This morning is…starting early, my eyes wide open at 3:00 a.m. There are no children here rousing me from my slumber, no eager anticipation for what Santa might have left under the tree. Perhaps it’s hormones (or lack thereof), but so many days of each week begin this way. Early waking, followed by a burst of energy fueled with caffeine, and then my motivation begins to slowly and steadily leak away like the air from a balloon, until I finally fizzle completely and come to a heap on the couch right after dinner.

This morning is…a large mug of coffee (decaf because maybe I could go back to sleep for a couple of hours) brewed in a bright yellow cup with the words “Morning, Sunshine,” emblazoned upon it.