Parenting 101 -- Coffee drinking or NOT

Yesterday, my kidlet wanted to drink a cup of coffee. She's 12 and has been fighting allergies. I suggested taking a Claritin instead. She refused.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because you said the coconut one tasted good."

Like that's a good reason to start drinking coffee. I do prefer the Donut Shop Coconut Mocha one over the Emeril's Jamaica Me Crazy, but the only reason she wants to try coffee is because some of the kids at school go to Starbucks on a daily basis. Their frappa-lappa-dingdong drinks aren't COFFEE no matter how you brew it.

"Fine, but if you don't like it give it to me and I'll drink it."

The coffee brews in the Keurig. I add sweetener AND cream to it.

"It's too hot." so she puts it in the freezer.

"Why don't you put an ice cube in it?"

She does . . . along with another large spoonful of sweetener.

"Why are you adding more sweetener?"

"Because it's bitter."

"But that's what real coffee tastes like. It has a bitterness to it that hits the back of your tongue. It's an acquired taste, like drinking beer."

Not that I want her to drink beer, but it took me a long time to a) enjoy the taste of coffee, b) enjoy the taste of beer--the real stuff, not the 3.2 water they call beer in this state.

"So you don't like it?"

She shakes her head and hands me the cup. By this time the swill is cold, overly sweetened and simply not worth drinking.

"Pour it down the drain. It's ruined. By the way you owe me a dollar for that K-cup you wasted."

She rummages around in my 'everything' drawer and hands me four quarters--of my money, mind you!

"Here."

I sigh . . . deeply. "Just put it back and we'll call it even."

"But it won't be a deal until you take it from me and then give it back to me to put it in the drawer."

"Fine." I took the money and gave it back to here.

"Can I make a hot cocoa now?"

"Sure."

The lesson learned here is that the kidlet won't be drinking coffee any time soon.

:-) Ain't it fun being a parent?

Later, Peeps!