This past weekend we “sprang” ahead (oh, ouch!), and around my neck of the woods (southern New England) we’re finally getting our first taste of what I like to call “almost-spring.” We’re not quite in the flowers and butterfly stage yet, but the temps are warming up, the birds are singing, and the snow is melting (if you listen very closely, you can hear the cheers of moms everywhere who no longer have to worry about Yet Another Snow Day).

Spring is the season of renewal, rebirth, reawakening. During these wet, windy, and eventually warm months, moms and their kids start to emerge from their family hibernation – blinking and squinting at the sun, the kids doing cartwheels because they no longer have to pile on half the LL Bean store before venturing out the front door. For grown-ups, spring means no more shoveling, no more having to put “melty ice pellet thingys” on the shopping list, and no more bouts of mortal fear when catching the weather on the evening news. For kids, spring means mud, bicycles, and the first ice cream of the season. It means frogs, extra recess, and a fresh batch of bubble blowing stuff at the convenience store.

When I was a little girl, I lived at the end of a very long driveway that was only partially paved. Each spring, as the snow melted, miniature rivers would cascade down the rough patches – tiny rapids tumbling over Lillipution boulders, sending bits of old leaves and pine cones scuttling downhill and around wild bends. I could spend hours out there, crouched down in a position that would cause me agonizing pain today. I built dams, launched tiny boats, and collected dozens of rocks that – under the water – looked like bona fide gems.

As a busy, single mom, I don’t always have the time to spend hours lost in the world of a tiny river; but I will make time for me and my little girl to enjoy three of my favorite springtime rituals:

Puddles: There’s something about a puddle that draws a kid in like a moth to a flame. From the tiniest babe to the almost-a-grown-up teen, puddles are irresistible. Luckily for us, my daughter and I currently reside on a road that runs through a swamp (the kind that looks like it ought to have resident alligators). Each spring, this swamp surges over its usual boundaries and floods our street. Last week, my daughter and I spent a happy hour splashing about, playing our own version of Pooh Sticks (our involved racing bits of ice through the swift-moving currents), and generally doing a Happy Spring dance that would have made any duck proud.

Purging: My usual spring purge has a little extra oomph this year as my daughter and I are preparing to move to a much smaller (and older – as in 300 years-old!) house across town. We’re excited about the move and using it as an excuse to ditch, donate, and recycle many of our belongings. Spring is such a great time for cleaning out closets, going through old school work papers, thinning out the toys in the playroom, and generally lightening your physical and karmic load on so many levels. Temps are supposed to hit the 60s this week and I fully plan on opening the windows to also freshen up the air!

Planting: I have killed all my houseplants and have a lousy record with outdoor gardens as well. Still, I can’t give up my urge to make something grow. When the days get longer and the sun gets higher, I feel a need to hit my local plant nursery and pick out something pretty and cheerful. There’s just something about watching a seed grow into a vibrant plant covered in blooms (or, in my case, a Charlie Brown straggler with maybe one or two blossoms). Kids love to see how things grow and get very excited about each seedling’s progress. Such a fun activity to share!

So – those are my three favorite springtime rituals. Your turn – what gets you in the sunny mood that this season deserves?

Image Credit: photo of my daughter at age almost-two compliments of my dad, Harry Howarth of Dancing Shadow Photography