Who Taught You Respect? My story

“What children are taught to respect, they value; the more they value people, ideas, and even things, the more meaningful their lives become.” ~ Dr Laura Schlessinger, author and internationally syndicated talk-show host

Who taught you respect when you were growing up?

For me, it was my parents. My mother taught me to respect myself and others. My father taught me to respect my mother and people in positions of authority. Together, they modeled the qualities they wanted me to emulate as I grew up.

• They taught me to be the best I could be —  by expecting nothing less of themselves.
• They taught me to tell the truth — by always telling me the truth.
• They taught me to be unselfish — by giving generously to those in need.
• They taught me to persevere — by not giving up when the going got tough.
• They taught me discipline — by setting age-appropriate boundaries.
• They taught me to be faithful — by keeping their commitments.
• They taught me to respect others — by showing respect for others.

No, my parents weren’t perfect people. And some lessons stuck better than others. But they tried their best to teach me the values of respect, and I am thankful for their wisdom and guidance. I just hope I can be half as good a role model for my kids, as my parents were to me.

Who would you like to thank for teaching you respect? Was it your best friend, a parent, a mentor? Take the RESPECT challenge and tell us in the comments below. (#RespectChallenge2014)