I thought that telling my child that it was unacceptable for him to “skate” through classes where he could get a bare minimum “A” through out his High School would help him realize that that hard work was all that mattered. I realized that, by senior year with a class load of 7 mostly AP classes, a varsity sport and the senior year college application stress, it became overwhelming for even the best student. The advice worked for 9-11 grades but he needed to cruise through 12 grade with less stress given by me. I would have layed off if I had a chance to do it over again.
Work hard till the end. Don’t use senioritis as an excuse.
@raclut I did that and thought it was the best and worst advice, in totality, of his 4 years of High School. I realized he needed to enjoy his senior year more. What would you would you do differently? If you would care to admit it. I’m curious.
Best: embrace senioritis!: you have been accepted to college and your admission is not going to be withdrawn for Bs instead of A’s so take a breather before you have to deal with the backbreaking work load of a double engineering major.
Worst: You need to do fewer extra-circulars and shouldn’t worry so much about leadership positions
Do differently: let them be them and figure out what works for them
Best: Give stage crew a try, you might like it. He’s now a theater tech BFA major.
Worst: Just do your best. I think that by giving him that advice, he decided that it was okay not to push for perfection.
Best: Please don’t be afraid to tell me about anything that’s going on in your life.
Worst: It’s okay for you to go to a cast party at the home of a classmate whose parents are a physician and a nurse and who will be there during the party.
@rosered55 yikes, I can only imagine. Your best is perfect.
One thing I learned is that despite my “open ears” policy, there still were things my children didn’t tell me. I’m glad they and I survived their teenage years relatively unscathed.
Best: Push hard! (fine for a mentally healthy kid)
Worst: Push hard! (not fine for a kid struggling, but hindsight is 20/20)
Do you live in my town?
@rosered55 I sent my kid to a party of a kid with physician parents, in attendance, and found out that many illegal things were readily available to the kids. This might be a trend with 3 out of 9 posters. How could we know? Except the friends of mine growing up that had the “best” parties,
( with retroactive literal regret), were at homes of professionals that my parents would never had suspected.
Best: “When in danger or in doubt, run in circles scream and shout”. No not really. Probably that not every thing is worth doing well. Which is just another way of saying learn how to prioritize.
Worst: I have no idea. I’m sure I gave plenty of bad advice, but I have forgotten all of it. I regret not complaining about his fifth grade teacher.
The worst advice is usually the best advice not taken into consideration because of how and when it was given. 
Best advice: I told my kids it is okay to quit sometimes. Not in anger or on the spur of the moment. Don’t leave people in a lurch. But continuing to do something that is making you unhappy when you don’t have to is sometimes the right decision. Society glorifies people who never quit. But sometimes it is the smart thing to do.
Worst advice: Take a telephone that plugs into the wall to college (D1).
Best: Do things that interest you. Don’t do things just because they will help you get into college.
Worst: I’m busy. Can you tell me about it later?
Best: You may call me at any time, day or night, and I will come to pick you up. You may use me as an excuse to get out of a difficult situation - My mom will kill me if…
Worst: Stick it out with this class/teacher. I never realized how toxic a teacher could be.
D did call one night for me to come pick her up. She was at the home of a friend, not a physician, but a nationally known executive, and things got out of hand and the police were called. The dad was in another part of the house…
Best: Be open to new experiences.At the very least, you’ve got a fun story.
Worst: It’s a tie between being kind (without the caveat that you need to protect yourself) and a sort of absolutist idea about not putting up with cruel friends. Young people are often cruel or careless, but you don’t have to write them off. I let my protective instincts about my children interfere with their own instincts. DS ignored me, DD listened to me. I’m not sure what I’d do differently, but I revisit this issue in my own head from time to time.
Best: Your life will be the sum of your decisions; make good ones. And, “To him whom much has been given, much is expected.”
Worst: Be all that you can be.
What I would change: Don’t borrow a military slogan if the last place you want your child is in the military.
One mantra was, do right and right will follow you. I was concerned first with their perspective, choices, and overall ethics. Not perfection.
Worked for us.
“Do things that interest you and consider what colleges will like to see in you.”
It’s not either/or.
No singular best/worst here.
Best: That application is due today and you WILL write that essay
Worst: Avoid New Jersey (we’re from there, so nothing against NJers)