Is it normal to not know how to shave your pubes?

Make sure you're using on of those massive, ugly women razors. There ridiculous, but so much easier (once you've excelled, you can switch to cheap guys ones).
I rarely use cream cause I never have it, thus stopped buying it, but it wouldn't be too bad if it got in. Your vagina cleans itself, so anything would be flushed out daily. Use cream or don't, but do rinse after.
If you haven't done so, trim all the hair you want to shave as short as you can. Razors shave long hair very badly.
Shave your hair in the direction of the growth, go over again if you've missed spots, rinse the razor frequently.
Once you've done everything you've wanted to do (and if you want it smoother -- if it's fine as is, you can end here), pull skin taut and shave against the growth in gentle, short shaves.
Shaving under there is harder, the best position is sitting on the floor, but I can't do that in my shower. Prop a leg up on something, shave from inner thigh inwards, switch legs and shave. Everything should be in gentle, short controlled movements, this'll prevent cuts.

If i can just add something to georgienne's post, rinse your razor very often with hot water. The warmer your skin is, the less hair will grip in your skin, thus making it less painful and leaving no mark or blemishes

Get a razor with the protective wires across the blades.