Why Starbucks has a kid's menu

The family of fish has a sort of unofficial custom for Saturday mornings. Caleb wakes up like clockwork at the same time every morning and his big sister follows about an hour or so later. We briefly debate whether or not Justin will have to slave over a hot stove to prepare a fancy breakfast for the family at my request, and proceed to sit down to a hot stack of fruity pancakes (if I win) or some snapping, cracking, popping bowls of cereal (if he wins). Caleb smiles and coos in his high chair while those of us with teeth eat real food, then it's off to the playroom for Curly and tummy time for Spike.

At little while later, Caleb goes down for a two-hour morning nap, leaving us with two sets of adult eyes and only one child to watch. Since most of my time and attention during the week is split between the two kids, I like to take this time on Saturdays to have a sort of girls' morning out with my darling daughter.

It really works in everyone's favor. With the baby asleep upstairs, Justin's only obligation while I'm gone is to not leave the house. What he does with this time is up to him (although I've been known to make some suggestions...), and he can rest assured that no baby will need tending and no girls will be there to pester him.

I get to spend some quality time with Abby, which has in the past few weeks included an introductory course in yard sale shopping, trips to the craft store for kid-friendly project supplies, a tour of the farmer's market, and always, without fail, a stop at Starbucks for a grande iced decaf three-pump mocha for mom and a kid's hot chocolate (with whip) for the kid. If she's good, I've been known to throw in a cookie.

Her indoctrination into the coffee culture is going well. So far she can successfully identify the Starbucks logo when we drive by, and acknowledges the smell wafting out of the coffee shop doors by flapping her arms and yelling "Cawkee! Cawkee!" This may be an indication that I need to consider cutting back a little.

Nah.