my bond with my son
By Sissy15
@sissy15 (12601)
United States
June 12, 2026 11:06am CST
I just got done doing a Telehealth appointment with my son. He has had a lot going on mentally, and we've had all kinds of appointments with therapists and different places that help with mental health in our community. He's doing a lot better now that he's on medication, but it's definitely something we are cautious about. While on talking to this particular therapist, they asked my son about his relationship with me, and I was a little curious about how he viewed it too, because while I always feel like we have had a close bond, I was curious as to what he would say about it.
He told the therapist we were good (his word) and that he enjoyed spending time with me and felt we were a lot like friends sometimes. He ultimately knows I'm his mom first, and that will always take priority, which is why he does have friendships with kids his age, but I was still happy to know that he feels that close to me. I never would have said my mom was my friend growing up, and I wouldn't now. I love my mom, and I'm somewhat close to her, but not the way my son and I are.
My mom is not someone I can go to for anything or talk to about everything with, and I'm happy I can offer that support to my son. My goal was to always let my son know I'm here if he needs me and to support him while also giving him boundaries. I have no clue if I'm parenting right half of the time, but I'm happy to know he feels safe with me and that he can trust me and seems to genuinely enjoy being around me. There are so many different kinds of parenting, and most people are trying to do their best and have no clue if they're doing it right, but I think as long as your kid loves and trusts you, you have to be doing something right.
I know some people are more strict, some people are less strict, and then some of us are in between. I've always tried to be more in between. My son has rules and boundaries; he knows if he does something he shouldn't, he'll be in trouble, but he also knows I'll always be there when he needs me. We joke around, play board games, and watch movies. He actually does enjoy spending time with me. Sometimes, he'll come into the room I'm in and just sit and stare at me until I acknowledge his presence, and he'll either chat me up or he'll ask to watch a movie. I almost always put whatever I'm doing down to spend time with him, because I feel like presence is important, especially in their teen years.
It was interesting talking about our dynamic and about learning about how he sees me, and seeing how comfortable he was with my presence. He is himself with me almost 100 percent of the time. He may not tell me everything, but he doesn't feel the need to make himself be happy when he isn't or be less weird or crazy when I'm present. He'll dance around and sing and do all of those weird, wonderful things that make him who he is, that he won't do around just anyone when he's in a room with me. When your kid gets to be their weird, wonderful selves around you, that means they feel safe.
Growing up, I didn't have the relationship with my parents that I have with my son. My parents were wonderful, and I wouldn't trade them for anything, but there are definitely times I wish I had had the relationship with them that I do with my son. I am not naive enough to believe there aren't things he talks about with his friends that he doesn't talk about with me, but that's normal and healthy, and teens especially should have different relationships with their friends than they have with their parents, but a child should always feel comfortable talking to their parents. My son is much closer to me than he is to his dad, but he knows his dad loves him, and they do have things they like to do together without me, mainly fishing. I love when they get to spend time without me. My son and I spend time together all the time without my husband, but I love that they can do things without me sometimes and bond that way.
3 people like this
3 responses
@Ineeddentures (34698)
•
3h
It's really lovely that you have such a good relationship with your son
I would never have thought of my mother as a friend at all when I was growing up
I didn't even like her
1 person likes this
@sissy15 (12601)
• United States
1h
I'm sorry to hear that. I've never considered my mom my friend either, but I like and love my mother, and we just don't always see eye to eye on a lot of things, and I can't talk to her about a lot of things because of that. My son can tell me things he may know I won't agree with, and know I'll hear him out and try to find common ground and a way to support him. I never had that, which is why I think I try to be that for him.
1 person likes this
@sissy15 (12601)
• United States
1h
@Ineeddentures I feel like we learn a lot from our parents, both good and bad. We can learn to be good parents based on how our parents were to us. We either know we want to be nothing like our parents, or we adapt the good from our parents and try to add to it, which is what I've done with my son.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (34698)
•
1h
@sissy15
It's good your son can confide in you
And it's good that you are supportive.
As you say, most likely because you never had that
1 person likes this

@AmbiePam (120840)
• United States
4h
I’m glad to hear he feels that close with you. My mom was my best friend growing up, but I always knew she was “mom” first. My dad wasn’t my friend until I was in my mid twenties. He told me at early age he wasn’t my friend, he was my parent. I understand too, why he did that. He was a much better dad to me than his was to him (my dad was routinely beaten).
It wasn’t until my mom got dementia at the age of 46 (I was 25) that my dad and I became friends. When no one comes close to understanding what you’re going through, you tend to become friends.
1 person likes this
@sissy15 (12601)
• United States
1h
I feel like each generation usually tries to be better than the one before, which is how cycles get broken. My dad was a much better dad to me than his dad was to him, too. My dad wasn't exactly beaten, I mean, his parents hit him, but didn't abuse him. They just didn't really make him feel loved either. I was closer to my dad than my mom when I was growing up, but I wouldn't have classified him as my friend. My dad was someone I looked up to and adored, but he wasn't my friend. My mom was good to us, too, but again, not a friend. I knew my parents loved me, and I knew that they did their best raising me, and ultimately, I had great parents, but they weren't my friends, and I wasn't close to them like my son is with me. I am a parent first, and he knows that, but there is a closeness where we joke around and have fun, and we talk about things I never would have talked to my parents about. I think that's the key difference. My parents spent time with us and played games, but it wasn't the same as it is with my son. If you ask what makes someone a good parent, I think everyone has a different answer, but I think it comes down to being present. Loving them, setting boundaries, and teaching them to be good people are the main ones, but the friendship thing is an added bonus. I don't think you have to be friends with your kid to be a good parent, but I do think it helps. I'm sorry you had to become friends with your dad the way you did, but I'm glad you have that now.
1 person likes this




