Drinking Coffee │ It's the Little Things

I've been drinking coffee regularly since I was thirteen years old. 

Why thirteen? Because in my family, that's when girls stopped growing... hence the logical conclusion that caffeine wouldn't stunt our growth.

Was I fully grown at 13? Did it stunt my growth? 

I'm not sure. Those are irrelevant points. What was relevant was that I was in on the ritual. I was finally ensconced in the love for roasted beans and hot water. Though it was a bitter and strange taste, the familiar words "it's an acquired taste" stayed in the forefront of my mind through it all. 

I would acquire this rite of passage no matter the cost (halitosis and insomnia).

And by golly, wouldn't you know it, I'm a coffee drinker still.

I come from a family of coffee drinkers, actually. I suppose many people can claim this feat. We all drink coffee and we all tend to drink a lot of it. But I can legitimately claim this one a little more than others because my mom is half-Finnish.

Finland ranks first in the world for coffee consumption. It's such a part of their lifestyle that a coffee break is mandated into their daily work schedules the way tea is a part of the British culture.

So when my oldest, who is currently twenty-three years old and living with us still (he's leaving me soon - getting married) rolled out of bed and poured himself a cup a few mornings ago, there was a metaphysical shift. I could feel it. I could see it. I could hear it!

As I strolled past him to get my second cup of coffee, he lifted the cup to his lips, drank long, and said the words every coffee-drinking mother longs to hear: Oh, wow. That tastes so good.

And I knew. I just knew - right then and there - things had shifted. He was now "one of us." The way he said it got me. I'd never heard him so happy to take that first sip.

For the first time since he'd started drinking coffee (yes, at thirteen and yes apparently it's also a rule for boys in our family, too) he understood. And what was it he understood? 

It was this: He had graduated to the desire for coffee to meet his comfort needs.

That was it.

Plain and simple. Coffee was now his go-to medicine, therapy, warm blanket, and happy juice all in one cup. As a quarter Finnish, I couldn't be more pleased.

I began thinking about how he would add coffee to his life; his future life with his bride.

• Having a bad day at work in the ambulance (he's an EMT)? Drink a cup of coffee.
• Need to figure out how to assemble the newest piece of Ikea furniture for the living room? Drink a cup of coffee.
• Want to beat your parents at Pickleball and need to watch a few YouTube videos to do that? Drink a cup of coffee while you watch.

They say to train your children in the way they should go so they don't depart from it.

Well, I'm happy to note, that my oldest child is officially ready to leave the coop. 

I've taught him how to be a good human being and to follow God's path for his life. He graduated from University and found the perfect bride-to-be. He's doing everything right. And now, he gets coffee.

My work here is done.

I told him to register for a coffee maker on his wedding registry. He's going to want that comfort through the good times and the bad; for better and for worse.

And you can be sure, I'll be buying that coffee maker for him.

Drink coffee and carry on...