My youngest daughter hosted afternoon tea for family and friends recently.
White damask and vintage doilies.
Cut crystal and silverware.
Old family bone china with delicate patterns.
Pretty vintage frocks that reminded me of my grandmother.
She was a big fan of Osti in the 70's.
The grooming and the up-do.
The multiple ear piercings are a modern give-away though.
The young ladies served,
cucumber sandwiches
cheese biscuits
mini quiches
zucchini slice squares
scones with home made jumble berry jam
The circles keep turning and what was old is new again.
While we have been embracing the cafe culture, young girls have been missing the opportunity to practice their developing skills;
deportment, cooking, flower arranging, home making, grooming, conversation, manners and grace.
I have found myself pondering whether we have blurred some lines, confused some forms and given ground where we had not meant to in our fight for feminism.
Some play that took a domestic form is quite frowned upon now. Mothers I do hope you are encouraging your pre-schoolers to play with tea sets and wash dolly clothes. I hope you throw impromptu high teas for them on rainy days after school and I hope you are giving teens an opportunity to entertain guests in your homes too. We must keep encouraging our children to learn to be ladies and gentlemen. The home education is just as important as the school education.
(Disclaimer: Emma is a real person and in her spare time loves to hang out in daggy track pants, has a small tattoo and is older than she looks at 23 and can produce dimples on demand)
Emma has your smile!
ReplyDeleteResident Grand-daughter (aged 16) has taken to wearing what she calls "lady-like" clothes to school every day, now that she is in college and no longer in horrible school uniform. I have noted that she and her friends often have girlie nights in with comfort food that they prepare and I've also noticed a small collection of pretty teacups and saucers appearing on her shelf. Interesting. Now........to work on her cooking skills!
I love it Susie! "lady-like clothes" how nice. On the right track I'd say.
Deleteoh there is nothing quite like afternoon tea, and you have quite a delicious number of choices there.
ReplyDeleteBoth my girls can bake cakes and cupcakes and one is partial to a nice cup of tea (the other coffee). I am glad to say at 19 and 22 years old, they can both cook delicious meals from scratch and will be a great catch for any man one day. I hope afternoon is never a lost art.
ReplyDeleteWith a Mum like you Joolz they couldn't go wrong and I have no doubt they will be fine homemakers
DeleteI* I hope afternoon tea is never a lost art.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Nothing wrong with being a lady in a modern context. Love her dress too!!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! It's so nice to see a young person enjoying those finer things of 'another time'. My middle stepdaughter is having a morning (high) tea next month, for her Hen's party.
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDeleteI love the decorative touches of the flowers and herbs amongst the food.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty setting, and gorgeous post. x
ReplyDeleteWe are tea party enthusiasts here. I have two girls and they both love making a fuss for elevenses. The boys are just in it for the food.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully elegant! I hosted a lovely morning tea for my birthday party with my girlfriends, and for her birthday present to me, my darling daughter did all the baking. It is so much fun to get out the nice china and do the flowers, and isn't it marvellous to have such clever and accomplished (and cute!) daughters?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say aspiring to be wives so much as aspiring to be ladies. Does this actually have anything to do with feminism, enjoying a nice afternoon tea with friends and using nice china and playing dress ups? I think it just enjoying life.
ReplyDelete