To find it weird when parents refer to their children as their “best friend/s?”

[ThatArtfulCoralFinch]

I get that parents are close to their kids but I always find it odd when people say their child is their “best friend.” Maybe I’m missing something but isn’t there something a bit off about that? Am I the only one who finds this a little strange?

My relationship with my oldest daughter is getting more in to "friend" territory as she gets older, she's almost 18 and we have a good laugh and a gossip like I do with friends but there's certain things I wouldn't discuss with her and I wouldn't like to burden her with my worries like you can with friends. I'm sure she talks to her friends about things she wouldn't talk to me about too. I wouldn't think of her as my best friend though, I don't think that's healthy in a parent child relationship.

My two year old DD is insistent that "Daddy is my best friend" which is sweet.

My mum also says we're best friends. I think it's a nice thing - I'm obviously an adult now but we've always had a friend-like relationship tbh

To me, my best friends are people I can share personal confidences with

No way would I do that with my child, of whatever age

What I find weird is that people feel this strongly about how others describe their kids!

I don’t have kids so it’s a moot point for me personally. But I would have assumed that people who describe their child as their best friend don’t, in most cases, mean it literally. I’d just take it to mean that they enjoy their kids’ company in a way that goes beyond just having to parent them, and get on very well with them.

I’m hoping she’ll be an independent human being who is able to form her own friendships (as well as still being close to her old mum of course)