Mother-Daughter Christmas Tea

Today was the annual Mother Daughter Christmas tea organized by my dear friend Cooper. Last year Carter and I missed it because we were visiting Russ’ family in Pennsylvania so I was happy to be here this year. Since our group is made up of mother’s of seniors we knew this was going to probably be it for Mother-Daughter Christmas tea. Next year everyone will be busy with other things since kids will be coming home from college at all different times.
That idea is exciting to my daughter who is ready to go to the next stage. It is harder for the Mamas who know that we will miss them more than they will miss us. I think that next year I want to have a tea for the Mamas of sons and daughters without the kids.
Tea is our favorite meal of the day, of course it is a very special day when tea is our meal. I know that tea is about the “tea” and I am happy to force myself to go to Tevanna and get a number of yummy tea choices, but for me the best part of “tea” are the scones.
Today we had yummy currant scones and sugar scones with lemon curd, clotted cream and apricot jam. We had a few savory items, but no real traditional finger sandwiches. Having lived in London for so many year I became quite the expert on finger sandwiches since my boss Janet liked to have “meetings” over tea. She was a really good boss.
Tea sandwiches are the second most important part of tea for me, after the scones. I like smoked salmon or egg and cress. Today we had a zucchini round with grilled vegetables with no bread at all. The kindest mama amongst us said it was the gluten free item at tea. Tea is not a gluten free friendly meal.
The big waste in tea is the sweets. Most of the dessert items sat untouched. After scones and savories no one wanted a cupcake, although most of us ate a chocolate covered strawberry, probably because it was a guilt free fruit.
I am not thinking of the last mother-daughter tea as a sad occasion, just a transitional one. Us Mamas are going to have many more years without children at home than years with children around. As much as we like our daughters we should have no guilt having friend tea next year.