I am 18+, have a subscription, but I can't open chat. The drop down menus are driving me nuts. I have a family account, I am the acount admin. I have everything set to 'on' with the exeption of parental control wich is 'off' (just mine, not the kids).
When others see me in the game I don't have a bubble or bubble with a red cross through it (my kids have the bubble with the cross). Does that mean anything? Also, when I go into a friend the text chat picture has a small padlock showing.....on all of them.
The way you described it, your kids have parental controls, and you don't. You probably want that the other way around. Parental controls need to be turned on for your account and off for your kids.