Lesotho, Dec. 17 -- For many families, the festive season is imagined as a time of rest, laughter and togetherness. Yet behind the neatly decorated living rooms and carefully prepared meals lies a reality few openly discuss: running a household during this period can become an exhausting, full-time operation.

As the year draws to a close, homes turn into centres of activity. Guests arrive unexpectedly, children are home for longer hours, meals become more frequent and elaborate, and every corner of the house demands attention. The usual rhythm of daily life is replaced by a fast-paced routine where cleaning, cooking, shopping, security, childcare and errands compete for time and energy.

For working parents and caregivers, this pressure ...