by Hannah Rice Myers

Created on: November 21, 2008   Last Updated: February 06, 2009

In today's society, there is an instructional manual for just about everything. You purchase a vacuum cleaner, you get instructions. You buy a can opener, you get instructions. These manuals tell you exactly how to use your new item and even provides warnings, telling you beforehand what and what not to do. The only thing in this life that doesn't come with a manual is parenting.

The day you leave the hospital with your precious creation, you feel as if you're floating on cloud nine. You whisper sweet words of affection and promises into their little ear, and fall in love with them all over again every time you look at their angelic face. Soon, the advice comes pouring in about what you should and should not do as a parent. In the back of your mind, you keep telling yourself that everything will be just fine; it is your child and you will know instinctively what to do. If only it were that easy.

Somewhere between newborn and preteen, you realize that you're flying by the seat of your pants. Every day seems to bring with it a whole host of problems you weren't anticipating and were far from ready for. It seems like you are always having to make last minute decisions about discipline or dating, bedtimes and curfews. Even once the decision has been made, you find yourself second guessing the choice you made and are now trying to implement. Often these choices are tagged with guilt as you ask yourself, "Did I do the right thing?"

Sure, there are friends and family still putting in their two cents, and maybe you have even grabbed a book at the library about how to raise a problem free child or how to change behavioral issues. You read them and implement their suggestions into your life, but they don't seem to be working. Now you really begin to sweat, worried that your child will turn out to be an irresponsible adult because of your lack of knowledge.

Here are the facts though, and many parents will tell you the same. Parenting is a learn-as-you-go process. While no parent wants to make grave mistakes that will ruin their child's life, you will make a mistake every day. But what makes the difference is learning from those mistakes. There will always be another day to make the proper parental decisions.

The three L's are vital to parenting. They are live, learn and love. As much as you want to place your child in a bubble to keep them safe and away from dangerous temptations, this is not possible. We have to let go at a certain point and let them live while we guide them.

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