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THE TEA TIMES NEWSLETTER: AN ARBOR DAY TEA
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The Tea Party Company
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Apr 18, 2004 06:20 PDT
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HOST AN ARBOR DAY TEA!
THREE KEYS TO PARENTING A POLITE CHILD
(originally published September 2002)
CHECK US OUT AT WWW.MANNERSFORKIDS.COM
FAQ: WHAT WE HEAR FROM TEACHERS
UPCOMING EVENTS IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN AND BEYOND
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“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only
a green thing that stands in the way. Some see Nature all ridicule and
deformity, and some scare see Nature at all. But to the eyes of the man
of imagination, Nature is Imagination itself.”
–William Blake
“He that planteth a tree is a servant of God, he provideth a kindness
for many generations, and faces that he hath not seen shall bless him.”
–Henry Van Dyke
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AN ARBOR DAY TEA PARTY
While trees and teas may not be an immediately evident connection to
some folks, this genteel holiday celebrates the promise of spring and
our responsibility to be good stewards of the world around us. A
terrific theme for an either an outdoor or indoor tea party, this
custom’s roots are found in the Victorian era.
One of our country’s earliest ecologists, J. Sterling Morton became
dismayed with the wanton clearing of the Western plains by settlers. So
widespread was the desolation that nineteenth-century maps of the
Nebraska Territory bore the legend “The Great American Desert.” To
rectify the situation, Morton proposed an annual planting contest,
calling the event Arbor Day. Prizs were offered to agricultural clubs
and Granges the planted the most trees. Morton’s scheme worked: The
country’s first Arbor Day, on April 22nd 1872, say the planting of one
million trees across Nebraska’s barren praries.
Officially recognized on the last Friday of April each year, this year’s
recognition is officially observed on April 30th. Similar celebrations
recognize Earth Day which is celebrated this year on April 22nd. This
year, why not reward your neighborhood’s efforts in outdoor spring
sprucing by hosting an informal get-together. A simple affair of iced
tea and cookies will suffice, held under the branches of a stately tree,
of course! Schedule an afternoon which involves nature lovers of all
ages. On recycled or mulberry paper, create invitations which inform
your guests as to what to expect at your Communi-Tea Celebration. Some
ideas follow:
-Contact your local extension service or city offices to learn about
local recognition of either Earth Day or Arbor Day. Many communities
have lists of locations which are tree-ready...parks, schools, or other
common areas. For a monetary donation, a tree will be planted by the
city in honor or memoriam of your family, neighborhood, or group.
-Several states are offering free seedlings (check the Arbor Day
Foundation’s website or your local paper).
-If you live in a subdivision or apartment complex, you might want to
gather the elbow grease of neighbors to clean up the entrance to the
neighborhood or add spring plantings. Obtain permission beforehand from
the proper authorities or neighborhood association, of course.
-Depending upon your plans for the day, you might ask guests to bring
along gardening tools or donations of money or plants. When possible,
the group might plant one common tree...perhaps on the grounds of a
church or school (again, obtain permission beforehand). A small plaque
could commemorate the day...plaster kits for these are available at
craft stores.
-Live in an area where planting trees in the ground might be difficult?
Why not purchase a potted tree such as a ficus? Visit
www.patioplants.com for ideas!
-Add artistic expression to your celebration...perhaps a poster contest,
musical recital, or poetry reading? We found the following poem in the
book ‘Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions’ by Sarah Ban Breathnach:
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Dear little tree that we plant today,
What will you be when we’re old and gray?
The savings bank of the squirrel and mouse,
For robin and wren, an apartment house,
The dressing-room of the butterfly’s ball,
The locust’s and katydid’s concert hall,
The schoolboy’s ladder in pleasant June,
The schoolgirl’s tent in the July noon...
And your leaves shall whisper them merrily,
A tale of [those] who planted [thee].
—Anonymous
For more information, check out The National Arbor Day Foundation’s
website at http://www.arborday.org or The Earth Day Network at
http://www.earthday.net.
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THREE KEYS TO PARENTING A POLITE CHILD
by Cyndee S. Harrison
By sharing ideas which encourage others to host social gatherings such
as the Arbor Day tea party listed above, we at ‘A Little Grace and
Charm’ hope to further our mission of Cultivating a Culture of Courtesy
by getting folks together in an entertaining and educational way.
Getting together with friends and relatives is, after all, the best way
for children to practice the behaviors, skills, and values of polite
behavior.
As part of our fundamentals and philosophy, we recognize three keys to
parenting polite children. More information is available at our website
www.mannersforkids.com and you’ll find free, downloadable handouts by
clicking on our ‘resources’ page.
