Thank you! Parents say a lot of platitudinous things that aren't really helpful lol. I mean, sure you learn but preferably before putting your kids through the kind of torment mine went through early on. It's definitely better to be prepared ;) I think the fact that you don't have children but are reading about them says great things about the kind of parent you'd be. You're way ahead of the curve already :D
"However, it seems like a skill in an of itself to convey this to them without hurting their spirits"
I think if you become a parent you will be pleasantly surprised at how many of the best traits our children learn simply by example.
Thanks for your confidence! Im afraid it will be a case of theory versus practice! Poor kids, I hear the oldest kid always has it the hardest as they are the "guinea pig" to their parents inexperience.