Clueless

Parenting. Who knows what they are doing?

Ask your mom and she would have her own tale of how she brought you up. Check with your friends and they would have a different version, too. Read a book and research would tell you this and that produce such and such kids. With all these resources around you, have you finally figured it out? 

Of course, you have not! You know why? Because you'll never know until you're in that situation. You live it, then you learn it as you go. You can only understand parts while you're at it. And this for me is the most thrilling and challenging part of being a parent, of being a mom. Nothing can really prepare you to the life that's waiting for you once you have your own child. It's frightening of course (still remember the first time your Doctor officially handed over your baby to you?) but the joy is unexplainable.
Although it sounds more like an 'on-the-job training', knowing that someone else is losing her mind and having doubts every second of the day if she's doing anything right, is comforting. I guess this is the reason why many parents, mom and dad alike love to share, read and even write their experiences. There's no guarantee that Susie's tips on how to tame your toddler will work for your son. But the fact that Susie wrote it means your son is not uniquely horrible, and so are you. I especially find comfort in phrases such as 'It's a normal behavior' and 'they would soon outgrow it'.

"Behind every great child is a mother who's pretty sure she's screwing things up!"

My point is, don't be too paranoid into thinking that you're not being a good parent by comparing yourself and your kid with the rest. Every child is unique and mostly of the things you're going through is just a phase (thankfully). One thing I believe to be true though is your instincts. If something strongly feels wrong, better attend to it. Chances are, you're right.
Other than that, just do your best. Believing that although you don't know what you're doing, God does. And He trusts you well enough to give this beautiful being to your care. Now you just have to trust yourself too.