Girlhood Home Companion
  • July26th

    We’re Glad You’re Here!

    -The Girlhood Home Companion

    Companion. It’s not a word you hear much anymore, but in the 1800’s it was commonly used to describe a young woman’s employment by an older relative or family acquaintance. A mature girl, usually 12 or older, would be hired to spend countless hours keeping her elderly charge company. While “having tea” or sitting together in the drawing room, the two would discuss matters of general interest and domesticity.

    Besides reading the Bible, it was the companion’s job to read through volumes of books such as Emerson’s Essays and Voices of the Night Ballads and Other Poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. And if her older counterpart happened to “doze off” during one of those prolonged reading sessions, the youngster was free, for a time, to pursue her own interests.

    Being a companion was tiresome work – but not without its rewards, especially if your employer planned to travel abroad. You may remember the scene in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women where Jo grumbles about the injustices of having to be the companion of that “crabby old miser” Aunt March. The only bright spot on her horizon was a potential trip to Europe. The relationship between the two March women was strained and hardly represents the true spirit in which companionship is to be given or received.

    The word “companion” is found only 13 times in the Bible. In the Greek New Testament it is “sugkoinonos,” meaning “participant with others in anything, a joint partnership.” Another word which is closely related is “sunergos,” meaning “a companion of labor, one who labors in furthering the cause of Christ.”

    I think these two words perfectly describe the ministry of The Girlhood Home Companion. We are joint partners with your daughter, helping her to participate in all that is feminine and lovely as she grows in the Lord, and a companion in labor, helping her cultivate godly character qualities, thus furthering the cause of Christ.

    “During the Victorian era, when life moved at a much slower pace, there were distinct periods of development in a girl’s life: babyhood, childhood, girlhood, and womanhood. I have seen a marked difference between the girl my oldest daughter used to be and the lovely woman she has become in Christ. One thing I firmly believe is that girlhood is a priceless training ground that should not be rushed. Make The Girlhood Home Companion a tradition in your home.” – Mrs. Jill Novak

  • July1st

    Etiquette Met with Giggles

    -The Girlhood Home Companion

    Dear Mothers,
    I’d like to share this sweet comment from one of our customers about last Spring’s Girlhood Issue (we only have about 45 of the printed copies left, but it can be purchased indefinitely as an e-book). You never know what’s hidden in your daughter’s hearts. I love how tea etiquette was met with giggles of delight. The Girlhood Home Companion and Tea Cozy Club are a delight to mothers and daughters and a precious resource for teaching good manners.

    “Hi Jill.

    I really enjoyed speaking with you on the phone. It is nice to now have a “voice” to go along with the articles we enjoy in your magazine. Thank you, and your family, again for publishing such a quality publication. My daughter, Ella turned eight last March and we celebrated by having a tea party for her and 6 of her friends. We got our idea from reading Girlhood Home Companion, which we enjoy reading together during some of our special mother/daughter time. We set the table with beautiful cups, flowers, scones, grapes, and strawberries. When her friends came they all took their seats and while they enjoyed their tea I read about tea etiquette from the magazine. The girls enjoyed trying the correct and incorrect ways of holding their tea cups… with lots of giggles. I then read the storybook The Princess and the Kiss, it helped to keep those giggles under control a bit so they could enjoy their tea. After they finished their tea and had cake, we made Tussie Mussies using instructions from Girlhood Home Companion. They all did very well with just a little help from the adults. After their tussie mussies were ready, we made tissue paper flowers to fill them. The girls left with a beautiful craft to take home with them and we had a blessed time celebrating girlhood at my daughters birthday. Thank you for the wonderful ideas and encouragement.” – Stacy Ott

    Order a print copy of Clothing Your Spirit in Beauty while they’re in stock. Just 45 left…

    Blessings,
    Jill