What is the single most thing that is important in parenting?

Unconditional love

Be consistent in the way you react to a child’s behavior. Be strict or be easy, but don’t suddenly be strict about something you’ve always been easy about.

Letting your child be free to be themselves. Encouraging their dreams and desires and interests, not filtered by the parents ego.

Depends on the child’s age.

Young children I agree with presence and not just in body but in mind and spirit.

Older children, still important to be there but I think totally accepting your children for who they are becoming empowers them to be the best they can be.

Be involved consistently and with love.

Instilling Fear.

Be on the same page as the other parent.

When parents disagree, the child plays off on it. Talk it out, and represent a single view.

Feeding them.

Preparing them for adulthood.

Being present is important, no doubt about it. But I’d replace that with being “involved”, because it’s just not always possible to be present, despite the best of intentions.

In any case, I’d say that the most important thing is somewhat different: Set a good example. In other words, live the life you try to teach your kids.

I’m not a parent, but from what I’ve seen and heard from kids that I’ve worked with or mentored in some other way I would state these three things:

1. Communication and availability (as mentioned in the OP)
2. Excepting them for the person they are rather than expecting them to have the same beliefs/interests as you (the parent).
3. Actually caring about the child’s welfare, and making sure they realize you care about them.

I think respecting the child is important. Much flows from that eg understanding their developmental needs, being consistent, listening….

Stability.

Letting your child become whoever she/he is. Just ‘letting’.

Love.

Listening and understanding.

Putting them first (within reason.)

Loving to be closely involved with them on every level, at every age.

When they’re teens: not giving in to the urge to put them out on the curb for someone else to pick up and take home.

Loving communication is the reason mom & I only had a few years of teen angst & are still besties.

Find the right balance between setting limits and granting individual freedom.