I used to hate mornings. My sister and her three boys live with me. I always began my day going to work feeling irritated after trying to get ready for work around 3 chattering, sometimes bickering children. I'm one of those people who like absolute quiet first thing in the morning.

Now, I'm up a whole hour and a half before the kids, and I absolutely savor that quiet time. By the time the kids get up, I'm calm and collected, and instead of grumping at them, can carry on civil conversations. Needless to say, I'm a lot happier now, and with the change in my attitude, the kids are happier too.