Last year, I shared about our daily rhythms and routines and how I worked to create a flow to our days that was neither rigid nor loose. Something with enough structure to keep our days from feeling chaotic but enough flexibility to accommodate for unexpected playdates or last-minute appointments.
Then, I got pregnant and found out that my pregnancy was high-risk due to a newly-diagnosed autoimmune disease. As we sought answers and assurance, our weeks became a slew of appointments and hours spent in waiting rooms and a lot of anxiety and a disconnect from our daily rhythms.
Once my daughter was born, the appointments continued although for some different reasons. I struggled to balance learning how to be a mama to two, heal from delivery, and manage all of the appointments for both myself and my children.
Someone asked me if my daughter was on a schedule yet, and I laughed and said that I wasn’t even on a schedule myself because we had a minimum of three appointments a week, making it difficult to establish a new routine.
So as things have started to calm down and we are settling into our new norm, I am thinking through new rhythms for our family. Although we are still trying to figure out our mornings, I have started to implement a Tea Time in the afternoons that has made the long hours between nap time and dinnertime not just bearable but something that we all look forward to with anticipation.
So what is Tea Time?
I have spent a lot of the last year listening to podcasts and reading books about homeschooling. Although we are not 100% sure how we will educate our children long-term, my heart has been drawn more and more to the idea of homeschooling them, especially during the early years. I’m planning on spending these in-between years learning as much as I can about various educational models and to study my children in order to begin to learn what environment will best help them thrive.
One of my favorite homeschooling moms to learn from is Larissa from the blog Charlotte Mason Motherhood. I believe I first heard about Tea Time on her Youtube channel. In the afternoon, after the kids have napped or rested, we head outside with a mat, books, snacks, a drink, and some pillows and blankets if we’re feeling extra ambitious! I’m not naturally someone who loves being outside when the weather is really hot or really cold, but I’m challenging myself to actively live out the Alfred Wainwright quote: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” and dress my babies and myself accordingly. However, there are some days where thunderstorms or dangerously-high heat bring us inside. We are fortunate to have a three-seasons room that although not temperature-controlled, allows for a well-lit indoor space for days when we cannot get outside.
We are still working on becoming consistent with tea time–getting outside with a toddler and newborn is not for the faint of heart. But, here is a basic outline and a few ideas for how to implement your own Tea Time.
Prep in Advance
The night before (or during naptime) gather your supplies for Tea Time. I use a large reusable grocery bag and fill it with my gathre mat, blankets, and books. The next day, I prep our snack during naptime and take it outside using these cups.
Make the 'Tea'
Before going outside, prep a drink for tea time… and it doesn’t have to be tea! In the summer, I recommend lemonade, decaf iced tea, or a smoothie. In the winter, opt for something warm like hot cocoa or warm tea with honey. I like to use my Hydroflask for my drink and these spill-proof cups for my son.
Get Outside Efficiently
The first day I did this, I didn’t use a bag and found myself trying to make multiple trips which isn’t easy with a newborn. Since then, I’ve learned to use a large bag (or a laundry basket if you’re bringing out pillows, too) and push the kids to the spot in a stroller. We live on a few acres and just get outside in our yard most days, but when my daughter is older I’d love to visit some other places nearby. Parks, streams, nature centers, a friends’ yard, a botanical garden… the options are endless even if you don’t have a yard.
Keep it Relaxed
Tea Time is meant to be low-key and relaxed, not rigorous and rigid. It’s a time to spark your child’s–and your–love for learning. The first day we had tea time, my son ran around and threw leaves up in the air while I read. I didn’t think that he heard a word I read, but he ended up repeating several phrases from the book to me and asked a series of questions when I paused. When it was time to come inside and make dinner, he begged to stay outside and read more. He was also in an extremely happy mood the rest of the evening–before implementing this rhythm this time of day was hard.
Plan it Out
Each week, I will be planning out about 15-20 books to rotate through during the week. I try to find books in the following categories:
- A Poetry Book
- Books about a topic my child is interested in
- Books that coincide with the season or upcoming holidays
- Books that share diverse experiences and stories
I will often search my library’s database and Google for ideas, and then I will pick them up later in the week. As I get more experienced with Tea Time, I am hoping to share more specific ideas on my blog. You could also bring out a simple craft once or twice a week that coincides with the books you are reading or implement Nature Study into this time.
Some of Our Favorite Books...
Poetry Books
I took one poetry class in college and loved it, so I’m excited to dive back in to it and learn more about poetry with my children. Several Charlotte Mason homeschool mom’s recommend Robert Frost because of his descriptive language regarding nature, so I checked out this copy of some of his work from our local library!
Interest-Led Books
My son currently loves cars, trucks, animals, and nursery rhymes. My daughter is only a few months old, but here are some of my favorite board books for her, too.
Seasonal Books
Because I’m writing this in November, here are a few of our favorite fall/winter books!
Diverse Books
I believe it is important for my children to learn about people with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and cultures. Here are a few books that we own that celebrate diversity.
What ideas do you have for Tea Time? Do you implement something similar with your little ones? I’d love to hear your ideas below in the comments! Follow along on Instagram @themilleracres to see a short reel of what a typically Tea Time looks like at our house.
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