Something’s Gotta Give

Christina Pilligua

mom of Nicholas, 4

Germantown, Maryland, registered nurse and graduate student

Priority: “Doing story time with my son—no matter how tired I am”

What Drops: Sleep

How It Works: The single mom works three 12-hour shifts a week, and is in school to become a family nurse practitioner. When Nicholas isn’t in preschool, Christina’s mother watches him during her long shifts and while she studies.

“My parents didn’t read to us ever because they didn’t speak English. I always wanted to have story time. So that’s our thing, since he was 4 months old. By the time we get