Growing up I got all the usual ones that have already been mentioned: Do unto others, If everybody else jumped off a bridge..., clean underwear, eat your veggies, etc, etc.

But when I was pregnant with my first baby, Fairy-Bird, I was given this advice by a mother of 4 teenagers and it was the best baby/child rearing advice I ever got. I give her credit for the close, open relationship I have with both my daughters. She said: Talk WITH your children, not at them, listen to everything they say and be involved in thier lives, know what they like and no matter what stupid thing they say or do, love them always, unconditionally and with all your heart.