They trust parents to enforce rules that protect them. Often they equate parental control with love. Didn't care enough. As parents, we care, but sometimes we get tired of the daily task of nurturing good behavior. Or, we get frustrated dealing with the same issue over and over.
Parents have a responsibility to be in charge.
Children need us to parent them effectively and to guide them into adulthood. We need to acknowledge our children's feelings and respect their opinions, but the bottom line decisions belong to parents. Children must learn to accept this reality. Expecting children to cooperate is much different than wishing they would. Your choice of vocabulary is the first method of conveying your expectations.