Successful Parents are ...

• Not perfect
  They make mistakes, but observe and learn from both their own, and the mistakes of others.

• Personally involved with teaching and training their children.
  They know God holds only the parents solely responsible for overseeing their child's moral and spiritual development.

• Praying and studying for the job of parenting!
  They form their ideas about child discipline from a disciplined and prayerful consideration of Bible principles -- not from popular but unproven humanistic ideas! 

• Refusing to delegate  their God-given responsibilities for their own children to the state, the church, or others. 

• Taking personal charge of their children's spiritual education to make sure they receive proper Biblical instruction.

Article from the Christian Parents.net

1) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T EXPECT PERFECTION  either from themselves or their children.
Parenting is an art, not a science. Parent's DO; their children BECOME. Between the "doing" and "becoming" there is room for a lot of mistakes. Successful parents understand that, like themselves, their children aren't perfect, either. These parents expect the best from their children, but not perfection. This frees them to love their children unreservedly.

2) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T FEAR OCCASIONAL FAILURES.
They understand that mistakes are a normal, even healthy part of parenting.They make the best decisions they can and when they're wrong, they learn from their mistakes and try to do better the next time. For successful parents, mistakes (by parents or children) aren't failures but opportunities to learn and grow. And learning isn't possible without mistakes.

3) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T EXPECT TO ALWAYS HAVE "SMOOTH SAILING".
Children have their own opinions, personalities and preferences. Inevitably, they cause us to say "Where did THAT come from?" or "What WERE you thinking?" Our responsibility to provide them with limits and guidance will sometimes clash with their growing desire for independence. These clashes are inevitable. Succesful parents aren't surprised by them; they expect them. But successful parents understand that their responsibility to their chidlren is not to always please them or make them happy. It's to make the hard decisions that will be for their best in the long run.

4) SUCCESSFUL PARENTS DON'T "GO IT ALONE".
Successful parenting means trusting yourself but not being a "lone ranger". No one has the experience or answers to every parenting challenge. But each of us has some of the answers and, together, we've got them all. So successful parents aren't reluctant to seek out the wisdom of others, whether a trusted older friend or relative or a member of a "Mom's" group. They know that, at the end of the day, the decision is theirs, but before they get there, there is plenty of wisdom aong the way waiting to help them.

Successful parents don't get that way by accident.There are some reliable guidelines they follow.

1: SUCCESSFUL PARENTS TRY HARDER.
They face the same prressures we all do: demanding jobs, spouses and children who need us, financial challenges, etc. But they live by this rule: "You get back what you put in". They have a clear sense of priorities for their family and are willing to put in the time to achievce those priorities. they give more than the "average parent" so their children will be more than just "average children". These parents work at nurturing and developing themselves to be the best parents they can become. They try harder!

2: SUCCESSFUL PARENTS ENJOY BEING PARENTS!
They enjoy parenting not because it's easy or instantly rewarding but because of the sheer joy and privilege of cooperating with God in shaping another unique and precious life. Any parent of grown children will tell you "they grow up so quickly". Successful parents remind themselves of that and try to savor every day with their children. They immerse themselves in their children as much as possible and just enjoy them--even the days of dirty diapers, illness and disappointments. They don't just LOVE their children, they LIKE them and look forward to spending time with them. They enjoy being parents.

3: SUCCESFUL PARENTS TRUST GOD AND THEMSELVES.
Over time and by learning from sucesses and mistakes, successful parents learn to trust themselves, their instincts, their judgement. After all, they're the "right" parents for their children! And when they don't know the answer, they know that God does, so they pray regularly for wisdom to be the best parents they can be. They use their "sanctified comon sense" to make the many decisions of parenting with calmness and confidence. These wise parents trust God --and trust themselves, too!

4: SUCCESSFUL PARENTS STRIVE TO BE THE PERSON THEY WANT THEIR CHILD TO BECOME.
There are no formulas for parents. You can't just "program" children like a computer and be guaranteed of the result. But children are great observers and imitators. They watch, listen and absorb values and habits from the people who have the greatest influence on them: their parents.So successful parents resolve that they will set the best example they can for their children. The determine that they will "Be the person I want my child to become". They work every day at being and becoming a better person as they live before their children. That's the best, time tested way to see your children become the person you hope and pray for.

Articles taken from: Confident Parenting Today