Contrary to all my motherly instincts, I have been attempting to teach my daughter how to be independent at just eight weeks. I’m back to work in less than four weeks and we both have to get ready for what daycare has in store for us.

Nap time has been in her crib to try to get her used to it, but I have to jump up every couple of minutes to calm her down before she gets too worked up. Calming her down involves patting her, shushing her and popping the paci back into her mouth. I know that no matter how great the daycare workers are, they won’t be able to pick her up with every peep.

It is so hard to think about leaving her with someone else during the day. No matter how good they daycare people are, they are not me.