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Theresa
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We had our first tea time yesterday and again today. They were great and I plan to put up pictures and info. on my blog on Friday but my question is...
Do you have Tea Time everyday? Do you do it up "fancy" each time???
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alicegunther
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Yes, Theresa, we have teatime almost everyday, but it is not always fancy, and does not always include sweets. Many times, I'll just make a pot of tea with lunch and read to them *or* give them each a piece of fruit or some vegetables with dip in the afternoon. The main thing is that we are all together with something good to read and a hot cup of sweet tea.
(To some extent, the Tea is always fancy in that I always brew the tea in my pretty teapot and use our favorite blue and white snowman mugs. On Feast days or other special celebrations, I make it very nice with tea sandwiches, tarts and cookies.)
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Paula in MN
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Theresa we had our first one today, for Grayson's birthday!
Except we had juice, not tea. And PB&J sammies. And brownies. And apples. And popcorn.
All the things a 5 year old wants on his birthday!
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chicken lady
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We usually always have tea time, as with Alice the "fancyness" depends on the feast day! It is always inviting new table cloth, beautiful tea pot, candles and usually a snack, scone or similar!
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Martha in VA
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Our tea times started out as "Advent Teas" because we had our very first one on the Feast of St. Nicholas. In sticking with the Advent theme, I told the girls to dress as if they were preparing to meet a king. That idea (preparing to meet a king) has stayed with them so our tea times have stayed fancy........even it if mean I'm upstairs throwing on a skirt five minutes before!!!! Our tea times are weekly - Wednesdays at 3:00.
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We always use the special pot and cups, but we don't do it regularly or often enough. For us it isn't necessarily anything more than an afternon snack and a time to be together after naps. I'd like to grow it to something more, like read aloud time, but I'm still so busy chasing people that it's not there yet.
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Theresa
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Martha, your weekly tea sounds so fun! I only have 1 daughter and then 3 boys. I'm not so sure they'd like to dress up.
We still had it fancy today because that is how they wanted it. My 8 year old ds was asking me all afternoon when he could set up the table. I think it actually had more to do with the fact that I let him use the lighter to light the candles (the whole... me man make fire thing)rather than the pretty tablecloth and fun tealights in cute little glass flower holders. 
Wednesday's we have piano lessons at the time I set for tea... completely forgot about that and Thursdays we are out of town for speech and OT. Maybe on those days we will just have to miss or have morning tea instead.
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marihalojen
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We call ours Tuesday Teatimes a la Brave Writer, though they rarely happen on Tuesday! Any day of the week is a good day! Currently we aim for once a week and if we hit every other week I feel  . Themes are big around here, Birds was our last big bash. I even saved Christmas wrapping paper with robins on it to use as a table cloth (okay, so I also needed to wrap some Orthodox friends' presents too ). Feast Day Teas are fun, like our All Saints' Day Tea and we adore Alice's easy ideas for teas.
Overall, we have some sort of treat, tea, cocoa or limeade, and reading! I really try to share a poem and talk about it, with the wonderful internet I can just google a topic + poem and be prepared for Tea while the water is boiling!
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Elizabeth
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We have tea time almost every day. I use the time to talk to the children about all sorts of things. Usually, there is a book to read, sometimes it is a book like Hidden power of Kindness, where we're all working on something together. Sometimes, it's a picture book having to do with a feast. often, i let a child choose the book from a basket. I've learned that when people want to come visit during the schoolday, it's easy to ask them to come for teatime. That way, I don't lose the whole day and I get to visit. I'l post below an article I wrote on tea time way back when I only had boys eating and a lone baby girl.
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Elizabeth
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There is a pause in my life between the end of the school day and the busy rush of carpools to soccer practice that I have come to savor. In our house, we call it “Tea Time.” Every day, at three-thirty, I put the water on to boil and call the children to set the table. We put classical music in the CD player, perhaps light a candle or two for the table, and enjoy some precious quiet time together.
Three months ago, if someone had told me that this scene would take place in my house, I would have been extremely skeptical. I have three very athletic boys, ages ten, six, and four, and a busy two-year-old girl. I put a great deal of thought into establishing this habit in our daily routine before I suggested it to my children. I decided to begin the first day of school, but the first day of advent, the first day of the new year, or the first day back to school after Christmas, would work equally well.
I stocked up on a wide assortment of fruit and mint flavored herbal teas (I did not want caffeinate my guys at that hour of the day). Perusing cookbooks and favorite recipe cards, I planned for a week’s worth of baked goodies, counting on having them hooked on this new family tradition by the end of the week.
On the first day, with the smell of sugar and spice cookies hanging in the air, we gathered at the table. We began with grace for the first day of school, taken from Let’s Say Grace by Robert M. Hamma. Then we just talked about the day and the year to come. It was nothing formal but I was amazed at how calm everyone was, how I held their attention and they held mine, and how much we were enjoying this time.
The ritual creates closure in a homeschooling day. Before instituting tea time, we would just slide from school time into the rest of a daily life. Even though we are certainly always learning, it’s nice to have time set aside to tie up loose ends. The rest before plunging headlong into the busy afternoon does us all good.
