Or is it to Oxford? Or Eton? Or to Mrs Goddards’?
“No governess!” How was that possible?” Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing! Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.”
~Lady Catherine de Bourgh
With the ‘dog days’ of summer flowing into Fall, many of us are gearing up for the beginning of school. Days lounging around reading books and eating bon-bons will soon be replaced with helping children do homework, rushing them to athletic practices or sitting through musical or dramatic productions.
But what about kiddos back in the day? Were they as knee-deep in football practices and scouts to even take a breath?
Short of shepherding children to their events, where does the expectation of parent responsibility end? How has this changed over the years?
Elizabeth Bennet answers Lady Catherine’s shocked statement with a non-pulsed reply. “…but such of us as wished to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might.”
The Piano Lesson by Edmund Blair Leighton
I remember first reading P&P and imaging Georgiana Darcy with her painting master, and dance master, and music master and thought, ‘Wow! That’s the life!’ But, don’t we still provide all the ‘masters’ today? Professionals who can take our children’s talents to the next level?
According to a July 2019 updated article from the Oregonian newspaper, parents are willing to pay in upwards of “…$10,000 [for a professional athletic trainer] in hopes of [their children] getting a scholarship…”
What does Georgiana gain from her masters? A gallery showing of her finest portraits? A Scholarship to a lady’s seminary? Nope. Just what every regency woman was after…A first rate husband! A Duke, an Earl, or possibly greater.
While men were whiling away their time learning Greek and Latin and getting a gentleman’s education, young ladies were learning the importance of embroidery. 
In the Austenland screenplay by Shannon Hale and Jerusha Hess, Miss Charming played by Jennifer Coolidge is tired of waiting for the men to come back from hunting and claims that she is ‘bored’ of all the sewing.
As humans, we often romanticize what we do not have and take for granted what we do. Whether it’s the opportunity to become more accomplished, or excel in a new hobby, we merely need to take Lady Catherine’s advice and practice. Who knows. We may end up at Cambridge on our own accord.
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Sewing is not my greatest achievement, nor is playing the piano or singing. I suppose I wasn’t too bad at drawing but have never painted a table! That being so it’s perhaps as well I was able to go to school, although learning Latin wasn’t high on my favourites list. I did however enjoy learning German and Spanish so I did have a knowledge of languages. I also loved Maths, Physics & Chemistry and English Literature. In fact I really enjoyed my school days even though most of what I learned is long forgotten. I now spend my time improving my mind by extensive reading (I tried to have a certain air and manner of walking but gave up on that!)
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That is marvelous, Glynis! I can only boast minor accomplishments, myself. You are far more desirable on the marriage market than I am! 🙂
I have always been good at crafts, which included sewing clothes, i.e., smocked dresses for my girls and nieces and many embroidered pictures for walls. Many times I framed them also at a framing place which allowed customers to do so. I also made a set of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for each of my 3 children and my five nieces. I made hundreds of origami Christmas ornaments (Polish Stars – 90 points – look them up on the Internet) which I gave away as gifts. I learned to play golf which my husband is excellent at but me – not so much. I gave that up about 30 years ago. I am now a grandmother so I don’t have direct monitoring of any children. I do like to go to watch games in which my grandchildren play. I taught myself calligraphy which I have used on certificates, name plates, etc. I am also good cook. I used to take treats into work all the time. However with it just being my husband and me I cut out making desserts – both of us can do without the calories.
I am NOT an author. The closest I come to that is the reviews I post on all the stories I have read since retiring in late 2012.
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You sound like you could put Caroline Bingley to shame! When I was little, my mom had a friend make me a Raggedy Ann doll. She was one of my prized possessions. 🙂
I actually enjoyed sewing. I took 4-years of Home Economics [that’s what it was called back in the day] in high school. I made my own clothing in my early years of marriage. I even made a shirt for my husband and he loved it. He wore it out. He was so disappointed when he had to finally give it up. I have done all the different types of needlework. I just had to have my hands busy. As for other accomplishments. I was mediocre. Today kids and adults have access to a plethora of YouTube sites to help them DIY anything. We can even become more proficient in our artistic endeavors via those famous Bob Ross videos. Thanks for sharing. This was fun.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the post. You sound QUITE accomplished! I attempted to make an Easter dress once. My mother bought be a sewing machine and I thought I was Holly Hobby. Needless to say, It didn’t turn out the way I anticipated, and I wore my old faithful dress that Easter Sunday. 🙂
I enjoyed this post–great analogies.
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Thank you, Denise! 🙂
Anngela, I loved this thought-provoking look at how our current propensity to schedule our children in a variety of activities parallels the Regency gentry’s acquisition for accomplishments! (You’ve given me yet another great insight for teaching P&P this year! You’re the best!) Hope you and yours are finding a few moments to relax even as the school year chaos begins!
Thought provoking as always.