My partner claims I have a caffeine dependency. In response, I often point to the nutritional information on my can of Coke Zero. “Look at all those zeros,” I declare. “It’s as refreshing as water! In fact, it might even be better. Science has perfected it!” But she doesn’t see it that way. Sophie only drinks water, living like a saint, and I truly can’t fathom how she manages — or how any parent can survive without caffeine.
Whether it’s coffee, energy drinks, espresso, or soda, most parents rely on these boosts to power through the chaos of daily life. The constant lack of sleep combined with life’s demands can be overwhelming year after year.
Coke Zero is my go-to choice. Its flavor is much closer to that of regular Coke than Diet Coke, giving it a refreshing edge that feels less like something my mom would drink.
Last year, during a trip to Costco for a couple of cases of Coke Zero, I experienced a mini-crisis when I couldn’t find it on the shelves. I frantically asked several employees if it had been discontinued, only to discover it had been relocated for a sale. While this may seem like a trivial story, any caffeine-loving parent will understand why I was so distressed at the thought of not being able to stock up on my favorite beverage.
I’m not proud of my reaction. But consider this: I have three children, and they all have been terrible sleepers. One refuses to sleep, another wakes up multiple times, and the last one is an early riser. The roles shift nightly, like a bizarre reality show. But one thing remains constant: I rarely enjoy a full night’s sleep. After a decade of unpredictable sleep, I’ve come to heavily depend on caffeine to get through each day.
Maybe I’m just using my kids as an excuse. Maybe I should be more like Sophie and stick to water. But that’s not happening. I was a caffeine drinker before parenthood, but back then, I also slept soundly and didn’t spend my weekends shuttling kids to soccer practice. My worries were limited to paying rent and car payments, not the immense pressure of ensuring my family’s stability.
Caffeine doesn’t solve my problems, but it does make facing them somewhat manageable. At the very least, it keeps my eyes open so I can appear to be a functioning adult.
This is the reality for many caffeine-loving parents: waking up groggy until that first sip hits, trudging through the day with a child in one hand and a caffeinated drink in the other, and hearing the inevitable “Another one, really?” multiple times a day. It invites judgment from others and requires me to defend my choices to my partner, arguing that my caffeine expenses are an investment in my sanity. It even leads to my children teasing me about my caffeine consumption, as if they aren’t the original source of my exhaustion.
What’s ironically amusing is that I used to poke fun at my mother for her Diet Coke habit. I didn’t understand why she needed it until I became a parent myself. Now, I owe her a few cases in gratitude for all those sleepless nights.
Parenting is challenging, and something as trivial as a diet soda shouldn’t be a point of contention. If you know a fellow parent who can’t make it through the day without caffeine, try not to judge. Understand that they’re just doing what they can to cope and maybe offer to buy them a drink. I can assure you, they will appreciate it.
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Summary
Parenting is a tough journey often made more manageable with the help of caffeine. Whether it’s coffee or soda, many parents rely on these boosts to navigate sleepless nights and the demands of family life. Understanding and supporting fellow parents in their caffeine choices can go a long way in fostering community and compassion.