Four years ago, during Lent, I decided to ditch carbonated drinks. In my quest for a healthier alternative, I stopped by my local McDonald’s for a cup of coffee, loading it with cream and sugar to mask its bitterness. I ordered the largest size available and gulped it down as I rushed to work. That mediocre coffee gave me the boost I needed to just make it through the door to my job. Eventually, I upgraded my coffee game—more on that later.
Let me be clear: Coffee has become my ally, my guilty pleasure, and my cherished hobby. Most importantly, it keeps me from losing my cool with my energetic toddler. I rely on it. Without it, my day is a chaotic mess. If you’re a parent of a small child, I can assure you: you need coffee too.
After the arrival of my son, coffee transformed into an essential part of my life.
“Dad!” my son called this morning, his voice piercing through my foggy brain. As I struggled to open my eyes in the dim light, I spotted him sitting up in his bed like a little meerkat, eagerly pointing and repeating my name. I could have used a little more sleep, but that was never going to happen. He was awake, which meant I had to be awake too. It was 5:30 a.m. and coffee was a necessity.
So, before I could face the day, I offered my morning prayer:
“God, grant me the coffee I need to keep my toddler son safe, the courage to navigate this day, and the wisdom to order more coffee. Amen.”
I need that prayer. And I definitely need coffee—before and after the day starts to unravel. If you’re a parent to a little one, trust me, you’ll want divine support and a strong cup of coffee by your side. Let’s face it, high-octane caffeine is essential when your toddler decides to test your patience by biting your inner thigh like a playful puppy.
If you’re questioning your reliance on coffee, let me share some scenarios that signal it’s time for a pick-me-up:
- You keep boarding the subway in the wrong direction.
- You accidentally pour breast milk over your cereal.
- You take your dog out for a walk but end up in the elevator with your baby and a leash—sans dog.
- You find yourself mid-sentence, struggling to recall a simple word like “fork.”
- You zone out in aisle 4 of the grocery store, snapping back to reality without a clue about what you were looking for.
When life feels overwhelming, coffee is your best bet. It’s an absolute necessity for anyone trying to keep up with a toddler. Let me walk you through our morning coffee ritual (yes, I said “our” because my little one is involved).
My son, Lucas, and I begin by taking apart the coffee grinder to clear out the stale grounds. I give it a good clean, and then I turn on the scale, hitting the tare button. Together, we measure out 26 grams of coffee beans, which Lucas eagerly pours into the grinder. As the beans transform into a fine powder, he clings to my hip like a tiny Jedi, pointing towards the kettle. We fill a silver kettle with filtered water and crank up the heat.
My favorite part is next. I lift the tray filled with fresh grounds to my nose and inhale deeply. Lucas mirrors my actions, taking a big whiff and exclaiming, “The Force is with you, but you are not a Jedi yet,” I remind him playfully, hoping to keep his ego in check.
The kettle begins to whistle, and I pour water into a red funnel resting on a glass coffee pot. I make sure to saturate the grounds, watching as a mushroom-shaped bubble forms and collapses in a magical dance. Then, I slowly pour 400 grams of water in a circular motion. This is what my partner calls my obsession. The steaming coffee filters through and drips into the pot, completing our morning task. We watch the coffee collect, but Lucas soon grows impatient. “Patience, you must have, my young Padawan,” I tell him, trying to instill a little wisdom.
I enjoy coffee at 5:30 a.m., again mid-morning, during episodes of Sesame Street, and in the afternoons when my energy dips. On particularly tough days, I wish I could hook myself up to a coffee IV. I know I’m not alone in that thought.
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In summary, coffee is not just a beverage; it’s a vital part of parenting life that helps us navigate each chaotic day with a smile and a caffeine boost.
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