dad:

I'm your parent and your friend, whether you realize that or not. But if I have to choose between the two, I'll choose parent first and friend second. My preference is to have you love me now and love me later. But, again, if I have to choose, I'd rather have you hate me now and love me later than love me now and hate me later.

I think with some children, it is definitely possible to be both a parent and a friend. With others it is nearly impossible, because they refuse to see that some decisions are actually for their benefit, even if it's not the decision the child wants.

[smokymountainrain]

That last line though really doesn't sit well with me. "We were and are not their friends. We were their parents." My dad was a good friend to me, and I always knew he was my dad, was boss, and was my parent. But, he called me his friend, and that was a great feeling.

My guess is that he's overstating things to make a point. The two are not mutually exclusive. Perhaps he should have said that when push came to shove, he was their parent first and friend second.

(edit) just saw donut's post. apparently I'm a hack.

[byu71]

What type of friends do you guys have? I treat all my friends as if they are children.

[clackamascoug]

I think he gives really good advice. I don't have that kind of discipline and when it comes to spoiling kids I fail miserably, not because I want to spoil my kids but because I want to spoil myself and they get to come along for the ride because that is just how I and Mrs. Goat roll.

Of course it sounds arrogant. Nobody likes people giving advice on how to be successful and using their own experience and example. We like humble people who take time to explain why others fail and why it wasn't their fault.

Probably the most profound thing I'll hear this week. Maybe that's why people don't get me.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Come on, people. Total humblebrag.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Guy sounds like a giant jerk to me, also seems like he's pretty proud of himself. I didn't finish because I was eyerolling and laughing at his lies, did he also brag about being a bishop/SP/MP?

[Northwestcoug]

Wow. He's batting 1.000 with his kids. As someone who has one child struggling with good study habits in high school, I am in awe that his regimen worked for all 12 kids. He must be a better parent than me.

Seriously though, I'm happy that he's done well with his kids. I think he has some good advice. But I don't need to hear him brag about it.

[kccougar]

I liked it. He's obviously boasting about his family, but I don't fault him much for that. He's probably a little bit of a blow-hard as well. That's okay. Credit to him for raising 12 kids. Those kinds of parents are the ones that shouldn't use birth control. On a more snide note, I see his family hasn't all been together since 1998.

[kccougar]

Guy sounds like a giant jerk to me, also seems like he's pretty proud of himself. I didn't finish because I was eyerolling and laughing at his lies, did he also brag about being a bishop/SP/MP?

None of his kids owned a car with less than 450 hp. That one was pretty funny.

[Northwestcoug]

I think the 'parent not a friend' angle is interesting. I hate disciplining my kids. I hate the feeling when they aren't close to me. I am a softie, and I think my wife is a better disciplinarian than me. But what good is having children if you're not going to cherish your relationships with them? Of course you need to prepare them for adulthood, and that entails discipline. But I love tender moments with my children. They are my friends. They may be spoiled friends from time to time, but I would hate for them to grow up and not feel they could talk to me as a close friend.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

None of his kids owned a car with less than 450 hp. That one was pretty funny.

Lol, I didn't make it that far. He lost me when he 3-5 year old learned to read and then was reaponsible for making a family meal at 5:15 am. There are lies, then there are you sound so stupid why waste my time?

[TripletDaddy]

It is cool that he included his gay son and partner right at the top center of the family collage. Shows that they are "enlightened" and "progressive."

[Jeff Lebowski]

I knew a guy that grew up in a family like this. They had 13 kids and had adopted 4 for a total of 17. Father was a surgeon and was loaded, but told everyone that they are out of the house at 18 and don't expect a dime for education or anything. Everything was going to charity when he died. Those kids were all quite successful too, but that seems messed up.

[SoCalCoug]

His wife looks like Harry Reid.

I'm pretty sure that picture is photoshopped.

[Copelius]

when he starts discussing the physical fitness of his kids and their lack of food allergies and then attributes that directly to his parenting, that definitely crosses into bragging.

Exactly. It makes me wonder how I messed up as a parent to cause my 2d child to come out of the womb lactose intolerant. It must also be my fault that he has aspergers syndrome. Good for him that his kids all turned out great but I wouldn't trade my Jacob for a dozen or more non-allergic, physically fit wunderkinds.