I'm not Your Friend, I'm Your Parent

            Shortly after I had my first child I was visiting with my cousin. She already had two children so in my book she was an expert! As we were chatting she said something that has stuck with me during my journey through motherhood. She made the comment, “I’m the mom, not the friend.” Her words had an impact on me and helped shape the kind of mother I try to be. I was intrigued when I saw a book with a similar title, “I’m Not Your Friend, I’m Your Parent” by E.D. Hill. I recognized Hill from Fox News and was surprised to learn that in addition to being a news personality, she is also a mother of eight!

            Hill’s book is a great read for any parent-from those with kids in diapers to those who have kids who can drive. The advice she offers is straight forward and full of common sense. It’s the kind of book you can put down for a while and pick up again when you are in need of some answers. Hill doesn’t shy away from telling it like it is. She is upfront and honest throughout the book.

            As with any good book you find yourself thinking about what you’ve read long after you’ve finished reading it. From the thought provoking first sentence, “You aren’t a perfect parent and never will be” and throughout the following chapters, Hill provides a lot of useful information that can be applied to your own parenting. The stories and examples in the book come from Hill’s own experiences and provide great examples on how to avoid permissive parenting.

            Although you may not agree with everything Hill has to say, I think you’ll find that “I’m Not Your Friend, I’m Your Parent” provides much fuel for thought.