Truly one of the best things about being 50, (perhaps the only good thing about being 50), is my grandchildren. What a delight they are to me!  And the best part is, that they do go back home.  And my house can return to being a peaceful, (and clean), sanctuary. Last week I had the pleasure of hosting two of my favorite people, while giving the their Mama a little break after having just delivered her 4th baby.  He makes our 6th little grandbaby, our 2nd grandson. Big sister and big brother got to spend the week over here with Grandma and Grandpa.  Naturally, we had to have at least one tea party! But I must tell you, they ask me to have a tea party for them.  Nothing could make me happier.  It’s such a fun way for us to spend time together.

Hosting a tea party for your grandchildren is super fun.  And I guarantee they will LOVE it!  Even my squirmy little grandson loves having tea in the tea room with grandma.  You do this at one of their regular mealtimes, such as lunch.  Everything that kids love to eat can be easily translated into “tea party food”. We made graham crackers with jam, and celery sticks with peanut butter, slices of cheese, mandarin oranges, grapes, and banana bites, and a little slice of Angel Food cake for dessert! They loved it and ate every bite.  It was served with a flavored herbal tea, (I used Raspberry Mint, which my grandson loved and drank 6 cups full!  Good things the cups were tiny).

The little tea set I served lunch on was a thrift store find that cost me less than 8 bucks. It had some broken pieces.  But it is just perfect for hosting a tea party for 2 grandkids and 1 grandma.

And in true grandma form, I used our little tea party as an opportunity to teach them about table  manners.  (Not that they needed much direction from me, since they happen to be very well behaved, thanks to some very firm guidance from their awesome mother). But we did talk a little bit about putting your napkin in your lap, and chewing with your mouth closed.  Using magic words such as please, thankyou, and excuse me. There is a book titled Children’s Tea & Etiquette, by Dorothea Johnson if you’d like more information about proper tea manners.  Personally, I think this book takes the etiquette theme way too far by suggesting which side of the chair to exit from when leaving the table, and where to leave the napkin, yadda, yadda. Too much information, I say.  Too many rules spoil the fun of having a tea party.  I am a tea party hostess, not a tea party snob. And I’d really prefer to let my grandkids have fun during the experience.  So a few rules are great.  But don’t take this too far.

Once the kids have settled and started eating well, I like to tell them a story.  Any good story book will do.  But in keeping with the occasion I chose to read one of the stories from Sandy Lynam Clough’s book titled “Come To My Tea Party”. This wonderful book has stories of kindness, recipes, and craft ideas. It’s a fun book for grandma’s to have in their library. My favorite children’s tea party book of all is Emilie Barnes book titled “Let’s Have A Tea Party”.  This wonderful book is a plethora of fun party ideas, decorations, recipes, games, themes and more. There is a wealth of information here, and I highly recommend it.  Whether you are hosting a tea party for your own children the neighbors kids, or the grandkids, you will find all the inspiration you could possibly need in these titles.

Well, I have just finished my cup of Kashmiri Green Chai, which means it is time for me to say goodbye and finish up my errand running for the day.  I hope you will join me again for tea soon.

Blessings,

Tea Lady Darla