We laugh and hug, and then he falls asleep, smiling. Children need rituals, whether they are once-a-year events like painting toenails blue, or daily activities like bath/book/bed.

So whether it’s flashy drip-tips in the octagon, or black nails on the soccer pitch, a common-sense pair of flip-flops could be equally as important. They just might not look as fancy.

Painting our toenails blue or purple or orange is our annual ritual to kick off the Florida trip with a flourish. Each year, Grandson #1 enjoys the ritual of lighting the sabbath candles, and in ...