First thing that come to mind is that I learn it is important to keep my promises. My children always remember the things that I promise and they will hold me to my promises each time. I try my best to stay true to my word, while at the same time never to make a promise that I can't keep. In return, my children also try their best to fulfill their promises, as I also hold them to their promises.

I also learn that humans react to incentives, my children included; and that rewards work quite a lot better than punishment. It is hard to coerce and force them to do things, but they are more than willing to do what I want them to do given the proper incentives / rewards.

They respond much better when I am clear about what I want and when I am also consistent about what I want. Setting clear rules and guidelines, communicating my expectations and requirements ahead of time, and most importantly, being consistent about it without changing my mind on a whim.

They are also smarter and more reasonable than I think. That once they are old enough to communicate relatively well (around 3 or so), I can start reasoning with them. If my demands are reasonable, they usually understand and respond quite well. If I'm being unreasonable, they seem to be able to sense it and would also act unreasonably.