Because of her joy

Childhood Memories

I recently listened to a podcast where two lifelong friends reminisced about their childhood. They told stories of heading into the woods with an axe, day after day, determined to chop down a tree. They recalled collecting sticks to dam up a stream, and building a lean-to to sleep in overnight.

Maybe these are tales from a bygone era—but as much as I’m able, I want to return a bit of that kind of childhood to my own kids. I want to preserve their innocence and childlike wonder. To give them long, carefree days outdoors, unhurried and unbusy. A childhood not packed with structured, adult-led activities, but one rooted in familiar rhythms and well-loved places.

The Heart of Our Summer

To bring us closer to that kind of childhood, in the summer—we walk. There are so many things we could do, so many places we could go. But instead, we walk.

In the morning, we head to the lake—play in the sand, swim in the shallows. In the afternoon, we walk to the park, where Dad meets us after work. I pack water bottles and towels into the stroller, which I keep stocked with beach toys, always ready to go. I put on their swimsuits, apply sunscreen, and we take the short walk down to the lake.

It feels different than packing up the car and driving somewhere. It feels slow, and breezy, and relaxed. We don’t go anywhere else on weekdays, all summer long—even though we could.

No splash pads, no other parks, no pools.
We stay home.
And we walk.

There is plenty of busy—plenty to do—all summer long. But this is the heart of ours.

Cherished Summer Traditions

We plan our summer with intention, returning to the same places year after year.

In May, we’re finally making our way to the tulip festival. This is something new we’ve added to the calendar as we patiently wait for the warmer days to stay. This year, it falls over Mother’s Day weekend, which feels like the perfect way to begin a new tradition.

June brings our weeklong family vacation, the summer holidays, and Father’s Day. On Father’s Day weekend, my husband and our eldest son camp in the backyard, complete with hot dogs, a bonfire, and s’mores under the stars. This year will be the last one with just the two of them; next year, baby brother will be old enough to join in! We’ve also added strawberry picking to our spring traditions this year.

Something we’re going to try this year is that my husband will take three Fridays off in July, turning every weekend into a long weekend and allowing us to slow down and truly enjoy our summer together. July also brings the 4th of July, and later in the month, my husband’s birthday. As a child, he would travel to the dunes with his family every summer, and to continue that tradition, we’ll be spending his birthday there.

I’ve also signed our three-year-old up for swim lessons at the lake—the same lake we visit every morning. With Fridays off, my husband will be able to attend two of the lessons with us. July wraps up with the county fair! It’s a bit of a busier month in the height of summer, but it will be offset by our slow weekdays.

August is quieter, with families preparing for the return to school. It’s a good time for our annual trip to the zoo—something we all look forward to every year.

In September, we go apple picking. (Maybe when the boys are older we really will pick apples, but for now, we walk through the orchard, enjoy barrel rides, and eat hot apple pie.)

October brings another birthday, a visit to the pumpkin patch, and one of my favorite traditions: a scenic fall drive that ends in a nearby lake town. We walk along the waterfront, admiring the magazine-worthy houses in the last sunny days of fall.

And with that, the warmer months come to a close, and we head into cooler weather and the holiday season.

These annual events that fill our calendar aren’t meant to feel stifling, but comforting. Like home. Something to look forward to. Something we return to. A childhood of “we always…” and “remember when…” I love looking ahead and seeing those familiar, much-anticipated moments waiting for us throughout the year.

Lake Days

Another thing I would like to add to our summer this year is long days at Lake Michigan.

Last summer, we spent one perfect day there, and we loved it. We packed lunch and snacks and spent the entire day on the beach. I remember thinking, Why didn’t we do this more? This summer, I’d love to go every other weekend.

To just lie on the beach, float in the waves, and build sandcastles with my children. We’ll eat sandy sandwiches and fresh fruit from the cooler. With the sound of the water and the gulls in the background, the sun warming our skin.

As the seasons change and the years pass, these simple moments become the memories we carry with us.