The "Right" Thing vs. The Best Thing

I sometimes wish I could get a hold of every parenting how to book out there to rip apart and have one awesome bonfire as well as somehow shush all the parenting "experts". It honestly drives me insane how we are always being told the "right" way to raise our kids. The "right" way gets told so much it gets drilled into our heads and if we don't parent that way, we feel guilty and like a bad parent, when we shouldn't feel that way. We should feel like an AWESOME parent and very proud of ourselves for doing what's best for our child and family. No child is the same. No parent is the same. No family is the same. No parenting way is right or wrong (of course, to a common sense extent!). I will admit, I read parenting books and search online for what to do in different child raising situation. And I wish I wouldn't. And I do A LOT less of it with my second child. Now I may look at a parenting book just for the list of what my children should be doing at their age to make sure they aren't too far off or to boast on how far advanced they are. :) I have learned to do what's best for my child/children and our family and not care what others think/say. Because doing so is the RIGHT way to parent. I wish our society didn't make this so hard to learn. And so hard to say "I don't care what you think, this is best for my child so this is the RIGHT thing." (If this is choppy and I seem to be rambling, I am sorry, I am just letting it all flow from my head and heart.) For example, if we rock our child to sleep, our society makes us feel like we are doing something wrong because they should be put down drowsy but awake so they learn to fall asleep on their own. However, my opinion is, I will rock my child to sleep or whatever he needs because I love my child unconditionally and he will grow up too quickly so I will savor this time and snuggle with my child as much as he wants. This time with my child will show him he's loved unconditionally and hopefully will increase his self-esteem and confidence because of all the love I give him, he will feel so good about himself. Or my favorite of society's "right" way to parent: you must let them cry it out. Oh how I disagree with this. Now if you go with this method, that's fine, it's your choice but here's my opinion. I am so strongly against this "parenting rule" so it must make me a bad parent, right? Wrong. It makes me a wonderful parent who does what's best for my child and family. My child will cry and get upset over a variety of things as he grows and learns (for example: learning to share, being told no, having to come inside when he doesn't want to.). Letting him cry and be upset because he is scared, lonely, wants Mommy or Daddy, just wants to be held, to me is just wrong and horrible! If my child gets up during the night and just wants to be with someone, I will not let him cry. I will go snuggle with him and love him and enjoy this precious time with him. This to me shows him he is loved and that does oh so much wonderful things to a child. My oldest is just starting to sleep all night more than he gets up and that's because he's mature enough and his body is ready to sleep all night. Sure maybe this would have come sooner if I let him "cry it out" but I feel that's the "cop out" for parents who want to take the easy route and get more sleep. (No offense to those who choose to do this, again this is just my opinion.) (Plus those who have good sleepers, have it way too easy as parents. :)) I follow my child's lead of what he is ready for and what he needs, not society. It's something I have always done but not always done so guilt free. Society used to make me feel so guilty and bad for not parenting the "right" way, but not anymore. I will proudly and happily do what's best for my children and family and that makes me a wonderful parent. I pray for other mother's struggling with this. It's so sad society does this to mothers who already have so much going on and adjusting to.