Coffee is one of my love languages. Tea? Well, we are more like casual acquaintances. It serves its purpose when I have a cold or during a chilly, cloudy afternoon in Lent. Our children, on the other hand, love tea. Actually, making tea is probably more accurate. The main appeal lies in choosing their herbal combination, loudly claiming their desired cup and waiting for the water to heat. The excitement carries into the first couple sips but simmers down with sips 3 and 4 before it completely flatlines. The counter then becomes host to half empty and abandoned cups with drowning tea bags that have had every inch of life squeezed out of them.

It may surprise you a bit then…because it’s surprising me…that lately we have been turning over a new leaf together. It all started when our 8yr old recently came running to the porch with an armful of chamomile, a big smile and an urgent request to dry the flowers for tea. The darling heads were thoroughly picked and set to dry on paper plates. (My husband’s dresser proved to be the ideal spot for an undisturbed drying process.) Once they reached the appropriate “doneness” she stored them in a mason jar. She continues to find great joy in brewing and sharing cups of her fresh chamomile tea. Her enthusiasm carries all the way through washing and drying the EMPTY cups while her siblings pour out their grateful compliments.

There’s more to this leaf turning business of ours. Delightfully inspired by delicious sun tea made by friends on the 4th of July, our 6yr old asked if she could undertake that endeavor. I walked her through the steps and she…with a little help from the sun…did a marvelous job brewing up some amazing sun tea. She is a natural pro. Seeing the creative fun and healthy growth in independence she has in brewing her sun tea and serving us all in this small, yet meaningful way makes my heart so happy. Hands down, our favorite so far is nettle tea served ice cold with a fresh lemon wedge.

This wonderfully sunny Sunday afternoon found two more large jars of nettle tea basking in the sun. This time initiated by me. There’s a very slim chance of tea infusing its way into a love language of mine, but we are well on the way to becoming better friends.