We've been using GD and positive parrenting with our sons for almost 15 years (thye are twins). They have always been pretty good kids, though we definitely went through phases of biting, tantrums, and long, long days!
Today, my sons are respectful to us and others - not because they are cowed into treating people with respect, but because that's how THEY have always been treated, and they think it's the right thing to do. They are empathetic, thoughtful, and funny. They still enjoy hanging out with their parents, and are not ashamed to be seen in public with us. They look at their friends' parents, and think they've got it pretty good!
When you build a relationship based on trust and respect, both trust and respect grow. My kids used to beg for a later bedtime, for example, because "All our freinds stay up later than we do!" I explained that if they could get up on their own before the alarm went off, and were well rested during the day, then they were getting plenty of sleep, and could stay up later. If mornings were a struggle to get out of bed, they needed more sleep and needed to go to bed earlier. Eventually they realized that it was their own bodies setting bedtime - not Mean Old Mom. With enough similar examples, they learned to trust that the rules and guidelines we established were not put in place to make their lives miserable, but truly made in their best interest. Stuggles along those lines became less and less, because of that level of trust.
And because we truly respect them, and listen to their opinions - even if we don't agree with them - we have a wonderful level of communication. My kids come to me with problems, concerns, ideas - everything. They know that I will listen and not ridicule their ideas, no matter how far-fetched (trust again). As a result, they have learned to ideantify and articulate their feelings, and they understand how important it is to talk things out, rather than hold them in.
We were blessed with wonderful children, and I certainly will NOT take full credit for the fact that they are turning out so well. But I do think that we have taken their natures, and nurtured them along a path of kindness, thoughtfulness, and empathy, through our example.
Today, my sons are respectful to us and others - not because they are cowed into treating people with respect, but because that's how THEY have always been treated, and they think it's the right thing to do. They are empathetic, thoughtful, and funny. They still enjoy hanging out with their parents, and are not ashamed to be seen in public with us. They look at their friends' parents, and think they've got it pretty good!
When you build a relationship based on trust and respect, both trust and respect grow. My kids used to beg for a later bedtime, for example, because "All our freinds stay up later than we do!" I explained that if they could get up on their own before the alarm went off, and were well rested during the day, then they were getting plenty of sleep, and could stay up later. If mornings were a struggle to get out of bed, they needed more sleep and needed to go to bed earlier. Eventually they realized that it was their own bodies setting bedtime - not Mean Old Mom. With enough similar examples, they learned to trust that the rules and guidelines we established were not put in place to make their lives miserable, but truly made in their best interest. Stuggles along those lines became less and less, because of that level of trust.
And because we truly respect them, and listen to their opinions - even if we don't agree with them - we have a wonderful level of communication. My kids come to me with problems, concerns, ideas - everything. They know that I will listen and not ridicule their ideas, no matter how far-fetched (trust again). As a result, they have learned to ideantify and articulate their feelings, and they understand how important it is to talk things out, rather than hold them in.
We were blessed with wonderful children, and I certainly will NOT take full credit for the fact that they are turning out so well. But I do think that we have taken their natures, and nurtured them along a path of kindness, thoughtfulness, and empathy, through our example.
I have given this a lot of thought, and I certainly don't have all of the answers, and maybe in a few years I'll decide I was all wrong and change my mind. 
:
