I don't think child / parent situation has changed - just how its dealt with.
I have two kids and you know, they need to push against me for independance. They also need to learn respect but their instinct is to rebel.
I guess 20 years ago I would simply have punished them when they go to far, but today I sit with them and use other approaches to resolve the issue.
Of course, sometimes you do have to punish and that's a shame but necessary.
If there is an issue I think its that there are so many outside sources (self help books, other family members, etc) and approaches that many parents are inconsistent in how they deal with their kids and this more than anything guarantees behaviour and manners issues. In the past the general consensus was more consistent on acceptable behaviour and manners.
I see so many parents ground their kids one day, smack them around the head the next and try and 'put them on the couch' the day after... and the poor kid just doesn't know where the boundaries are nor do they learn anything other than their parents are really inconsistent and don't know how to deal with them.
I think a bigger issue is the lack of general manners today - now that is something that really gets me annoyed!
Try to be reasonable... its easier than you think...
