I think with the attitude you describe you are 90% of the way there. What I find hard is walking that line between being the best friend/mentor and the authority figure. You can't be everything all the time. I think some flexibility and context in your role is a good way to manage this. I'm the authority figure when we get ready for preschool and the best friend when we are playing and goofing around. Its hard to get him to accept decisions sometimes without wanting to debate every little thing, but I think this is part of being a mentor.
I think with the attitude you describe you are 90% of the way there. What I find hard is walking that line between being the best friend/mentor and the authority figure. You can't be everything all the time. I think some flexibility and context in your role is a good way to manage this. I'm the authority figure when we get ready for preschool and the best friend when we are playing and goofing around. Its hard to get him to accept decisions sometimes without wanting to debate every little thing, but I think this is part of being a mentor.