I still wake up to the sound of little feet padding down the hall and the smell of coffee brewing, juggling school lunches with a mental checklist of carpools and piano practice. As a mom in my forties with two kids between eight and twelve, my days are full of routines that feel cozy and a bit chaotic, from backyard lemonade stands to waving hello to the neighbor who waters our plants. Those ordinary moments make the quiet, private ones stand out even more. Lately I find myself thinking about the small rituals that mark big life moments, like the…
