I'm still yet to see what my "parenting style" is going to be like because Gab is only 1 and hasn't really got to an age where discipline etc. is important (still there in small doses but, uno... not fully fledged).

I was brought up by my mother as a single parent. On the whole she did a pretty good job (she must have.... after all, as 4 girls growing up in a single parent household, statistically at least one of us was meant to be on drugs, quit school, get preggo as a teenager etc. etc. and none of that happened).
Mum was a bit of a stickler for discipline tho. Her way of getting us to do things was to scare us and I don't want to do that to Gabby. Mum also had a thing about us not interrupting her when she was speaking/listening to another adult. I too get annoyed when a child interrupts just for the sake of it (give me attention, Mummy!) but, sometimes, it's really important. My Mum couldn't really tell the difference. Sometimes we had really pressing issues and it was frustrating to have to stand and wait politely - it felt like we weren't really being listened to.
We were also physically disciplined but, on several occasions, it went too far (bordering on physical abuse). I was terrified of my own mother and no child should have to feel that way.
For those reasons, I will endeavour to steer clear of my mother's heavy-handed tactics but take on board the things that did work well. Like when she was happy to buy us alcoholic drinks once we turned 16 so that she knew exactly what we were drinking and how much. She knew that the reality was that we were going to drink regardless. I really respected the fact that she trusted us so I never abused that trust and drank only what she supplied. She also allowed us to have parties at home. This way she knew we and our friends were safe but also having a good time.
Another thing she always did was encourage us to do our best in school but never pushed us in directions we didn't want to go. She would guide us but not ever force us to do things just because it was what she wanted. I wasn't very partial to maths or science so she didn't kick up a stink when my marks weren't all that good. Instead, she encouraged me and praised me in subjects that I liked (and, thus, had good grades). She did say that she would like us all to finish high school so that our options were open for us. That was her only condition.

My Dad's influence has not rubbed off at all. He was a pretty good Dad up until I was 10 when he and Mum split up for good. We then didn't see him for more than a couple of weeks on 2 occasions in 8 years. When he came to live in Geelong, his new wife and her family became the focus of his attention and we were pretty much forgotten (though he will argue that!).

I really would like to take hints and tips from those Mums who have a good relationship with their kids. We have a couple of friends that have grown kids that just love to visit them and spend time with them. I'd be really interested to take a leaf out of their book. Obviously they were doing something pretty amazing if their kids want to be around them all the time.