Keilee and I have had Tea Parties for years.† When she was a very little girl she would want to have a tea party and I would make little finger foods and we would dress up and enjoy our tea.
About 4 or 5 years ago, she took over the Tea Parties.† She gave us names, she is Miss Sassafras and I am Miss Chamomile.† We wear garden party dresses and hats of course. We found a Tea Set that she hand painted several years ago.† It has plates and a sugar and creamer and the tea pot.† The paint is chipped off in several places from use but it is still one of my favorite things. She has the forks, spoons and knives from her American Girl Dolls.
Our Tea Parties start with an invitation.† The date and time are written out so I will know exactly when I am expected.
We always either speak in a British accent or a very old Southern accent.
She makes yummy foods complete with fruit, tiny sandwiches, and what ever else we have on hand.† The day before we had gone to the Farmer’s Market and she saw Tea Cakes that she deemed perfect for our party.† And of course there is tea…lots and lots of tea.
We discuss the weather, our gardens, our grandchildren and I always beg for her recipes which she never gives me.† It is beautiful, pretend play at its finest.
She always breaks character to complain about all the pictures I insist on taking!
How can you wear a dress like this and not twirl?
This is something that just delights this Mamma’s heart.† That my 12 1/2 year old daughter is so thrilled to do something like this.† Would she still love this if she was in public school or would she be more concerned with texting or Facebook or phone calls?†† Who knows but I am so thankful that we will always have this memory.† She assures me that Miss Sassafras will NEVER be too old for a Tea Party with Miss Chamomile.
Homeschooling Rocks
Karen
Afternoon Tea
“Who wouldn’t like to drink afternoon tea
Out in the garden just like these three?
With the song of a bird, and the hum of a bee,
And the sun-flowers looking all eyers to see.
The little girl’s stirring her tea so sweet;
Tea in the garden is such a great treat,
With a cool breeze blowing, and not too much heat-
And doesn’t the tea-tray look charmingly neat?”
~Kate Greenaway
Karen, I completely and utterly ADORED this.
It’s heart-creakingly lovely, how you and Kei are, how you grab life and truly LIVE it. And it’s inspiring how much fun you have, and how you let yourselves be YOU and it’s beyond beautiful, how much love you have for each other.
I agree with Kei: I don’t think Miss Sassafras or Miss Camomile will ever be too old for their tea-parties!
You look so beautuful in your barefeet…Definitely the best way to be… hope your daughter as well as you will continue enjoying “barfootedness” forever… 🙂
When I dream of what my relationship will be like with Alexa when she is12, I think of your relationship with Keilee. I want the same thing, too!
Your tea parties remind me about how we have birthday parties for the kids’ stuffed animals. A few years ago we had a birthday party for Curious George. They helped me print up invitations to the other animals, write up the menu, help bake the cupcakes and light the candles. I love those memories!
Such a lovely post! I love how you get dressed up and speak in accents! Sounds like lots of fun! I also love how Keilee–I mean, Miss Sassafrass–has taken over the tradition. Absolutely wonderful!
I am a believer that homeschooling allows kids to be kids longer, like they used to be. When you read books written 70 or more years ago, it’s not uncommon to come across 14 year olds who still play imaginative games. It’s something that we seem to have given up with modern society – a combination of media with how schools are breeding grounds for kids trying to live up to media ideals. I’m not saying that kids who go to public school are all this way, but it doesn’t make it easy for them.
I’m finding our lives straddling an interesting border now with Davan at 14 both still pretending to be a lion on the rocks and then, tonight, out at a party until 11:30 with her fellow Zig Zags.
Anyway, here’s to keeping childhood alive!
Karen – what precious memories you two are making together. I really admire your relationship that you have with Keilee.
How sweet! Looks like a lot of fun and you both look so pretty in your dresses!!!
Karen, I love this!!! You girls look beautiful:)
Keilee will one day have such wonderful memories of the things you two did together.
My girls still love tea parties, their dollhouse, and their AG dolls. It makes me so happy to see that they still love to play…to pretend…to enjoy their time as kids.
This is so utterly beautiful, I am at a loss for words. What a magical childhood she has; it is such a joy to see.
Friend, I am so encouraged by you. I have often felt like an outsider in the world of being a single mom who homeschools her teenage daughter. It can be a lonely road. I am constantly encouraged by the fact that someone else on this planet relates to me and vice versa. If nothing else than keeping my daughter’s innocence as long as humanly possible it would be worth keeping her out of public school. Not to mention all the other wonderful perks. That top picture of you two is absolutely beautiful. You should use it for a Christmas card, Easter card, something! 🙂
What fun! I love the dresses and hats.
Just beautiful. And I can assure you that Tea Party Lovers NEVER grow out of it. My girls at almost 24, 22 and 20 still have tea parties with me on a regular basis. Maybe without the accents and dress ups but still tea parties none the less. And we love nothing more than to use my nana’s tea pot which holds such grand memories of my nana who my girls never got to meet. She was a tea party lover too. Hugs to you both xoxoxox
Oh I love this Karen!! What beautiful photos, too 😀
OMG Karen. This is beautiful. Being 12 is magical…you are in a in-between world where one moment you are all grown up and navigating your way through the world and the next you are having tea with your Mom. This just made my day!