Should Parents Treat Kids Like Friends? Ayen Munji-Laurel And Jett Pangan Share Their POV
Jett Pangan and Ayen Munji-Laurel weigh in on whether parents should treat their kids as friends during an appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda
Parents or kids, we’ve heard the never-ending discussion on whether or not parents should treat their kids like friends. Some parenting experts or parents themselves would say yes, while others would say no. So what do parents of today have to say about it?
How Parents And Kids Can Become Friends
For Princesa ng City Jail actors Jett Pangan and Ayen Munji-Laurel, parents and kids can treat each other like friends but there has to be some boundaries. One such boundary is knowing who the older one is, according to Jett.
“It’s more of growing with mutual respect. Like in our case, we’re very fortunate that our kids grew up to be very respectful, very loving, but also parang barakada lang namin… but it’s a beautiful mix,” he shared during an appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. “
The Dawn’s lead singer explained, “It’s a happy mix of treating us like the parents that we are to them, but at the same time, nakikipagbiruan. Like my daughter, loves to make fun of me, and I love it because dapat hindi mawala ‘yung elemento ng pagkakaibigan n’yo.”
But Ayen was more specific with her boundaries, pointing out the need to recognize the difference between speaking to elders and speaking to one’s friends. Some practices like saying the words “po” and “opo” are still practiced in her family, she revealed. “Alam ng mga bata na they cannot speak to us like friends. Kailangan tandaan nila na magulang pa din kami.”
She elaborated, “When we talk about fun things, that’s when para kaming magkakaibigan. But kailangan, medyo nakikita [at] nararamdaman nila yung boundary na hindi kami puwedeng kausapin na parang hey, parang kaibigan lang kayo. I guess, the friendship there would come probably kapag gusto mo na may sinasabi sa iyong lahat. But let’s be realistic, hindi naman sinasabi sa iyo lahat.”
Do Kids Share Everything?
The funny part about kids is that they’re more than happy to tell us everything they know when they’re toddlers. But once they start becoming teenagers, it’s as Ayen and Jett say, “it’s not always the case.”
“In my case, hindi naman nila lahat alam nung iniisip naming mga magulang,” Ayen answered. “ [It’s] the same with them. I know when they don’t wanna share everything and I respect that.”
For Jett, he knows the limits of sharing. “Ano ba yung gusto ko malaman sa akin ng tao all the time at ano naman yung mga puwede kong itago?” That’s what I apply to my kids.”
Ayen and Jett also addressed the importance of tackling important topics on sex and money, especially since both of them have grown-up children.
“It may be awkward at the start, but things like sex, money…these things kailangan ‘nyo pag-usapan, especially pag huminhingi sila ng advice,” Jett said.
“You have to sit down and appreciate the fact that humihingi sila ng tulong sa iyon on how to manage these things.”
Ayen echoed Jett’s statements but explained that she tackles it depending on the age of her children. “Sa mga matatanda kong anak, you can talk about it…binabagay ko sa edad.”
The Debate Continues
Regardless of Jett and Ayen’s answers, treating children as friends depends on the parents. It’s okay to be friends but there are just some things that parents still know better. The boundary, which we know comes from the many experiences we’ve had as individuals, is what makes us still the authority figure in many cases.
Some parents believe in the method and some don’t. What’s important is that there is communication between the parent and the child, something that tends to be a challenge. So it’s really how you raise them that matters.
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“Talo Ang Pikon”: Anger Has No Place in Parenting & Discipline
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