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What It’s Like Having Your Parents as Your Best Friends

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at App State chapter.

 

I’m very close with both of my parents. I’m not ashamed to call them my best friends because it’s the truth. I don’t mind spending the weekend hanging out with them because I honestly enjoy their company. I’m the kind of person who would gladly choose spending the night with them watching movies instead of going out to a party. I tell them everything as if I’m telling my best friends. I feel comfortable telling them all the trials and tribulations of my life without them judging me or turning what I say into a lecture. 

There was a time in my life, during my brief teenage rebellion, where I didn’t enjoy being around my parents. Like every normal teenager, they embarrassed me. I tried to avoid being with them in public. Now I’m gladly seen with them in public.

Family vacations to some may seem like a nightmare, but for me, I look forward to the new adventure. There’s never a dull moment with my family, and though it’s just the three of us, it’s never boring. My dad is always making me laugh and doing something stupid. My mom is an airhead who’s always good for a laugh. I have so many good memories of hanging out with them and I can say with a straight face that I had a good childhood and that I like my parents.

My dad and I have always had a good relationship. I grew up being a Daddy’s girl. He’d pick me up from school every day, coached me in every sport I played, and we were always seen on the ball fields together or talking about sports. Growing up a Daddy’s girl has taught me a lot about life, and has made me the person I am today. People say I have high standards when it comes to men, but this is only because I was given such a great example of what a good guy is. 

It’s weird, but the first thing I ask to myself when going on dates with guys is whether they’d make a good father or not. It’s something that’s important to me because I grew up with an amazing dad, and I want my kids to have the same. 

Growing up a Daddy’s girl also made me a tomboy. My dad got me into sports as soon as I was old enough. I loved it, and I loved spending time with him. I grew up playing basketball with the boys during recess instead of gossiping with the girls on the jungle gym. I was right there screaming at the TV during sporting events and arguing with the guys who were supporting the opposing team. My outfits consisted of basketball shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes, and a ponytail. 

Growing up this way taught me how to be secure in who I was. Yes, now I wouldn’t be caught dead in basketball shorts and my favorite color is pink, but I have a strong understanding of who I am. I consider myself a well-rounded and diverse person. I can thank my dad for this.

My mom and I have the type of relationship where I can tell her anything about my life and feel comfortable doing so. Whenever I have an important decision to make, I call her. She’s always there to listen to what I have to say and then tell me what she honestly thinks. Sometimes I don’t like what she has to say, but more times than not, she’s right. Though we don’t always get along, I’ve always appreciated her and valued her opinion. Because of my mom, I always analyze situations or decisions with the thought of “what would my mom tell me to do?” 

Having a good relationship with my parents has shaped my understanding of relationships. I’m a good judge of character, and I take my relationships with people very seriously. I can’t easily cut people out of my life and I work hard to maintain my friendships. I surround myself with good influences and try to build healthy relationships. Because my parents have always been there for me, I learned how to always be there for other people. 

It’s strange to some people how much I genuinely enjoy being with my parents. Since going off to college, they’ve become even more like my best friends. I’m on my own now, making my own decisions, and though they’re still my parents and tell me when I’ve messed up, they’re more like my allies in life. I can always count on them to be there and be my cheerleaders. I go home just to hang out with them or have them come up here just to hangout with me. I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

They’re my best friends.

 

 

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Taylor currently works in television production in New York City. Her current project was for a Sesame Work Shop show called 'Helpsters' that is now streaming on AppleTV. While at Appalachian State University, Taylor majored in Film and Creative Writing. She enjoys reality TV, college basketball, binge-watching Netflix, eating Mexican food, and cuddling with her cats. Her dream is to be a television show writer. For inquries, she can be reached at taylorpdills@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylordills/