Summer Rituals

Five ways my family and I savor summer

Last weekend, water hose in hand, I cheerfully streamed cold, clear water over the heads of my two small sons, their bodies streaked with mud as they ran across the green grass screeching with glee, and I thought, Summer is here. While school hadn’t ended just yet, while June has just started getting into its groove, summer has still arrived. So I’ve been switching into warm-weather mode—getting all the clothes, toys, games and rituals lined up to help us savor this fleeting season.

Summer is magical, and as with other special times of the year, like Halloween and Christmas, I like to tuck away a few special things that we do only at this particular time as a way of celebrating that specialness.

Here are five of my favorite summer rituals, traditions, and things to do, eat and drink, including a quick, easy, summer snack recipe using fresh strawberries!