Nearly 20 years ago (gah! I can’t be that old!) I was on a mission trip to New Zealand. It was a building team, where we did some construction for a retreat center down there on the Great Barrier Island. It’s a very small island, about 2 hours by boat off the coast of the North island. The one thing we Americans had to learn pretty quickly is that tea time is at 10 every morning, and non-negotiable. We always wanted to get a full morning in, and didn’t want to have to stop to have tea just when we got some momentum to our projects. It didn’t take more than a few minutes to convert us to the New Zealand ways, and stop for tea every morning.
It must have been a long while since that happened, because I find myself fighting my kids about morning snack every day. I give the little kids a snack about 10 every morning, but I feel like the school aged kids should be able to make it all the way to lunch without stopping their work. After all, public school kids don’t stop for snacks that often. We are not hobbits. We work. It’s a daily battle.
When I went to the Mom Heart Conference a few weeks ago, one of the moms who spoke talked about doing a daily tea time with her kids, and how special it was to them. It didn’t sink in for me until some days ago when I thought “it wouldn’t be that hard to do that!” There are moments as a mother when the thought crosses your mind: “Why am I making this a battle?”
I have a teacup collection. Some of my kids like tea, others like hot chocolate. So this week, I’m trying an experiment. While the kids are working on some of their seat work, I bring out my fancy dishes, a little table cloth, and boil some water. At 10 every morning, everyone has been stopping whatever they are doing, and we sit and sip our tea or chocolate, and eat a little snack.
While the kids are sitting and stuffing their faces, I’ve been reading to them The Tale of Despereaux. It’s been a read aloud I got for the 3 older kids, but all 5 of them have been enjoying listening to it during tea time. I can easily get a good 3 chapters in before they see the bottom of their teacups and it’s time to get back to “schoolwork.”
I don’t know if it’s the lighted candles, the clinking of the fancy porcelain, or the marshmallows melting in their cups, but it has been working. I have started looking forward to the 10 o’clock hour more than any other time of day. It hasn’t been tough to set up or clean up. I don’t get interrupted because their mouths are busy, and no one is climbing on me. It’s been a chance to really get into a story. When at last I close the book, and say “Until tea time tomorrow” there are pleas for just one more chapter, as I shoo them along to their next job.
Linking along with Ginny during her Yarn Along party. To see what others are knitting and reading, you can head over there!
Amber says
February 19, 2014 at 1:29 pmYou’re making some wonderful childhood memories with your children. I’m sure they’ll remember their “tea” time for years to come. I recently found that book at a thrift store and plan on using it as a read-aloud with my kids.
Sarah says
February 19, 2014 at 1:45 pmThis is wonderful!! I love that idea and need to remember it. I also love that book. : )
NATURMAMA says
February 19, 2014 at 2:51 pmWonderful! And I love the color of that yarn! I’ll have to look up the book and see wether there’s a German edition…
Best regards,
Caroline
Mami Dearest says
February 19, 2014 at 2:53 pmStory time and tea time – great combination!
Tracey says
February 19, 2014 at 2:56 pmWe always stop what we are doing and have snack at 10 every morning. I usually eat my breakfast and my 16 year old has his second breakfast. It’s a shame that public school children have to wait till lunch to eat, kid’s are growing by the minute and need all the nutrients they can get.
I love your photo, it just looks so pretty and peaceful.
Donna says
February 19, 2014 at 3:05 pmI like that idea – we take a break in the office around that time ourselves. I like your pretty teacup. I have some that were my grandmothers. I should really use them instead of letting them sit in the cabinet.
Anonymous says
February 19, 2014 at 3:14 pmWhat a sweet addition to your day. I would love to pull up a chair and listen too!
Mom says
February 19, 2014 at 3:33 pmMe too. Good memories! It reminds me of the trip to Japan we took when I was 8 years old on the passenger liner the Himalaya. We were on that ship almost a month getting to our destination. It was a British ship with Indian stewards who wore crisp white jackets and served tea with sugar cubes even in the kids game room. I fell in love with tea at that point and have loved it ever since.
elizabeth says
February 19, 2014 at 3:36 pmsounds like a very good plan!!! how lovely! 🙂 🙂
Lisa @ HappyinDoleValley says
February 19, 2014 at 3:42 pmI adore that story as well as your daily tea time idea. Thanks for the inspiration!
CathieJ says
February 19, 2014 at 6:14 pmGreat idea. Sometimes all we need is a little break and then getting back to work is a little easier. You are making a great memory your children will always share.
Ranee @ Arabian Knits says
February 19, 2014 at 7:41 pmWhat a great idea! We also homeschool, and I struggle to find read aloud time sometimes, as odd as that sounds. We are doing so much that we can be worn out and I want to give my children the freedom to play and run and build and climb, so this may be a nice way to make sure it happens each day.
October Rose says
February 19, 2014 at 8:52 pmWhat a beautiful ritual with your children! Thank you for sharing this part of your day.
momof4 says
February 19, 2014 at 9:33 pmWhat a good idea!
Laura Smith says
February 20, 2014 at 5:09 amWhat a lovely insight into your situation. Sounds like a great time together for everyone!
Sonya says
February 20, 2014 at 7:27 amWhat a fun idea! I’m surprised school kids don’t get a break until lunch, here there is a morning break and a lunch break right through school (NZ). Of course, my department at university had both breaks too, even though the rest of the place only did a lunch break…
ameyknits says
February 21, 2014 at 3:26 amWhen do you typically start your day? I think we might need something like this, but I’ll have to sort out when in our day would be the best time. I’m homeschooling a 13 year old who often doesn’t start being productive until 9. Maybe we need an afternoon tea when my younger son gets home from public school. Thanks for prompting me to think about this.