In the last few months, all things British seems to be a central focus of my daughter’s imagination. She is enamored by the Royals, especially their recent arrival, Prince George, and when he made his debut, she said, “I am going to visit him, Momma.” I laughed. Her penchant for all things British took on a new life as she insisted that we all talk with a British accent. My accent does not meet her barometer because I sound like a Texan with an Indian accent. She always laughs and says,”Um, Momma, that is not British at all.”
Her Daddy, on the other hand, can channel his best British and they both linger over conversations and pretend to have tea at home. Instead of pretending to have tea, we decided to take her to a quaint tea room for her birthday celebration, read dandelion tea reviews online. She picked out a hat and posed with her Daddy. I love how their hands are clasped together and their smiles not only signify their bond, but my husband’s willingness to play along and act silly with her.
I look at this picture of my Mom and the joy of watching them both together brings me to tears. We were lucky that she could join in our tea time celebration. It is a tradition that her “Nani” always wishes her Happy Birthday in person. They both giggled over her hat. I know the warm brown color of tea always takes my mom back to memories of her life with my father. They started their days with tea every morning. My father spent at least twenty minutes standing at the stove brewing his special form of tea. I watched him morning after morning preparing tea and wondered if this exercise served as a meditation for him.
As the years swivel from one number to the next, I must confess that my silliness dissolves a little. My daughter thought that if I donned a hat too it would be so much fun. I played along and I am so glad that I did. Her smile in this picture is one I want to hold on to forever.
Over the weekend, I contemplated the simplicity of this tea celebration. It was just the four of us. We laughed together. My mom’s eyes filled with wonder with the details of the tea cups and the ornate design in the tea room. My husband marveled at the taste of the peach caramel tea which seem interesting. He is not a coffee or tea drinker so his open mind in trying the tea and liking it made an impression. My daughter took it all in: the tea, the ambiance, the hats, and the silliness of pretending that she lived in England for one afternoon.
These two hours filled my soul. Glints of my past came through as I watched my mother and remembered tea at home with my father. I saw glimmers of the future in my daughter and wondered if years down the road she would remember this birthday tea. And in that present moment, I thought about how an afternoon tea could be such a simple place of refuge, celebration, and meditation.
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
So delightful. I am happy all of you enjoyed the celebration. 🙂
It was so much fun, Ayala. As my mom admired the tea cups, my daughter looked at all the British memorabilia on the walls.
This is so adorable!! She’ll remember this for her whole life. 🙂
What a delightful celebration! You’re creating lovely memories!
Thanks, Susan. I wanted to do a unique and memorable birthday celebration for her. I liked that the setting was intimate and that her grandmother was part of the fun.
How wonderful! I’m sure she’ll cherish that moment forever, all of you will – it will be a special moment. 🙂 A beautiful smile she does have indeed Rudri, have a wonderful day! -Iva
Iva,
This tea will be etched in all of our memories. We all enjoyed our time together and I hope years from now she will look at these pictures and remember her afternoon birthday tea.
So very sweet.
Welcome Jack!
The conversation and ambiance is one that had a special edge of love, and yes, sweetness to it.
What a wonderful idea for a birthday celebration! The hats are perfect for the occasion. Lovely photos.
I can’t speak with a British accent either 🙂
Robin,
The hats were so much fun. At one point, my mother even donned a hat. It really helped put the perfect touch to British tea time. There were a couple of references to Downton Abbey.
Oh my gosh, this post brought me to tears. It is the sweetest! I loved seeing this memory before my eyes. Your daughter will always remember doing this. You gave a birthday gift that will last forever. And the joy it had to speak to your mom as she relived her memories. This is such a precious post in so many ways. We recently went to have professional pictures taken with my mom & there were 4 generations in that photo. One that will always be precious to me. This is such a beautiful post. Nothing silly in it at all. And I am so glad that I visited from the SITS this morning. My only regret is that I am drinking coffee 🙂
Joanne,
Welcome! I am so glad that the post resonated with you.
We were lucky that my mother could join in the celebration. Watching my daughter and her interact during tea is something that I will treasure. Thanks so much for your generous comments.
precious! I love the tradition of afternoon tea!
Welcome Ashley!
I think we may make tea time an annual birthday tradition. It was so much fun.
Thanks for commenting.
I love this. I used to be obsessed with the British when I was a girl. I, too, would go around speaking with an accent. But my mom never took me for tea! I’m sure this is a birthday your girl will remember forever! Although my mother never took me for tea, I did have a tea party for my 5th birthday (oh so long ago) and I remember it well. My mom brought out her dresses for us to dress up in and all her fun hats. Yes, your girl is sure to remember it for many years! Thanks for sharing this lovely afternoon with us!
What an amazing treat…love seeing all of you together and happy.
This is so wonderful – the photos, the emotions, the story. I think you are doing a very good of living in the present, and of noticing all the “small” moments of joy in your life.
It is also hilarious about the British accent! My son has been going through a similar phase. He asks me to speak in British and southern accents but when I go too far it really upsets him, to the point of tears! Anyway, it’s cute and fun to hear children experimenting.
I hope your daughter had a wonderful birthday!
Found this old post and was so enchanted with your daughter’s hat! What a fun time for the generations!
Thanks, Luanne. We continued the tradition yesterday and celebrated Mother’s Day at the tea room. She enjoyed just as much as the first time. Hope you had a great day too. xo