My problem with learning all these excellent child-raising skills is, by the time one finishes experimenting with the failures, finds something that works, and gets good at it, one's children have children of their own in high school. I suppose all that effort and learning is worthwhile for teacher who get a new batch every year to experiment on or people like Frank and Helen Beardsley , it just seems like a low-value return investment of time for normal parents. I figure if I don't hit them, love them by word and action, and do my best, I will get most of it. They will love me when they are young, hate me as teenagers, and realize I wasn't too bad when they are parents themselves. That was how it worked with me and my folks.

I agree with this one. It didn't hurt me to say "sorry" when Mom or Dad said to and it may have made me think about what I had done, maybe not. But... maybe it made the other person feel better and what harm is there in that.