General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Y'know... [View all]FlaGranny
(8,361 posts)need to be earned. It is the kind of respect that should be taught from the earliest age - as a toddler. It is the respect one must learn for the property and bodies of everyone else on the planet. It is taught by parental example and seemingly inconsequential little "lessons" to the youngest children so that they grow up with it. A child raised this way has little chance of growing up to be a rapist, a robber, or a murderer. The lessons needed to teach this kind of respect for others are gentle and nearly unnoticeable. These lessons cannot take place with coercion or force because respect cannot be learned thay way.
Funny thing I noticed is that by the time a child stops crying at every little disappointment or scraped knee - that is the time when you can see that the "lessons" have worked and you have an unselfish child on your hands and, as parents, you have succeeded in raising a caring, respectful human being.