1. PROVIDE REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE. One of the biggest
pitfalls to mastering etiquette for folks of any age is that we are
often very intimidated by what we perceive to be the formality of it
all. When faced with an occasion at which our best manners are an
expectation, we can often feel uncomfortable. The easiest way to ensure
that our children are at ease in a wide variety of social situations is
to practice in a relaxed, comfortable setting. Proper table etiquette,
carrying on a conversation with adults, and introducing oneself are all
skills which must be taught and practiced repeatedly. No one would
suggest that you eat off of the best china every evening...but then
again, how can they remember to pull out the chair for Grandma if
they've only been taught how to do so in the minivan on the way to her
house? Make a conscious effort to sit your family down around a properly
set table at least once a week...the benefits reach far beyond
remembering where the fork is placed! Teach and talk about the
expectations of your family...and society as a whole (our Courtesy
Starter Kit is a great short list of etiquette for youngsters, available
at our website). Just remember, Practice makes Polite!
2. MODELING, MODELING, MODELING: In order for our children to develop
the values which are essential to being a truly courteous, they must see
people whom they respect and admire exhibit these same kind qualities to
others. Patriotism, respect for the aged, work ethic, and a general
sense of gratitude are just some of the things that children can learn
by seeing from adults. And while none of us act like a finishing school
matron all of the time, it is important that we help children see the
benefits of polite behavior by demonstrating them in the things we say
and do. Limit exposure to television and media influences which are
incongruent to your own beliefs and values and help children understand
that behaviors that may be acceptable to some families or groups are
simply not OK in your own.
3. A READY REFERENCE ON THE FAMILY BOOKSHELF: One of my favorite things
to do is shop estate sales. It's an odd sensation to go through so many
of the personal effects of a complete stranger, often after they have
grown old and died or retired to a nursing home, but it's a
fascinating look at the way other people live. One of my first
destinations is always the bookshelf and I can honestly say that there
is almost ALWAYS a well worn etiquette book in the collection. I often
hear people muse about the superior manners of earlier generations. I
for one believe that we aren't necessarily less polite, but we are
definitely less informed. Think of the topics which are important to
your family...do you have books on these issues? I can remember many
homes from my childhood which had a Bible on the coffee table. More than
just a decorating trend of the 70's, this was an outward and visible
demonstration of that family's religious beliefs. If you're serious
about the business of helping your family gain more of an appreciation
of polite behavior, you MUST have a reliable reference book on the topic
which is readily available to them. The courses of 'A Little Grace and
Charm' always include such texts and you’ll find a well-researched
suggested reading list at our website’s resources page.
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FAQ: WHAT WE HEAR FROM TEACHERS
Q: I’m a teacher in a district which is far away from your location, but
I’d love to learn more about the manners and etiquette program that you
offer for schools. Can you mail me some of your materials?
A: Because we’re teachers ourselves, we know exactly how you feel...and
the great news is that it’s easier than you think to bring ‘A Little
Grace and Charm’ to your school and community, and you don’t have to go
it alone! Our Professional Development training can be completed in one
school day at your location. When as few as two of the teachers in your
building become Certified Courtesy Coaches, your school will have the
ability to offer an UNLIMITED number of manners and etiquette courses
for every child in your school utilizing our ready-to-teach lesson plans
and materials (Elementary, Middle, High School). When you open these
classes up to the surrounding community, it represents a tremendous
FUNDraising and FRIENDraising opportunity! No longer are manners and
etiquette classes reserved for students whose parents can afford
it–we’re taking these behaviors, skills, and values out of the ballrooms
and country clubs and putting them into the mainstream!
Keep in mind that ‘Courtesy Coaching’ is designed to Cultivate a CULTURE
of Courtesy, which naturally involves a widespread, systematic approach.
In the short term, of course, we have resources available for FREE
download at our website www.mannersforkids.com (Click on Resources) that
you’ll find helpful in your classroom.
But we encourage you to speak to your administrator and/or Staff
Development chairperson about hosting a mini-seminar in your own school.
We can even help you to secure grant funding to help recoup the initial
cost of training! For more information, please call us at 586-246-3123
or email Teac-@teapartycompany.com.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN METRO DETROIT
Sunday, April 26, 3:00pm: Ladies Day Out Tea Party at The Townsend
Hotel, 100 Townsend Avenue, Birmingham, Michigan. Girl Scouts of Metro
Detroit. Visit www.gsomd.org for more information or email
GirlS-@teapartycompany.com
Saturday, May 1st 3:00pm: A May Day Tea Party: Held on the grounds of
The Grosse Pointe Historical Society’s Provencal-Weir House, children
will revel in this rite of Spring. Call 586-246-3123 for more
information.
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DON’T FORGET: The Grosse Pointe Tea Society will begin meeting in May
(second Thursday of each month) from 7:00-8:30pm at the lovely
Provencal-Weir House on Kercheval Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms. Bring
a friend and share a cuppa conversation while learning more about the
history and tradition of tea! For more info, call 586-246-3123. Don’t
live in Metro Detroit? Check out our web page for information about
starting your own tea society...either for adults or parents/children!
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COMING IN JUNE: Etiquette 101 Dinner Parties and Teddy Bear Teas for
Youngsters!
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COMING IN JULY: Don't miss our Chicago seminar at the incredible
Ritz-Carlton Hotel! Visit WWW.MANNERSFORKIDS.COM for more details or to
register online.
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