The Right Way to Parent

I've spent hours pouring over the internet looking for an answer to the parenting question. Is there a right way to parent? I can't find the answer on Google or Yahoo. I've tried to watch my friends because they have things that seem to work for them. When I mimic them, I always end up disappointed. In my quest for the right way to parent, I've started to question whether or not it really exists. Have you been looking for the right way to parent? Here's what I learned in my journey.

Every family is different. Though this may sound like common sense, it is something I found myself overlooking. My children, my husband and I each have different personalities. Not only are they different than one another, but they are different than our neighbors, our friends, and our families. Because our family is unique and there isn't another like it, we have to find our own way as parents. We can't mimic anyone else because we aren't anyone else.

You can do too much reading. I have spent so much time and energy reading books about parenting. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, Toddler Taming, Your Baby's First Year, 1-2-3 Magic, and Secrets of the Baby Whisperer are just a few of the titles that I've poured over looking for answers. I've spent time at attachment parenting websites, parenting and mothering forums, and looking through what writers at Associated Content have to say about parenting. For every author or parent that claims to have the answer to the parenting question, I've found another that says the complete and total opposite. I've ended up more confused by all the reading that I've done, instead of able to find a clear cut answer to how to parent. In short, I've done too much reading.