There are so many things within this parenting caper that ‘define’ your style of parenting, and I often think that if your style differ – even ever so slightly – it can greatly impact on how often you actually want to catch up with another parent. I had totally found my match in Canberra, we had the same ideas on the major points like; discipline, what we fed our kids, what activities we wanted our kids to participate in, potty training, sleeping methods, coffee intake.
Does caffeine give you energy or is it causing “caffeine fatigue”? We are constantly bombarded with conflicting information that can cause some confusion. Millions of people around the world reach out for a cup of coffee first thing in the morning to wake up. And it works right? You might recall the increase in alertness, energy, and performance after having had a cup of your favorite morning brew, in my house, this goes to the extreme, our coffee maker is always dirty because of all the coffee we make through out the day, and I am not kidding, we were able to check this coffee maker cleaning guide the other day in order to stop the mess. The ones which come with coffee, tea and sugar container sets are probably not quite up to scratch if you want the best of the best, nor is an ordinary tin. So amazon coffee canister describe this container as the security team ready to protect your beans or grounds.
[1] And it turns out the story with coffee and caffeine is not so obvious after all. I am about to show you why your coffee habit may be causing caffeine fatigue and sabotaging your performance and your ability to reach your goals. Visit this site to lean more https://www.theenergyblueprint.com/caffeine-fatigue/.
I loved that we would meet at the park each week for ‘paint and play’ and after our children had had enough ‘play’, we would share our lunch boxes and then we would wonder up to the local cafe for coffee and babycinos, since we can drink different types of coffee from black to espressos, although to get the best tasting espresso, you should get one of the top-rated espresso machines. This Rancilio vs Gaggia comparison helped me to make the right choice.
I actually started this friendship by walking up to her in the park one day and saying ‘Are you interested in grabbing a coffee, my shout.’ She said “of course” we went for coffee the following week. We have been seeing each other ever since and it’s been the nicest, we love coffee so much that we are learning all things about opening a coffee shop!
But I have seen how babycinos can divide mothers online and in person.
It seems, when it comes to babycinos, you either fall into one of two categories:
- ‘If it brings a smile to my child’s face and gives me 10 minutes of peace to drink my cappuccino I am all for them! A big pat on the back to the cafe owner who invented them!’ OR
- ‘A massive rip off for a little leftover milk froth and a sprinkle of chocolate’.
When Patchwork Cactus proclaimed that she ‘usually didn’t buy babycinos’, I asked ‘how do you manage to get away with not buying babycinos? My boys are addicted.’ She said that she was ‘too tight to buy them. $2.50, you can buy 2.5 L of milk for that’.
James Anthony, who manages Public CBD on Franklin St, Adelaide City, said the cafe does not charge for a babycino. “I still believe for a simple babycino … you shouldn’t be charging for it,” he said.
“If you want to charge for it then you really have to deliver something over and above what I consider to be a babycino, which is a cup of froth with some chocolate on top. You’d need to add marshmallows and possibly do a larger size.”
I also am of the opinion that you need to provide a marshmallow if you want to charge me a $1. But I will let it slide if said babycino gives me 10 minutes peace whilst I am enjoying my soy latte.
In saying that, my husband has a double coffee mentality when he is at a cafe {which extends to two babycinos if the boys are with him} and so if the boys have been to a cafe with him, it will take a few days before they re-settle into our ‘one-babycino-only policy’.
And then there are those judgemental cafe goers, who don’t have children stating “… those stupid Babycinos are just instilling a cafe culture into these kids! By the time they are 10 years old they’ll be wanting a ‘grande double shot, skim, mochachino!’ ” Ladies {and gents – often those over the age of 60 – you know, those really grumpy ‘grandpas’}, it’s just frothy milk and a little chocolate sprinkled on top.
Guess what! I went to a Cafe at Olympic Park two weeks ago and their policy was no babycinos. Needless to say we used their toilets and left. Toilet training a two year old means that we seek out toilet stops often and a babycino makes me feel like we supported the business who is supporting my daughters learning. X
WHAT? That’s crazy! I can’t believe that that is a policy – I think it is extremely ageist! We too need to find regular toilet stops and cafes often have the policy that you need to be a customer to use their facilities. I don’t mind stopping to have a coffee and a couple of babycinos – but if they didn’t have babycinos then I couldn’t have a coffee.
I laughed at the last part. My eldest was heavily exposed to the cafe culture and at 14, he still can’t stand the taste of coffee. Sheesh, some people will find any reason to parent shame.
There is a whole lot worse out there then a little frothy milk and chocolate. And even if your 14 year old didn’t enjoy a cafe late now and again {or every day for that matter} – there is a whole lot worse out there then drinking a cup of coffee. But most kids don’t enjoy the bitterness of coffee and I agree with you – just too much parenting shaming going on these days.
I don’t think I’ve ever met a kid that doesn’t love a babycino. What’s not to love? And they make great milk moustaches too! I’m pleased you’ve found somewhere you can caffeinate in Sydney – coffee matters!
I know – I love the boys’ faces after they have had a babycino. I know that these faces won’t last that long, before too long they will be at school or high school or married and they won’t be having milk moutasches and coco all over their faces. I’m going to enjoy these little moments whilst they last.
I’d never heard of babycinos! How cute! Reminds me of the “coffees” my Poppy made for me and my sister when we were kids. They were mostly milk, but of course we didn’t know that at the time. We thought we were so grown up! 🙂
I guess they are a relatively new thing Paula – but greatly enjoyed by little ones and I’m ‘hopefully’ building beautiful memories with my little ones {like the ones that you have with your Poppy}.
If a babychino allows a parent to sip their coffee in peace I’m all for them! Another way of looking at the cost is instead of looking at it as $2.50 for a bit of frothy milk and chocolate, you’re actually buying a bit of peaceful time to drink your own drink!
That’s so true, Ingrid. It is $1 – $2.50 towards a happier/healthier Mummy!
I hope that you have met some new friends here in Sydney. You know it is so easy to be pressured into worrying what other people think. If you and your kids have found a way to enjoy an outing then don’t let anyone stand in your way, there are bigger things to worry about. Enjoy yourselves and ignore the grandpas ( PS found anywhere good for coffee yet?)
Oh, no one can stand in the way of me and my boys and a babycino 😉 I’ve found a cafe with good coffee in walking distance from our house {and an excellent park to stop off on on the way to or from said cafe} , so we are very happy!