I still remember lugging in backpacks, soccer cleats, and a science project all at once, while trying to wave hello to Mrs. Patel next door who was pruning her roses. As a mom in my forties with two kids between eight and twelve, our mornings are a collage of lunchboxes, lost homework, and the little rituals that make a house feel like home. Evenings mean homework help, a quick walk with the neighborhood kids, and sneaking a cup of tea before bedtime stories. Those small routines made me obsess over tiny changes that lift the mood without a deep renovation.…