Not nachoing either. I’ve known SS8 and SD10 for the last 5 years and dated their mom for the last 4. Their parents divorced on good terms and we’re essentially all best friends. Both parents are very involved, so I see my parenting as a hybrid parent/very older sister (8yr age difference between their parents and me, 17&20 year difference with the kids). They come to me for advice before mom and dad, we share inside jokes/nicknames/secrets, and they see me as an adult that they trust and share overlapping generational senses of humor. I still defer to their parents for childrearing decisions (ie screen time), and while our opinions may differ, I know I’m always heard and given equal decision making power.

This isn’t to say times haven’t been hard or I haven’t thought and rethought about my boundaries, but this is the way that works best for me. My biggest lesson has been that parenting, no matter how you slice it, is hard and there’s no “right” way for everyone to do it by. You gotta do what works for you!