Top 3 REAL Reasons Moms Go to Starbucks

It happens every time I drive past a Starbucks (which is often, because those suckers are everywhere): the undeniable urge to steer my car into the drive-thru line for a coffee. If I was disciplined enough to keep a budget (which I’m not), that green mermaid would probably have her own line item.

Disclaimer: These opinions are my own, and I’m not affiliated with Starbucks in any way.

I use the word “coffee” loosely here because I’m usually going after something coffee-esque, like a frappuccino or a fruity beverage on ice. And while I like the taste of these things, let’s be clear that the REAL reasons I’m here again, sandwiched between two other cars on this narrow strip of pavement, have little to do with that.

Allow me to break this down for you.

1. Because I want to experience what it’s like to ask someone to do something and have them just do it without 50 reminders. As the mom of a perpetually grouchy 3-year old, I rarely make a request which is not met with defiance or raucous whining. When I tell the barista I want a Dragon Drink, that angelic soul sashays right over to the fridge for some coconut milk. I watch in amazement as she pours the concoction into a cup and hands it to me with a smile. I almost don’t know how to thank her.

2. So I can eat food and drink beverages I did not prepare. I don’t know why, but things always taste better when someone else makes them. I’m sure this is partly because I’m at best an average cook, but I think there’s more to it than that. All the live long day I’m fetching snacks from the cupboard, making sandwiches, fulfilling demands for more juice – which must be served in the “right” color cup – and so on. It’s my turn to be waited on!

3. So I don’t have to keep tabs on my kids. Yeah, I said it. With my kids strapped safely in their car seats, I can take a break from having to chase after them for a hot minute. They literally never stop running around unless they’re asleep, so by about 2pm I’ve not only run out of ideas to keep them entertained but I’ve also run myself into the ground trying to keep up. And by now my son knows Starbucks sells lemonade, and he’ll agree to almost anything (including a boring ride in the car) in exchange for sugar.

With the notable exception of that unicorn drink they offered awhile back, which tasted like bananas and sadness, the drinks are indeed a party for my tastebuds. But if I’m honest with you, the real reason I’m paying $6 for a drink whose primary ingredient is ice? Because I just need a break.