“I want to take a family beach trip,” I kept telling my husband. It stood for so much more than putting my feet in a large body of water and getting a good tan. Traditions. I was desperate to start traditions. I wanted the different seasons to come with rhythms of anticipation for my son. I wanted part of our summer tradition to be piling into cars and driving to the beach with grandparents, aunts, and (someday) cousins. For my 29th birthday, my in-laws granted my wish. They were taking us to the beach. It would be our 3-month-old son’s first trip.
