There's a reason Mary Poppins didn't have any children of her own. The handful of British nannies who dole out parenting advice on network TV are never seen with their own kids in tow for a reason.

While I consider myself to be a good mother to my 3-year-old, I'll easily admit that I was a much better nanny.

Stephanie Berning, news editor for WFSB.com and a former nanny, writes bi-weekly about early childhood development for WFSB.com's Junior 3 section. E-mail Stephanie with your story ideas

I firmly believe that there are traps set up for parents. Whether or not you know they are there waiting for you, you'll undoubtedly fall into one.

In my five years working as a professional nanny, I watched parents fall repeatedly into the traps. I would try to warn them before they fell in, but more often than not, I helped them repair the damages afterward.

Because of my experience with children, I felt confident of my parenting capabilities while pregnant with my daughter. I never experienced anxiety at the idea that, after her birth, I would be responsible for both her physical and emotional wellbeing. I had changed thousands of diapers, had managed dozens of ear infections, fevers and stomach bugs.

I knew that constantly giving in to your child only made you seem like a better parent in the moment. Or did I?

Nanny To Mom -- Easier Said Than Done

My husband, whose experience with children had amounted to holding a baby for one 10-minute session, felt confident in my knowledge as well. During pregnancy, I began to transfer everything I had learned over the years to him -- instructing him on everything from burping a baby to the importance of letting toddlers grasp their sense of independence by offering choices.

But somehow, when my newborn little girl was placed in my arms, I forgot everything I knew. She became my Kryptonite.

I began making one obvious mistake followed by another, starting from her first day alive.

I was so tickled with her that day and the months to follow, that I just held her and watched her sleep. It took a serious team effort (led by my husband) and 18 months to get her to fall asleep anywhere other than my arms. I still sit on her bedroom floor until she's well asleep.

I wonder if Dr. Ferber had any children of his own.

The problems don't end there and I've found myself having to follow the lead of the man I once tried to cram my knowledge into.

Although nannying has helped cushion the falls I've taken as a parent, it has not prevented me from taking them.

That being said, I firmly recommend anyone with the eventual goal of being a parent spend some serious one-on-one time with children. (I don't think time as a high school sitter counts.)

Mistakes Will Be Made

While not everyone has the option to work as a nanny, I recommend volunteering at children's hospitals and camps, like the Channel 3 Kids Camp. Offer to watch relatives' and friends' children -- trust me, they'll most likely appreciate the much-needed time off.

No matter what, I think one of the most important things to remember is that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. You can only work to be the best person you can while ushering your children through life.

Like any endeavor attempted, mistakes will be made -- the important thing is that you learn from them.

While working as a nanny may have given me a glimpse of the road ahead, I could have never memorized every twist and turn.

I did have a chance recently for my skills as a nanny to shine when my daughter had a play date at our house. During my nanny career, I somehow found myself mostly working with twins, so when my daughter and friend had issues sharing, I was right there to help solve the disagreement.

I suppose this gives me hope for when our next one comes in January, my nannying knowledge will make its debut in my parenting technique -- but I'm not counting on it.

After all, therapists wouldn't have such a booming business if it wasn't easier to solve problems that aren't your own.

So you're ready to plunge back into the workforce, but what do you do with your children? In my next column I'll look at the child care options available to parents and how to figure out what will work best for your family.