3 Mother Daughter Tea Themes Perfect for Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day fast approaching now is the time to start planning your special activities for the day. If you’ve never considered holding a Mother Daughter Tea for family, friends or even the ladies in your church group, here are a few ideas to consider you started.

Usually, simple is better, easier and more elegant. After deciding on your theme just add tea bags, hot water, lemonade and a few finger foods and you are ready to host a well planned tea party.

If you don’t have a full tea set sitting around, you can find some very nice cups, saucers and tea pots in places like Goodwill or other thrift stores for very little money.

You could also borrow them from your friends or, should you decide to make this an annual tradition, everyone could bring their own special cup just for the occasion.

Here are three tea themes perfect for moms and daughters of all ages. Choose one of these or create one of your own to make this Mother’s Day even more special. 

• Mother/Daughter – This can be a special time for moms with grown up daughters. Simple decorations with a simple flower arrangement to grace the table alongside tea cups and saucers can be pleasing to the eye as well the heart. Finger sandwiches, cookies and scones finish the menu. For a special treat, have the mothers and daughters write a note or letter to each other sharing how much they are appreciated.

• Mommy & Me – For moms of younger girls this theme would be really cute if the moms came elegantly dressed and the girls were able to rummage through a trunk with donated dresses, shoes, gloves and jewelry so they could look just like mom. Include cookies or simple finger foods along with lemonade, punch or hot chocolate for those that prefer it over tea. Have the invitations ask the children to bring a stuffed animal guest to share the table. Think about the tea parties you hosted as a child and let your imagination run wild.

• Beach Time Tea – With Mother’s Day being celebrated in May, just prior to the official summer season, why not take the opportunity to serve flavored iced tea instead? Use iced tea glasses instead of tea cups and serve typical summer appetizers. Have everyone dress in straw hats, sunglasses and flip-flops or sandals in anticipation of the warmer weather.

What would a tea party be without perfect tea?

Instructions for Brewing a “Proper” Pot of Tea

Here’s How:

• Fill a tea pot with tap water to warm it up prior to adding tea leaves and boiling water.
• Fill tea kettle with fresh, cold, non-distilled water.
• Place kettle on stove and bring to boil.
• Just before kettle begins to boil, pour water from tea pot and add one teaspoon tea leaves per cup to pot, plus an additional teaspoon for the pot.
• Remove kettle from heat right after it comes to a boil and pour 6 ounces per cup into tea pot.
• Let tea steep 3 – 7 minutes depending on desired strength.
• While tea steeps, ask a friend to "do the honors" by serving the tea to your other guests.
• Add cold, whole milk, or lemon to tea cups depending on preference of guests.
• Pour tea into cups using a strainer to catch loose leaves.
 

Tea Brewing Tips:

• Use a ceramic tea pot rather than metal. Metal can affect the taste of the tea and will cool the water more quickly.
• Keep boiling water available for second cups and to dilute tea that becomes strong while sitting in tea pot. Rinse out the tea kettle and start with fresh, cold tap water. Never boil anything but water in your tea kettle.
• Bring the water to its first rolling boil. Never over boil. Over boiling takes the oxygen out of the water, which in turn creates a flat beverage.
• Take the teapot to the tea kettle and rinse out the pot with the boiling water from the kettle. Never take the kettle to the teapot, as you lose one degree of heat per second. Water for tea should be 212 degrees.
• Use one teabag or teaspoon of loose tea per cup. Leaves enter the warm teapot and the infusion begins when the leaf opens.
• Allow the tea to brew for three to five minutes, according to the blend of tea and how strong you like it.

By purchasing tea sampler boxes everyone will be able to choose their favorite. If you’ll be serving iced tea additions like peach, raspberry, cranberry or lemon can be a refreshing change from plain old sweet tea.

If you’re looking for a change of pace or want to start a new tradition this Mother’s Day consider a tea party.
 

