Parenting is never an easy job and I guess everyone in that position has always tried to find the best way to deal with their child, to know and understand them. Being a parent is fulfilling the job of a teacher, role model, friend, doctor etc.

Parents and children, mostly in Asian countries, have been tied to a formal relationship. There are always boundaries set which has almost led to difficulty in expressing love towards each other. Recently the pandemic has made us feel the importance of bonding between the family members, especially the newborn kids who are still infants but never really had a chance to explore the world outside the four walls. The responsibility for the parents has doubled with the growing days in lockdown and the first thing they need to focus on is being the first friend to their child. Friendships don't always have to be between the same age group, there are no standards and limitations for friendship because it’s all about being as comfortable sharing and caring.

The first thing that every parent should consider is proper communication and validating their child’s point. If you listen to them, ask for the consent and let them have opinions, they can be closer to you and won’t hesitate to explain how they feel. Similarly, if the children start learning how to be friends from home, it is easier to be mentally prepared to involve people socially. The parents might not provide the exact essence of friendship as with the children their age but they can try to help the child adjust with the friend's environment later in life. Parents already play a huge role in a child’s life and there may be some factors you need to consider while being friends with the child. The improvement and small changes can make a huge impact in the overall relationship. Being in the developing stage of life, children can always face confusion but parents should let them define their personality. Helping a child doesn’t always mean solving problems for them but also making them able to solve it for themselves. There is always a space for respect but also the comfort space with friendship eases the relationship very well.

A child is always the first priority to both the parents and each plays a certain role to shape them. Children have always been assumed as clay, soft and can be formed to any shape. Being a parent, you carry the first responsibility to give the basic shape to the child.

There is a huge gap between being a friend and being friendly, so it is on your parents to decide how you lead the journey to form a beautiful clay pot. Befriending the child can be a huge challenge but if we mindfully try and initiate this role, many can learn and the relationship will be less awkward and more comforting.