My wife and I have a baby boy, so a lot of this still rests in the future. That being said, it is important to me that our son grows up happy and joyful. I hope that we are able to indulge him when he merits it, but we will not indulge sinfulness. If he ever starts going off the rails, he will find me to be a stern master. But I have no reason to see that happening as he is currently developing quite well. The most important thing for us is to raise him to be knowledgeable of the Faith and to foster in him a love of God. We will indulge his happiness so long as he continues to show that he is moving along down that path. However, we will also teach him penance and prudence. When he grows up, it will be more important to me that he loves me than that he likes me. I hope that, as TKGS said, he will fear disappointing me and I hope that I never have to make him fear me in any other way. If I do, then that will be because WE did something wrong along the way.