I want my kids to respect me because they want to, not because i told them they had to. Respect goes two ways...i want to respect my kids and my kids respect me. When ever my kids mess up they always feel like they let me down, now that is respect that i respect. When i mess up i always feel like i let my kids down and they respect that. Sometimes i learn from my kids because i respect their opinions and sometimes, every now and then, their right. Our kids teach us just as much as we teach them. My kids know the rules in my house and they follow them. They may not like my rules but i never gave them any other option or alternative to following them and they accept that because it's always been that way and all they know. My rules are not up for negotiation so they don't even try. That's how things roll in my house. Other then that i work hard to earn their respect and they work hard to earn mine because they have been taught that respect means something more then having it forced on you. Forced respect means nothing to me as a person or a parent and doubt it does for them either.