Beauty At The Table

"Children growing up in an atmosphere where beauty is considered an important part of daily life cannot help being inspired to develop their own original ideas in these areas, nor can they help being prepared to live aesthetically themselves. There is a 'togetherness' in sharing a prepared table that even very small children feel, although they cannot express it verbally. Instead of saying, "Oh it doesn't matter, it's only the children," when you are alone with children for a meal, it is important to say the opposite to yourself. "I wonder what the children would enjoy the most? Being surprised by something special on the table - a mirror with that new toy duck on it, and some stones around the edge, so that it looks like a pond, lighted by candles in crystal candlesticks, or pewter candlesticks...something that will look like lamps near the pond? Or would they rather have a choice, since they are the ones to be considered tonight...shall we have the green cloth, or the pink with pink candles?" It can be something that takes very little time indeed, but when the children are alone, do not let that be the moment to sit down at a bare table, or not to bother sitting down at all. Even the little one in the high chair will like to smell a single rose and look at it for a few minutes. (Of course, he may pull it apart or throw it on the floor, but through learning what to do with a flower, real appreciation grows.) Imagination not only provides a background of beauty to daily life, but also a realization that love, thought and preparation has been given to that 'together' time of eating."

-- From "The Hidden Art of Homemaking" by Edith Schaeffer