Image via Coffee Moments
In those early weeks of motherhood I hardly got to sip this golden nectar without it being reheated in the microwave at least seven times, before accepting defeat to the small purple screaming face watching on. Then I discovered the cafe culture that's quickly adopted by new mamas. A break away from the four walls of home, the sympathetic ear of another mum looking just as bad as you. I found it easier to enjoy my coffee – although still speedily drank – at least there were other people to hold your kid or entertain him. Damn, if I was lucky then the walk over would send him into a deep slumber.
Then F grew older and new challenges arrived, between the age of 11 months and 30 months old we had sleep issues, or the lack of sleep to be exact. This wasn't constant, but it was enough to keep you on edge and so I turned to coffee for a different reason, in the hopes it would give me a boost. Those afternoon coffee breaks with friends turned into 9am pick me ups, a double shot single latte downed in one.
I hadn't realised exactly how much coffee I had been drinking until the weekend. It was a glorious sun filled winters day and we had decided to take F out on his bike at Ashton Court. Imagine my relief to discover the little coffee hut beside the car park, it was my first port of call. So while F patiently circled me I waited in the longest queue ever for that quick cup of joe. Feeling happier, we walked in the sun as I quickly finished my coffee and immediately I felt like I needed more. Then I remembered that this had happened during the week and I had ended up ordering two, both drank one after the other. Alarm bells should have ringing right there.
Today I woke up with a headache. I didn't feel particularly tired but still it was there. We headed out and I had my first coffee of the day. I felt myself relax, my shoulders drop and my headache lift, but a few hours later I became irritable, my headache had returned and I felt a strange tiredness set in. It seems that these short years of motherhood have created a caffeine monster and now the withdrawal symptoms are kicking in hard and fast. I am facing the reality that I need to cut back, right back.
I can start tomorrow right?
