This entry at RookieMoms.com (a great blog) reminded me of a time when I WISH I had taken my mother's advice. I remember a moment when my son -- less than a year old -- was sitting up and just stareing into space. I looked at him and said "He Must Be Bored" and went to pick him up and play with him. My mom stopped me and said something about "just letting him be...it's okay to let him be." and I, being the obstinate redhead that I am, rolled my eyes, picked him up and proceeded to play with him, conviced that he needed to be "stimulated" all the time.  Only later, as he grew up, did I realize that I should have listened to my mother because it seemed like he ALWAYS wanted me to play with him -- and he didn't want to play independently!  Also, he needed to learn, later on, how to take some downtime (something we're STILL working on)  Things were much different with my daughter Shayna, I had learned my lesson by then!

The "Solution" here?

1. Listen to your mom! She did pretty well raising you - right? :)

2. Don't overstimulate your baby.  Let him/her have some downtime -- so you can have some too! I learned later that it really is GOOD for a baby.

3. Remember, As the Rookie Moms Say "Don't try to make a happy baby happier!"