What is the single most important piece of advice you can offer as a parent?

All opinions and inputs are welcome.What is the single most important piece of advice you can offer as a parent?
Keep your sense of humor - you will be sleep deprived, peed on, pooped on and puked on!!What is the single most important piece of advice you can offer as a parent?
Always remember to do the best you can, but also realize that you are going to make some mistakes as well. Go ahead and listen to other's advice, but then do what you feel is best.





Also, remember one important thing - your children are not really yours -- you have been given them to help nurture and teach them, but they really only belong to themselves and one day will grow up and lead their own lives. Hopefully this will mean that they will always want you to be a part of their lives, but your true goal is to help them to become responsible, independent, productive, caring adults.
To teach your kids financial responsibility!





It seems with everything else people deal with day to day, a lot of the time, handling finances gets forgotten. Last figures I looked up for retirement stated: You have to be contributing $350/mo to retirement by the age of 25 in order to have enough money to survive if you live to be 80.





That was back in 2004, so who knows what it is now. I need to look it up and see what the change has been over the last 4 years.





To me that is one of the most important things that a parent needs to teach. If they do everything but that, then they will have a great child/great adult...but they won't have the knowledge or skills to keep up with their finances in a way that gives them the best life outcome.
Lead by example in all you do.





Don't try to shelter them from the world. It does more harm than good.





Be firm %26amp; consistant (disipline wise)





Listen to their opinion's %26amp; even though just children be as honest as you can with them.





Give them a good name that they can carry through life.





Take plenty of photo's.





Dress them as well as you can %26amp; groom them. (and when their old enough teach them all about self maintanence)





Give them housework to earn pocket money.





Once in a while spend quality one-on-one time with your child.





RESPECT them as people. You have to give respect to earn it, but that doesn't mean spoiling your children or being their ';friend.'; Just never try to earn respect by making them fear you.





No matter how angry you are never say hurtful things you will regret saying later.








Sorry more than a single peice..
Lead not only in words but also by your own example as much as possible.





The second would be to accept your child for who they truly are not what you think they should be. A child of any age and intelligence will go so much further with positive reinforcement from their parents.
BE PATIENT! Remember that they aren't little Adults, they are just learning and need your guidance! Try not to yell, They will remember this when they are older.
Remember that you're their parent, not their friend. The NEED you to set boundaries and rules.
i kind of feel that the central task of parenting is deciding when and how much to 'interfere' from the time they are born until they are at least 40
Laugh often.


Life's tough, but finding the humor in things makes it's much, much easier.
PATIENCE!





pick your battles





learn to laugh over spilt milk





lead by example





spend time together...no tv..no computer... just the family.. eat meals together when you can
Join in as much as you can! Great for them and liberating for you!
Have patience.Follow your own gut.Don't sweat the small stuff.Enjoy every minute.
I always say take one day at a time and don't worry about tomorrow, even if you have to take one hour at a time.
Your children are not in this world to make you look good. If that happens, it's a bonus, not a given.
BE CONSISTENT :)
believe in yourself
use tough love when you feel it is necessary.
Forget the guilt trip! You do what you know is best for your child!!
Pick your battles!
My mom told me to always follow my heart no matter what happens.