No Idea What I am Doing

I sometimes wonder if I am the only parent that thinks "I have no idea what I am doing!"...

When I was pregnant with Landon I tried to do everything right. I played classical music in the car and in my classroom, I started eating vegetables, etc. I even remember telling my principal that I didn't care if he was cute as long as he was smart =). Well, as it turns out he's cute and smart - but I might be a little biased being his mother and all.

With the exception of a few sleepless nights early on, Landon was the perfect baby. He never fussed, smiled all of the time, slept through the night... I could not have asked for a better child. Now Lylli is a different story - poor thing has been opinionated since her first kick. She definitely gives us a run for our money. But that is a story for another day.

Anyway, I say all this so that you can appreciate my surprise at the difficulty of raising a school aged child. Ever since Landon started school at age 4 we have heard the same story, "Landon is such a sweet boy, but he talks too much and will not be still." Well duh! He IS a boy... and he is MY child!

Now in first grade with a new teacher and a new school, it is the same song and dance. "Landon does not complete his work because he is too busy talking." "Landon is in his own world when he is supposed to be doing..." (you fill in the blank). "Landon didn't turn in his work because he couldn't find it in his messy desk." And they go on and on...

I know this seems like a very petty thing to be frustrated about, and I know so many parents that have REAL problems with their kids. But this is driving me nuts! I absolutely don't know how to help him, then I get frustrated, and we all get angry. So what am I supposed to do!?!?!?

I probably never should have asked...
I have been advised to hug and kiss him, praise him more, show him I care... Does that mean I am deficient in this area? On the other hand, I have been told to use tough love - take away everything, don't let him play with his friends... Then I have been told I need to model better behavior myself - What does that even mean? So basically, him not sitting in his seat, him not staying on task, and his anger about me being upset about all this is because of something I have done wrong or left undone?

Wow - I have no idea what I am doing! I really need a "Parenting for Dummies" or some other how to book for this one =)