After the first week, I further refined my concept. We always begin with grace and Hamma’s book has suggestions for holy days and feast days, keeping us effortlessly in step with the liturgical year. Then we do a brief fifteen minute Bible study. I am using Our 24 Family Ways, published by Whole Heart Ministries as my guide. It is a Protestant publication, but since it is just a guide, I can easily adapt it to suit my needs. Occasionally, I will read a saints story book, particularly if it is a feast day of someone I want to highlight. After Bible study, we usually just talk, although sometimes the boys will insist on a few pages from whatever chapter book we are currently reading aloud as a family.
I have noticed that after the cookies are gone and the children begin to excuse themselves and leave the dining room, it is the child who has something on his heart or who simply didn’t get much of my time that day who stays to linger over a second cup of tea and some time with Mommy. These are times I cherish.
There is something about the inherent elegance of tea time that makes instruction in manners simpler than it is at dinner time. I think my children sometimes imagine themselves to be British nobility or children of colonial Williamsburg. Setting the table and cleaning up is also simpler than at dinner time in a large family and so inspires a spirit of genuine cheerful cooperation.
An unexpected benefit of tea time has been the ease with which I can now incorporate special celebrations into our day. If it is a feast day for one of my children, we invite their godparents to tea. The honored child chooses the food to be served. We set the table with a tablecloth, flowers, candles, and the good china. I don’t worry about breakage because the atmosphere slows the children down enough that they are gentle. Handling fine things seems to quiet ordinarily active children. If someone were to break a cup however, I would consider the experience of tea with real china worth the cost. Those dishes were rarely used until we established this tradition and I relish the idea of my children enjoying them and storing fond memories of them during their growing years.
Tea time has opened a window on the joy of hospitality for my children. They are learning to set a table, to arrange the food attractively, and most importantly, to welcome people into our home to share our time. They are learning to be gracious hosts and gracious guests. Sometimes, this is a casual happenstance—a neighbor needs me to watch her son for an hour or so after school or a favorite uncle drops by on his way to an evening job and they join us for tea. Other times are carefully planned.
Times of hospitality have offered my skeptical extended family a peek at our home school. They see that the children are learning well and they hear lively, intelligent conversation. It is a witness to the gentleness and grace of this lifestyle.
Since we instituted tea time, we have celebrated three birthdays. Two of the celebrations were for children. We simply invited a few neighborhood children and the cousins to come over after school, decorated a cake, and played some games when tea was finished. The parties were simple, but the children were pleased. Patrick, my four-year-old, even requested a special tea cup as his most desired birthday present. Incidentally, it is also Patrick who is most precise about brewing his tea for exactly three minutes and never drinking it from a mug used for milk or juice, much preferring a proper cup and saucer!
The third birthday celebration was for Grandma. The boys helped with all the preparations from setting the table to picking the flowers to baking the cake. Grandma was truly touched by her elegant party and duly impressed that it had been catered by her usually rowdy crew of grandsons.
Another unexpected benefit of our afternoon repast is that we are all less likely to fall victim to the five o’clock crankiness so easily attributed to low blood sugar. A planned snack at three-thirty is a very good thing. After about two weeks of this afternoon tradition, however, I noticed tea time being reflected on the bathroom scales. Now that I had them hooked with the help of sweet treats, it was time to add other snacks to our tea time repertoire.
A favorite in our house are tiny sandwiches made on star-shaped bread. I purchased the loaf pan from The Pampered Chef. Actually any bread, if freshly baked, is a welcome treat. There is nothing like the smell of fresh bread to whet one’s appetite!
I’ve also mixed a little honey with some peanut butter and cut apples or celery for dipping. My two-year-old makes a huge mess of this, but it keeps her very busy and very quiet. She also likes baby carrots with dill dip. Celery stuffed with cream cheese or peanut butter and dotted with raisins works well; as do tortillas spread with the same, rolled up and cut into pinwheels. Deviled eggs are appreciated by most of my children and are a great source of protein on an afternoon when everyone seems to need something substantial. In a pinch, simple cinnamon toast, cut with cookie cutters will do.
I remember reading the advice to create “Sabbath Moments” in all our days—time to rest and rejuvenate our souls. Tea time does this for me and I am grateful for the opportunity to engrave the habit on my children’s hearts as well.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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stefoodie
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Thanks for the inspiring posts, everyone! This is a wake-up call to me. We used to have teatime, almost everyday, until we found out we needed to take the allergies more seriously (end of '05). So all of '06 we hardly had any teatime, and the kids and I miss it. So now we're going back to doing it, even if it means trying to do a new allergy-free recipe every few days.
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aussieannie
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Firstly, a lovely posting Elizabeth! Thank you.
I have just come from my city centre today and I visited a Tea Centre that sells every exotic mixture of tea imaginable to pick up my favourite - Pacific Sun (green tea, rose petals, vanilla, apricot, calendular flowers, sunflowers) and I was captivated by the china sets of all sorts. I bought a piece to add to my little collection, the cup was oversized - just what I need!