Mother’s Day Planning Checklist

Too often Mother’s Day sneaks up on us and instead of gifting your mother with a well planned day we hastily throw something together, grab the last card on the shelf and give her toast with peanut butter and coffee to her for breakfast.

You an avoid that this Mother’s Day with a little advanced planning.

Here are some ideas:

• Buy or Make your Mother’s Day card
• Write your mother a poem. Don’t wait until the last minute for this. You want it to sound well thought out and sincere. Not thrown together at the last minute.
• Get the signature of everyone that needs to sign the card
• If you’ll be giving her flowers make sure you have picked them out or have ordered them to be delivered.
• Choose an appropriate gift and then purchase it. If you are ordering online, make sure that you allow enough time for shipping and delivery.
• Choose a wrapping paper or pretty gift box and get your package ready for giving
• If you are cooking a meal, make sure you get the ingredients from the grocery store so you aren’t caught without a key ingredient.
• If you are making a coupon book for mom to redeem throughout the year make sure to get it done and printed early.
• Taking mom to a movie, play or concert? Make sure you buy the tickets in advance
• Make sure anyone you have invited to share this Mother’s Day with you has been notified of your plans and is able to attend
• Get your camera ready and have extra batteries ready – just in case
• Pampering mom at the salon or spa? Don’t forget to make the appointments
• Need a babysitter for evening plans? So do your neighbors. Don’t wait until the last minute or you might just be out of luck.
• Make any reservations that need to be made. Here are a few reminders:

     1) Restaurant – if you will be eating out
     2) Airplane – if you will be traveling
     3) Hotel – if you need one while traveling
     4) Car – again, if it is needed.

The important thing to remember is to plan, plan, plan ahead. Put reminders on your calendar, your cell phone or anything that will trigger your mind to remember that you have some important planning to do.

Make this Mother’s Day the best planned, least stressful one every and be sure to do it again next year.

Honoring Mom

Mother’s Day is about more than giving gifts and eating good food. Mother’s Day was created to honor the job of mothering.

Honoring mothers dates back to the time of gods and goddesses and it wasn’t until 1908 that Mother’s Day was recognized and celebrated in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

By 1948 over 40 countries were recognizing and celebrating Mother’s Day, although not always on the same day. The United States Congress officially approved Mother’s Day in 1948 and it has been celebrated on the second Sunday in May ever since.

So, what will you be doing to honor your mother on Mother’s Day?

Here is a short list of things you can do for your mom to show her how much you appreciate her.

Flowers

Roses and carnations are a popular choice to give mom’s. In fact, florists see more sales for Mother’s Day than they do for Valentine’s Day. In addition to flowers, plants for your mother’s garden might be a good choice to present her with, especially if she has a green thumb as is always working in her garden.

Outings

You know better than most what your mom would enjoy for her special day. Would she like to visit a local museum or the zoo? Perhaps she’d prefer a day trip to a nearby city or even a long weekend away. Maybe she would just like to stay near home and have a picnic or go out to her favorite restaurant for her Mother’s Day meal.

Food

Whether you will be cooking breakfast, taking your mother out for brunch or lunch, preparing an elaborate dinner or just going out for a picnic in the park food will mostly likely take a starring role in the honoring of your mother this Mother’s Day. Make sure to ask her what her preferences are so you can make those plans in advance.

Gifts

The gift you give your mother on Mother’s Day will be the representation of your love and appreciation for her so take the time to choose something she would enjoy. If you know your mother loves to read but rarely gets the time to do so, consider giving her a few hours, or even a whole day, of quiet time to read that book she has had her eye on – maybe even buy it for her if she doesn’t already have it.

Whatever you decide to give to your mom make sure it looks like you took the time to carefully plan for her desires.

More than anything honoring your mom on Mother’s Day will be about the memories you make this day and all the others throughout the year. Whether you remember this day or not, your mother most likely will. She keeps every card, letter and poem you have ever written her and cherishes each one as the treasure it is.

Make sure to spend quality time with your mother this year and let her know how much you love her. Don’t forget to take a picture to commemorate the day.