When my eldest son Spencer was about 7 years old, he was in Tae Kwon Do. One Friday evening he passed his first major belt. We were so excited I declared in the car, “ Anything you want for dinner, we will get it!”

I assumed he would respond: Burger King or Pizza—I was pretty strict about not having fast food so these would have been a treat. Instead he shocked me and declared: “I want a tea party!! A picnic with your special strawberries!!”

I thought—what?? What special strawberries??

At that time I was running a tea catering business and a tea lovers’ club called The Afternoon Tea Society, so at least once a month I was baking, cooking and preparing teas … he was referring to my chocolate dipped strawberries!!

So not to disappoint, we got home and I sprang into action! I always keep cut-out unbaked scones in the freezer—a tip I taught my Tearoom clients—at the ready to be baked into warm scones, and we were growing strawberries in the garden. I sent the twins out (who were 4 at that time) to pick the strawberries, and I melted chocolate. They dipped them whilst I boiled eggs and whipped up tea sandwiches, fruit kabobs, mini sausage rolls—whatever I had in the house! I spread a quilt on the floor of our family room by the fire and laid out the tea party like a picnic. It was a wonderful evening! In fact it was so much fun we decided to do it EVERY Friday night!! No TV, Dad could not bring his mobile phone—only instruments were allowed, sometimes we even did this by candlelight. It was just family time. And yes, we had two pretty well-trained small dogs!

Even when grandparents visited or other friends we ALWAYS had a Friday night tea party picnic. What I discovered is when everyone is on the floor—young, old, small, tall, the children feel much more level and “seen”. We are coming down to their level. Food is all prepared tea party style—small—for tiny hands and by banning distractions, it became literally focusing on the children time. We maintained this tradition for many years until my eldest went off to boarding school for his High School years.

In this crazy time of lockdown and “Shelter In Place” I am remembering those happy fun times and thinking I might share this idea with you; in the hopes that it might spark ideas for your own family’s “picnic-on-the-floor” time!

I have always blended together a decaf Lady Grey blend for my children made as milky Cambric tea, so that every one can sleep, but I am sure lemonade or whatever your family likes would work. I always pulled out lovely miniature teacups for them (and actually began collecting them), used fun china and pottery for these. I wanted them to feel special, just as special as the ladies in my Tea Club.

It is my sincere desire that you can create wonderful happy family times out of this unexpected event in our lives and create traditions which will make for very happy memories when your children are now like mine- towering over you!! And you never know—one day your grown kids may surprise you and ask you for a tea party on the floor—just like old times—as one son just did!!

May you be infused with love, Lisa

Tea Party on the Floor