Respect – earned or taught?
Respect means a lot of different things. Respect seems to include taking someone's feelings,
needs, thoughts, ideas, wishes and preferences into
consideration; giving them worth and value. It can be shown in behavior as well as felt. As I see it, respect is something that is earned. One earns another's respect by voluntarily doing things such as taking that person's feelings, needs and thoughts into consideration. Respect is something that should be sent out before it comes back to you. It cannot be demanded or forced. The only way to teach a child what respect means is to earn the respect of the child as he or she grows. Therefore, it can be said that respect is earned rather than taught. However,
respecting a baby is different from respecting an adult. For example, a child is respected by attending to the child’s natural needs, that is, to be fed and nurtured and as the child grows; his physical and psychological needs change. So, it does not make sense to think of respecting a baby in the same way that we say we respect an adult. However, the two concepts are similar. It is very difficult to wake for a child’s need to drink milk in the middle of the night without any complains. But if someone accepts the fact the child has a natural need at that particular moment, he or she is giving the baby due respect. Therefore, it is easier to earn respect rather than teach someone how to respect others and thus, respect is something that is earned and not taught.