There are days, of course, when we do not work. Storm days or sick days, sabbaths and days when we are too sore or tired to carry on. In one way, those days are difficult: we lose time. But everyone needs rest sometimes. And the children need days when we are available to them.

Today is such a day. My chief responsibilities involved making food and keeping the bus warm. Husband took out the compost and brought in water. The children played at our feet, had hugs and cuddles.

These are hard days, too, in the sense of a very small space inhabited by noisy and active children. It can be hard to endure the volume at times, and crankiness hovers. We did okay today, I think.

This is, by its nature, a stressful season for all of us. So many months of insecurity take their toll, but we are determined to get through the season undamaged and strong together.

Sometimes, that is the hardest job we have.