I still remember the hush of weekday mornings when my two kids, ages eight and eleven, pad downstairs arguing over cereal bowls while I fill thermoses and check the school calendar. Our porch swings creak with neighbor chatter and the dog lopes in for one last nuzzle before the rush begins. At night, after homework and piano practice, the house seems to breathe again — small routines like a bedtime story under a soft lamp make everything feel steadier. I started swapping out harsh overheads for softer bedside lighting and discovered how a single floral lamp can change the mood…