Stop hating on other mothers

We have all made mistakes as mothers.

I know I have — many times. I am constantly seeking advice through books, my parents, my in-laws, my grandmothers, my sisters and especially on my knees.

I would be absolutely devastated if, instead of words of encouragement and support, I were to receive a chastisement or verbal attack for the mistakes I've made from people I love and trust.

A mother in Phoenix, Arizona, recently left her 2-month-old baby in his car seat in a shopping cart after grocery shopping with three of her four children.

"I'm a good mom who made a terrible mistake," Cherish Peterson said.

She noticed her terrifying mistake when her 3-year-old son asked where his baby brother was shortly after pulling up to their house.

"I got into my car, and normally I put my cart away," said Peterson. "But I didn't need to because I parked at the front of the store and I never park there. And I drove away."

Luckily, a police officer saw the baby in the cart and took him inside the store until Peterson was able to return for her child, 40 minutes later.

"It was still a long time," Peterson said. "I never took my kids out of the car, so it wasn't like I knew I left him. I thought the whole time he was in my car."

Peterson has since received a backlash of negativity online. I am appalled at the way people can bash someone who so innocently made a mistake — a terrible mistake — as to leave their brand-new baby in a store.

I think she's suffered enough. I think she has beat herself up enough, agonized enough and cried enough. I think what Cherish Peterson needs is an abundance of love and support, for her family and friends and community to rally around her and say, "You are a good mother. We all make mistakes, and luckily this one turned out OK."

I know weeks after giving birth, your hormones are all over the place. You are exhausted. You are running on little to no sleep, trying to keep up the house and care for your other children, as well as nurse a baby around the clock. I feel like I'm living in a fog most days, sometimes feeling like I don't even remember my own name. I have never left my child somewhere, but there have been plenty of times I've checked and double-checked because I can see how, especially with your fourth, that could happen.

No charges were originally filed, but now a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment has been forwarded to the town prosecutor.

In the case of drug or alcohol use, if there is a history of abuse or mistreatment, then I absolutely think justice should be served to protect our beautiful and innocent children.

But for a good mother who is honestly trying her best and simply had an exhausted lapse of judgement, I do not think slapping her with a misdemeanor charge will help.

"There is nothing I love more in this world than being a mom," Peterson said. "And there is no one in this world who could love my kids more than me."

I agree completely. Let's all try to forgive more, judge less.