Teaching children, when the parents can't be taught.

I think my hardest challenge to teach my children right from wrong, responsibilities, and to basically not lie, is when my not-so-better half doesn't seem to live by the same "values". I don't want to raise my kids with the "do as I say, not as I do" way. I am far far away from being the "perfect" parent. And I don't ask that my husband be perfect. I just want him to keep his word, and not lie to me. And treat me with some respect. Is that really so hard? We were supposed to have our backyard all cleaned up yesterday ( it's been a slight nightmare out there, as a catchall of stuff the mice destroyed, some full garbage bags from the garbage cans not being dragged out in time to be dumped, and the stuff for goodwill that was messed up with the last big storm we had- that the kids have dragged all over the place. And I won't get into the jungle growing on the side of the house.) Sam & I busted our asses, cleaning up. While Matt sat in here, in front of the fan. I came in to take a quick shower, so we could go take all the empty boxes to the cardboard recycle bin. I asked him if he would help Sam & Mikey put them in the car. He thru a hissy fit, because since he didn't make the mess, why should he have to clean it up. @@ I just don't understand why he can't do a few things once in a while to help me, when he expects me to jump thru hoops for him. He went out with his friend today,and told me he would be home by 1:30pm, so I could go pick up our fixed washer. He finally came home around 8pm. There are so many little things to add to this story, but it's just more of the same. Ugh. This is just making me mad all over again. He wants to bitch about the kids lying to us, or that Sam doesn't check in. Well , duh. In this regard, I think being a single parent could be easier. No other parent that you have to meld your disciplining ways with. What you say goes.