Tea and Cake

A frog and a toad have inspired generations of children and adults.  Although they existed only on the pages of books by Arnold Lobel, these small amphibians taught real life lessons. Frog and Toad were friends and never a day went by that one didn’t go visit the other and, over a piece of cake and a cup of tea, they’d discuss whatever was on their minds. Lesson one: Friends are important.

Frog and Toad encountered some pretty tough problems but they never let these problems get them down–well, not for long anyway. If one felt sad and depressed, the other would invariably cheer him up and show him that the sun would shine again, snarls and knots would smooth out and all would be well. With a piece of cake and a cup of tea, they decided life was good, after all.  Lesson two: Never give up.

These two pals had good imaginations which sometimes ran away with them. One night, while the wind howled outside, Frog told Toad a really scary story. Toad’s teacup shook in his hands and he scooted deeper into his chair. Frog asked Toad if he didn’t like to have the shivers? Toad wasn’t too sure. Lesson three: The Cozy Shivers are fine as long as you are safe inside the house.

Realizing they might be considered rather plump by some people, Frog and Toad decided one day to forego the cookies they longed to eat and practice some self-discipline. They tried one thing and then another to forget about those cookies and exert some will power. Finally Frog just gave up and fed them to the birds. Will power was well and good but so were cookies and Toad decided to just go home and bake a cake. Lesson four: Frog and Toad sometimes failed the will power test and sometimes, we do too.

I read the Frog and Toad stories to my son, my kindergarteners, and my grandchildren. After so many years of reading, I had learned a lesson too: No matter what the problem is, it becomes less frightening when you and a friend talk about it while having a cup of tea (or coffee) and a piece of cake. Now, if I could convince the whole world to try this!