Why do we do it? Blame everything on ourselves? My baby didn’t sleep the night. Maybe it’s because 
she went to bed too late. My baby won’t nap. Maybe the room is too light. Or maybe I rock her too much. Maybe I don’t rock her enough. Why is she agitated? Maybe it’s because she is overtired or overstimulated. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken her out today. Maybe I should have played with her more. And the list goes on and on and on. Ok moms we need to stop doing this. I need to stop or I’ll drive myself crazy!
she went to bed too late. My baby won’t nap. Maybe the room is too light. Or maybe I rock her too much. Maybe I don’t rock her enough. Why is she agitated? Maybe it’s because she is overtired or overstimulated. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken her out today. Maybe I should have played with her more. And the list goes on and on and on. Ok moms we need to stop doing this. I need to stop or I’ll drive myself crazy!My daughter didn’t nap a wink today. I tried everything. Just putting her in her crib. She played with her feet instead. Darkening the room. Rocking her. Singing to her. Trying to lie down with her. Nada. When my husband got home tonight my first words were, ‘I feel like a horrible mother.‘ He laughed and said, ‘It is way too early to feel like a horrible mother. What will you say when it actually starts getting tough?’ He’s right. My daughter not napping has nothing to do with my parenting skills. It was just one of those days. And I have to remind myself tomorrow is a new day and who knows what surprises my baby girl will have in store. They change every week. Every day in fact. As moms, as parents, all we can do is our best, and we need to trust that that is enough and stop pointing the finger at ourselves. So if tomorrow Ella rather play with her feet than sleep, I’m going to let her.
Laura Casella is a reporter on Breakfast Television Montreal currently on mat leave.