Introducing Our Kids to Coffee Shop Culture

Brent and I were born in the late 70’s and early 80’s during the rise of the coffee shop culture. It seems silly to think there was a time when coffee shops were not on every corner of the U.S. but it’s true. Sure there were diners and breakfast restaurants but not places designed to just sell fancy espresso-based drinks.

We’ve loved hanging out at coffee shops over the years. We wanted to properly introduce our boys to the culture. We chose to go on an evening when nothing else was planned. We also wanted a place that promoted a chill atmosphere and didn’t rush us out the door. We picked a local coffee shop here in Nashville, Frothy Monkey, located in 12 South as their first experience.

We told our boys to bring a book to read and that we’d only be ordering drinks. Once we arrived we were seated at a table near the kitchen. Music was playing in the background and the cafe was buzzing with activity but still had a laid-back vibe.

The boys and Brent ordered Hatcher (a local dairy) hot chocolate. I had a Golden Monkey (steamed turmeric milk, honey, and cinnamon). We specifically asked for our drinks to be served in mugs instead of disposable cups.

While we waited on the drinks we talked to the boys about what to do while at a coffee shop. Such things as people watching, reading, chatting, or thinking. Once the drinks arrived, our boys wanted to gulp theirs down in 5 seconds. We told them they needed to take little sips to enjoy their beverage and soak in the atmosphere. I think their drinks were gone in about 5 minutes.

One of our boys seemed to settle into his book the other seemed more interested in people-watching and chatting. Brent and I continued to sip away on our drinks while the boys kept asking if they could have some of ours since their cups were long empty.

When it seemed like the boys hit their limit we paid for our beverages and took a stroll around the area. Overall it was an enjoyable experience. It didn’t last nearly as long as Brent and I had hoped but we introduced them to something new and we’ll call that a win.

What simple new experiences would you like to introduce to your kids?

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