Well, the two-week Christmas break is over. My husband, a school principal, is back at work and it’s back to the old home mom schedule.

The most painful part is waking early. But is also the most stress-free part of my day. By getting up at 5:30, I can get one hour (if I am lucky 2-3) uninterrupted time working as well as get the laundry started. Uninterrupted time is a very precious thing when you have two kids under 4.

The rest of the day is a juggle. I found I am more relaxed and better able to handle interruptions if I wake up early.