You know how this works, right?
Come on, we just had one this month. Can you at least pretend you’re paying attention? Ok, so I’m Right You’re Wrong is a semi-regular feature here where I try to settle a loving dispute I’m having with a loved one, OR THE WORLD AT LARGE, by presenting the two points of view, without a hint as to who holds which point of view, and letting the internet (or the three people who read this blog) weigh in. I realized recently that it may be more satisfying for the reader if I were to return to the post and reveal what my position was and the happy resolution, but that’s something that I’ve filed under “work” and cross-filed under “maybe when Bachelor season is over.”
So here is today’s dilemma.
Dilemma: Is it ok for teenagers to drink coffee?
Disageers: Marinka and Mama
Position One: There’s nothing wrong with an occasional cup of coffee. It’s delicious.
Position Two: It’s delicious but it is stimulant. It is addiction. Like drugs. Why not give child alcohol.
Position One, rebuttal: Child does not have alcohol because child having alcohol is illegal.
Position Two, rebuttal: Child having coffee is illegal, too.
Position One, rebuttal, with eye twitch: CHILD HAVING COFFEE IS NOT ILLEGAL. CHILD CAN WALK INTO STARBUCKS TO BUY A CUP OF COFFEE.
Position Two, rebuttal, sans eye twitch: So because drugs available, everyone should do them. I understand now.
So, what do you think? Coffee? Teens? Yes/no?
One year ago ...
- L'Chaim! - 2010
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: kidsvomitmice
February 11, 2014 at 7:56 am
You’d have to be insane to give your teen anything resembling a stimulant. They already have more energy than us (I mean, aside from when they have to get up in the morning). Coffee is our secret weapon – we need it to keep up with our offspring.
Twitter: AdorkableKati
February 11, 2014 at 8:01 am
Both of my teenagers get up and have a cup of coffee every morning, my oldest boy sometimes has 2 cups. They both have learned to put on a fresh pot of coffee if they take the last of what’s in the pot.
As for it being a stimulant, both of them also have ADHD, and I would rather them drink coffee than have to take a stimulant prescription medication. It is certainly better for them than soda, which we consider to be an occasional treat not something they can have on a regular basis.
And for the record, my dad bought me my very first coffee cup when I was 8 years old. I would get up and have a cup of coffee with him before school, and I turned out just fine 🙂
My kids have coffee all the time, with the littles it’s more café au lait, more milk than coffee. As for being a stimulant, it doesn’t have any more caffeine than tea, which we drink in abundance in the south, and certainly no more than soda. But, I don’t let my kids have soda, it’s bad for them;)
My kid’s been having cappuccino since she was 5. What? She’s an only child. And her background is Italian and French. It’s predestined. PS: I haven’t noted any insanity caused by caffeine. By the sugar put into those Starbucks drinks, however…
My son is addicted to green tea. I agree with the no coffee rule because I lump it with cigars as a stimulant that may stunt their growth. Since I’ve learned that much ADD/ADHD is a myth, I don’t buy the stimulants are good argument. People like Speed and it kills. Thus my son was at one time buying Starbucks heavy sugar carmellatto concoction. Then because of teen vanity gave up the high calories and began his first aloe, then green tea thing. The variety he drinks has very little stimulant effect and does have medicinal effects. When he’s obtained his full growth, he can have coffee on his own.
Twitter: AdorkableKati
February 11, 2014 at 10:25 am
I also wanted to add that we started my youngest on coffee under a doctor’s advise. It first began as a help for his asthma, then to help with his ADHD. It wasn’t “prescribed” to him or anything, but the dr said try it, because the stimulant meds made his bipolar depression worse.
What works for my family may not work for everyone’s, but my kids are healthy and happy and both very tall for their age, so it works for us. 🙂
Whatever happened to “coffee stunts your growth?”
I never had coffee growing up and I’m 6′ now.
That’s scientific proof. Or genetics. Tomato, tumahto.
Coffee, tea…whatever the hell shuts them up. Just don’t tell them about Baileys. That’s mommies stimulant
Twitter: JenAndersonNYC
February 11, 2014 at 4:04 pm
I wish someone had given me coffee as a teenager. I would’ve been much more alert during my morning classes.
As for kids today> As long as it isn’t so late that they won’t go the fuck to sleep, I say go for it.
I wouldn’t encourage coffee use in teenagers. Think of all the time and money they will save over their lifetime if they don’t have to spend it making, finding and purchasing coffee!
Plus you would have to increase their allowances for Starbucks runs!
Twitter: NonaNelson
February 12, 2014 at 7:16 am
I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 12. I am now 50. Managed to graduate from college, have a career and raise a family with only occasional twitches from caffeine addiction.
I started drinking coffee as a young child. Forty plus years later, I’d rather give up air than coffee. My advice: Don’t even start.
Twitter: Peajaye
February 12, 2014 at 3:00 pm
I don’t want to take sides, but I heard somewhere that coffee was how Phillip Seymor Hoffman got started.
Twitter: Mamabirddiaries
February 12, 2014 at 11:11 pm
I would prefer my teenager didn’t drink coffee. But I’d prefer they drink coffee over doing cocaine.
If the teen wants coffee, let the teen have coffee.
I didn’t start coffee until college, but people always blame it for why I’m only 5feet tall. The joke is on them, I stopped growing around age 11. Suckers.
I think if you give your kid soda, a bit of coffee isn’t going to hurt. My son has had a mocha chocolate chip frappuccino in his lifetime.
I actually consider poptarts to be more dangerous than coffee.
I am completely against Vios as a stimulant. Have you seen those Verizon commercials? Crazy.
You sort of gave away which side is mama’s with that writing style there. Also, I agree with Peajaye.
I think allowing teens to have coffee is like anything else, ever so often will not hurt them , but all the time is unhealthy.