I must admit, I have the best parents I could ever imagine having.  Not all people can say that unfortunately, but I've been lucky enough to have two loving parents who have supported me my whole life.  Because of this I am very close to my parents.  Friends and other family members have often times asked what it was about their parenting style that lead to our positive relationship.  Since I don't have children of my own it's hard to say, but I would imagine it's a mixture of firm parenting along with the freedom to do what makes me happy. That might be simplifying it but it's the combination of those two things that have stuck with me the most.  

This article in The New York Times seems to agree.  I don't think any of us really have the answer for the perfect way to parent but I'm just lucky that mine pretty much nailed it.