So a timely thread for me to read.
I went to visit some Catholic ladies recently to chat and allow the children to play and the friend who was hosting served up on 'high tea' tiered plates, with matching cups and saucers.
It was SO very pleasant, each lady with her favoured sweet brought to the table and swapping receipes with each other as we enjoyed each others baking and had me thinking...the importance of thoughtful hospitality.
I am sure that what has been shared in the thread so far, would help in inspiring the children to the importance of it.
Many cherished conversations are to be had in that nice setting.......
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Elizabeth
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stefoodie wrote:
| Thanks for the inspiring posts, everyone! This is a wake-up call to me. We used to have teatime, almost everyday, until we found out we needed to take the allergies more seriously (end of '05). So all of '06 we hardly had any teatime, and the kids and I miss it. So now we're going back to doing it, even if it means trying to do a new allergy-free recipe every few days. |
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That happened to me, too, Stef. When we eliminated wheat, it was just overwhelming to do teatime. Now, they get wheat for tea sometimes and I do have a few rotating, non-wheat tea treats. let's help each other brainstorm wheat-free tea. Lately, we've enjoyed apples dipped in honey walnut cream cheese. I toast walnuts and let them cool and then whirl them in the blender with creams cheese and honey to taste. BIG hit!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Dawn
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I try to have one tea-time a week - Thursdays for us, since we are home all day. I tie it into either a feast, or a Catholic Mosaic book, sometimes a famly event like a birthday. A bit more formal - candle lit, prayers, practice manners, etc.
Informally, we tend to have "tea" almost every day - but this is just another word for our snack time - I am the one having my afternoon cuppa, and probably reading aloud to the boys.
I like calling it tea - it sounds so British!
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Theresa
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Elizabeth wrote:
| I toast walnuts and let them cool and then whirl them in the blender with creams cheese and honey to taste. BIG hit! |
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This sounds yummy! Do you just toast them in the oven?
I could definitely use some healthier snack ideas. We eat way to much junk around here. I loved Alice's tomatoes with cheese for the feast of Candlema's.
How long do you find that your tea time takes? Our first day we were at the table about 30 minutes. The second day 40 minutes. And no one makes a move to leave. I am taking that as a good sign.
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Lissa
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A favorite snack around here is what we call "apple flowers." You slice an apple and arrange the wedges in a circle around a big dollop of peanute butter. My girls love to dip the "petals" into the center of the flower.
We also love snow peas in the pod!
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marihalojen
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Elizabeth wrote:
| I do have a few rotating, non-wheat tea treats. let's help each other brainstorm wheat-free tea. |
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These are fun and don't require baking, just chilling.
Oats & Honey Treats
1 1/2 cups honey
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered milk
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup oats
Mix honey, peanut butter and powdered milk together. Next add nuts, raisins and oats. Roll mixture into small bite-sized balls, place on cookie sheets or layer in pan seperating layers with waxed paper and chill to very firm (a few hours).
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ElizLeone
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Oh! I just copied this recipe into my Tea Time idea file! It looks great -- and simple enough for my kids to make! Thank you!!
We try to do tea time at least twice a week. It is usually tea, spiced cider, or hot chocolate this time of year. Snacks are elaborate or very simple, depending on the day. And, despite the teapot and cute mugs, we often use paper plates. Anything with dip goes over well. We do lots of pea pods in french onion dip.
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dsauclair
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We take Tea almost everyday here too, with my dd5 and dd3. We started almost a year ago exactly, on the Feast day of St. Scholastica, when my young one was 2 y.o. We have spilled a lot of tea and milk but (cross fingers!) not broken a single tea cup! It probably has something to do with using our Old Country Roses set that the girls adore. We've moved from tablecloth to cloth placemats exclusively used for Tea time (can't imagine washing tablecloths everyday!) When we learn to sew, we'll make pretty napkins too.
We make Wednesdays our "themed" Tea and try to bake something that day. We don't have allergies but we are looking for non-sweets since the older I get, the quicker I gain weight! 
Crackers with different toppings are our easy favorites -- cheese, cream cheese, pate are the usual ones. We also have endamame and prawn crackers and fruit slices. I do keep track of what Alice prepares and take our cues from her.
Our Tea time books are kept in a separate bookshelf next to the dining room, at the bottom shelf so the girls can select what they want. We have our regulars there -- Stevenson, Milne, Lear, and other collections with nice pictures. Then we pull out special books, mostly from the Catholic Mosaic booklist.
And that's Tea time at our house, for now. It changes every time I read a great idea on this forum!
Diane in VA
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Theresa
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ElizLeone wrote:
Oh! I just copied this recipe into my Tea Time idea file! It looks great -- and simple enough for my kids to make! Thank you!!
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A Tea Time folder! I read that and immeadiately thought of Dawn's folders. I think a Tea Time folder is a slendid idea to keep quick simple recipe's, notes book lists etc.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Those of you who have tea times
