Respect for fathers and mothers is a common tenant of most cultures. With the advent of modern psychology, we now question this idea. If our problems are the result of the way we were raised, why should we respect them? When we respect our parents we are acknowledging that we do not know the challenges that our parents face. We recognize that our parents had to overcome their own childhood issues as well. Respecting our parents is the path to beginning to respect ourselves and ultimately respecting the cycle of life.