What a cool mom I am

No matter how many times we hear parenting experts tell us that it’s not our job to be our child’s best friend, as moms we still have this innate need to be “liked” by our kids.

We can’t help it.

Sure, our kids like us when they’re little. What do they know? We’re the ones who are there with the Band-Aids, ice cream cones and birthday presents. We let them help us decorate Christmas cookies, set the table and fold towels. We’re cool when the kids are under 5.

My fear was about when my kids were in middle school and high school — which is where they are now. Would I be the mom that my kids and their friends would joke with and talk to, or the one they all just kind of stayed away from and ignored?

My first inkling that my kids might like me came when I started noticing some of my CDs missing, and not just any CDs. What I was missing were my Eagles, Journey, AC/DC (I know — you’d never guess) and Collective Soul. When I asked my son about them, he sheepishly looked at me and said, “I’ve got them. Those are pretty cool.”

Score one for the mom.

Once I realized Justin really liked Journey, I decided to go for bonus points: “You know,” I said to him, “I saw Journey in concert back in 1982, and I think I still have the t-shirt.”

The reaction in his eyes told me I’d gotten more points, so I went in for the win: “Do you want it?”

Bam.

Of course, the shirt is 25 years old and didn’t fit my son — who is four inches taller than I am now — but he’s got it pinned up on his wall, his own little tribute.

Winning my daughter over was much easier. I got her a prepaid cell phone for Christmas to teach her how to monitor minute usage, and let her wear a little bit of makeup to school. (Of course my idea of “a little bit” differs greatly from her’s — we’re still working on that one.

The best evidence that I have a good relationship with my kids comes on those nights when I walk in the door and they both rush to tell me about the funny things that happened to them — rather than the “I need xxx for school” — or want to share a funny video, a favorite YouTube entry or just want to sit and watch a movie with me. Even better, when we can kid around and know it’s all in fun.

I think it’s safe to say I made it to “Cool Mom” status.

- Molly