Should I be friends with my kids?

Yes, you can. Maybe the of your children 12 and above cos this is the age that they growing up and be a youth. They well be sensitive everything, like words and action. Words mean you scold them we can't scold them or scram at them at this age, talk to them make them like friends tell them they are wrong don't so it again. Action mean beat them, we can't beat them like they young caning is no use they will be more rebellious.