a little help please!

As i was just reading the blog of a friends, she was commenting something about her oldest child and referred to him as "the child we practice parenting on". I had to laugh because that's how I feel about poor aspen. Seriously, we have NO idea what we are doing... it's all just trial and error and at the poor expense of our little ones. Could we have a little help and direction please?!?

(Note: the following stoy is regarding breastfeeding and may be TMI...)

A couple of days after having Bryson, while I was still in the hospital, one of the nurses asked me how the breastfeeding was going. I replied and said it was going okay but I was a little sore... so she proceeded to help me and see if there was a problem. After watching the baby latch on, she almost gasped and said, "no wonder it hurts... you're doing it wrong". Now I wasn't aware there was a "wrong" way to do it, though now I am well aware. And with a little direction I was able to figure it out and the whole situation became much less painful for all involved.

I share this anecdote because I have come to the conclusion that with all aspects of parenting I really have no clue and gladly welcome any help I can get. At Aspen's 3 year old well child check up, I asked the pediatrician if he had any advice for handling a tantruming toddler. He recommended THIS book.

So I got it and I've been reading it and it's been so helpful! I feel like I did back when I was breastfeeding wrong.... I'm thinking to myself "no wonder she has tantrums, I'm doing it wrong!". So I realize that despite the fact that children don't come with owners manuals, there is a lot of help out there, especially as we trudge through new challenges with our "practice child".