12/14/14
Over the weekend, I decided to host a “tea party” for the girls in my family. I also suggested a +1 guest….their favorite doll or stuffed animal.
I typically spend months planning holiday parties for adults, but this impromptu tea party came together in a matter of hours. I made some calls, sent a few texts, and went to work setting up the tea party.
As a kid, I had to be a little more creative in finding
props. I remember saving old perfume
bottles and pretending they were people.
I didn’t grow up in a family, with every day dishes and special occasion
china. Our dishes were functional and
cost effective to withstand the daily use of a family of six, which included
three rough and tumble boys. They rarely
matched, were often broken, and spent a fair amount of time in the kitchen sink
waiting to be washed.
I’m not a fan of gender bias and I believe everyone should
embrace what they love, without stereotypes or social censures. I am a career woman and my family is
unconventional. And my early days were spent as a single mom
to my oldest son, as a college drop out, then drop in, pulling a 4.0 every
semester until I earned my BA in Journalism.
I think I am what they used to call a “late bloomer.”
That said, I unabashedly admit that I love my feminine side. I have a fascination for the Victorian era
and can’t pass up dainty handkerchiefs, with trimmings of lace. I love frilly tablecloths, vintage china, and
my very favorite…1847 Rogers Brothers Silverplate in the grape pattern. I love Lenox
holiday cookie jars. I’d love to have a
set of Lenox holiday china (still working on
that) and continue to troll a new favorite auction site EBTH.com (which comes by its name honestly as it
really does have Everything But the House!)
Within 45 minutes, I had set a beautiful tea party in my
dining room. I had thought of
everything, from teapots to festive Christmas napkins and Santa Claus
placemats. Everything except my own +1
for the party! The choice was
clear. My favorite doll as a child was
Mrs. Beasley. A gift from Santa when I
was very small, she was a wind up doll, dressed in blue and white polka dots,
with a pair of glasses. And her catch
phrase…wait for it…”Would you like a cup of tea?” Mrs. Beasley was a lost treasure. She did not survive my childhood, but I have
an equally loved replacement, given to me for Christmas many years later from a
very special person, who did not share my childhood, but holds an unshakable
bond in my heart just the same. I love
that doll and the fact that she arrived on Christmas in my twenties is of no
consequence. She sits in my Granny’s rocking
chair alongside my Raggedy Ann doll in my bedroom.
I wasn’t sure who would come given the short notice. I hoped that all of the quickly created name
cards would be put to good use and that my first official tea party would be a
success.
My little guests began arriving shortly before two and our
time together flew by. They were simply
beautiful, from the youngest, who is two…to the oldest, who are grown. As a mom of three sons, this was
truly a treat for me.
Mrs. Beasley and I served Friendship Tea and cookies, and we
promised to make this an annual tradition.
My hope is to pass on a winning combination of “you can be anything you
want” mentality with “it’s okay to be yourself exactly as you are.” Because girls may play with dolls and host
make believe tea parties…and still grow up to be smart, young women, who also
love and excel in business. The
possibilities are endless and setting the table with a long stem rose does not
preclude these amazing girls from taking on other challenges that involve a
different kind of STEM. To the girls in
my family and around the world, you can be a princess and build a castle all at
the same time….and live happily ever after. You know the rest of the story. Now go get ‘em!
M
 |
No comments:
Post a Comment