Tea Time with Two Grandmothers

Tea with the grandchildren
@dragon54u (31636)
United States
March 29, 2018 12:40pm CST
Nearly every Friday my ex's wife and I get together at her house and spend time with our grandchildren. There are two girls, 4 and 5 and the baby boy 6 months old. A couple months ago we started having tea time rather than snack time and it's been so much fun! I bought pretty china cups and saucers and dessert plates at the thrift store and the girls and I set the table while other Grandma brews the tea and fills the cream and sugar receptacles. Each week I bring something interesting like Scotch shortbread, Chinese almond cookies, and other unusual treats. This week it is chocolate Dobash, a torte (layered cake) made without flour and filled with cream or other filling between the layers. It was invented in Hungary by Jozef Dobos in 1887. We will have quite a conversation about it, I'm sure. Tea time is very interesting. We talk about all kinds of things, like kinds of tea and why we brew it as we do, where it grows, the type of tea we are drinking that day and the culture living around the area where it is harvested. We've talked about the English invading Scotland and the subsequent rebellion, about kings and royal succession, how people sailed to other countries hundreds of years ago, and everything else under the sun, it seems. We are also teaching the girls manners like how to hold their cups, where to put their napkins and how to use them, not to stuff their mouths and how to take small bites as well as using a fork to cut pieces of cake. We will soon begin to teach them how to use different forks. A formal table setting has up to 3 forks and if there is a fourth course the fork is included when it is served. Have you ever done this with your children or grandchildren? If so, please share your experiences! If not, does it sound like something you would like to do?
12 people like this
11 responses
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
29 Mar 18
"my ex's wife and I get together ..." --- That strikes me as unusual.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45217)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Mar 18
Yes, it needs more explanation...
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
29 Mar 18
She and I are good friends, as are my ex an I. We weren't always but we weren't enemies, either. I moved away, back to my childhood home, after my divorce and then moved back here when my son's girlfriend got pregnant. They were living in a camper in my ex's back yard and I did not want the child growing up like that. So I rented a house and both sons and their girls moved in with me. We all began to share holiday dinners at the ex's house and one thing led to another and she and I became friends and my ex and I got over the residual bad feelings. We live about a mile apart. We 3 occasionally go out to dinner together with mutual friends, we spend some time on holidays together with the grandchildren, etc. We are a family. And Grandma day is the best day of the week for her and for me!
4 people like this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
29 Mar 18
@dragon54u Sounds like the ideal solution after a divorce.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
8 Apr 18
I don't have grandchildren but love to be with kids and enjoy conversing with them. They are so innocent and can teach us about kindness and simple living. I think we should always retain our childhood innocence rather than getting lost in adult pursuits. Yes, I teach them the basics and take care to follow them to set an example - siva
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
9 Apr 18
Life without children would be pointless. Children are God's gift to us to make the world bearable.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
10 Apr 18
@dragon54u Yes they reflect God's love with their innocence, love, and affection without borders - siva
@BarBaraPrz (45217)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Mar 18
Sounds like fun! Can I attend? And do you wear hats and gloves?
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
29 Mar 18
Would love for you to come! Just imagine it this Friday at 2PM Arizona time! We don't dress formally, but the tea shop we will take them to next year does. We are thinking of making hats this summer when it is too hot to go outside!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (168368)
• United States
2 Apr 18
That sounds very nice, sadly, I don't have any grandchildren yet.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
2 Apr 18
I hope you have grandchildren some day, they are a real joy. I have two sons, one who is childless and might remain so because he and his wife love their life together and their little dogs. They have plenty of time to decide, though, and I'll be happy with whatever they choose.
• United States
2 Apr 18
What a wonderful way to spend time with the grandchildren! who doesn't love a tea party
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Apr 18
My grandma used to drink tea with me at the kitchen table, since I was 7 or so. We would talk or sometimes just sit and drink the tea and enjoy being with each other. She taught me that silences don't have to be filled but can be enjoyed. My mom and I drank tea together, too. I love our tea parties with these little girls! Who knows, maybe they'll do the same with their grandchildren.
@Courtlynn (67002)
• United States
29 Mar 18
This sounds like a great time for the children! And even better is that you and their other Grandmother get along to do things like this with them together.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
30 Mar 18
Yes, it's fun for all of us. I will have to do some research on Hungary tonight as they will probably ask what the country is like that they treat originated in. Everyone learns with the fun!
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67002)
• United States
30 Mar 18
@dragon54u sounds awesome. Way to go grandmas
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36261)
• Toccoa, Georgia
29 Mar 18
No, because I am not a grand mother yet.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
29 Mar 18
I saw a cute sign the other day--grandchildren are our reward for not killing our teenagers!
1 person likes this
30 Mar 18
Friends with Ex's wife. Well that is good to hear that you get along well.Such a positive thing. The things and etiqutte you teach your grandkids are commendable.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129074)
• Israel
2 Nov 18
@dragon54u I am glad you have a good relationship with your ex because of the grandchildren. That is good to teach them manners because they are important.
@Berrygal (5834)
30 Mar 18
Glad both of you are still very good friends
1 person likes this
@leny34 (8506)
• Sidoarjo, Indonesia
2 Nov 18
yes my parents always taught me that. my parents always teach manners to their children especially me