I still remember juggling carpools, homework folders, and the elusive search for matching socks every morning while sipping my third cold coffee. As a forty-something mom with two kids aged 8 and 11, our front porch has become the backdrop for every milestone and meltdown—from lost soccer cleats to impromptu lemonade stands. Neighbors stop and chat, kids trade snacks on the steps, and small changes to the house’s exterior quietly brighten our days. Lately I’ve been swapping tired hardware and planting window boxes between school drop-offs, hunting for easy updates that make us smile and stand up to sticky hands.…