His honesty with his children means they trust him and look up to him for guidance. He tells Jack his younger brother that when a child asks you something, “...answer him, for goodness sake.” When Scout asks Atticus if they are poor, the usual response from a parent of a lawyer profession would be to say no, so as not to feel lower than the Cunningham. But Atticus believes honesty is the best policy, so he says, “we are indeed.” Atticus considers lying horribly dishonest, so he attempts to be truthful at all times with his children. He doesn’t expect his kids to respect him just because of his profession or he is their father but only because he acts in way that deserves respect. He even tells “I’m simply defending a negro, his name is Tom
