by Brian
Nearly everyone has vices. These are the things that we rely on to relieve stress, improve our mood, or perhaps even seize the day. Certainly, some vices can be negative, unhealthy addictions that are detrimental and may require help to overcome. Other times, however, they can be just what the doctor ordered, a positive experience or shot in the arm to keep you moving forward and living your best life.
I really like coffee. As I got older, I challenged myself to like coffee as a healthier option than soda. When I was a kid, I used to drink lots of regular soda before graduating to the diet version at the recommendation of my girlfriend at the time (now my wife). That final move to becoming a coffee-drinker happened when I was traveling for work and settled on it as a drink I could reasonably get wherever I was working. Actually, the decision was black coffee as you just never knew what creamers or sweeteners would be available on any given day. Today there are few mornings when I do not start my day off with a hot cup of unsweetened joe.
Similarly, Bobbie loves to start her day with diet soda. She will drink nearly anything starting with the word “diet” that can be considered part of the carbonated beverage genre. Her beverage of choice is a concoction called a suicide that mixes several different sodas together. I am proud to say that after many years I am now able to recreate her drink, starting with 2/3 Diet Coke over ice and splashing in every other diet soda available at the fountain drink station. She even loves a shot of cherry, vanilla, or raspberry flavor syrup if it is available.
After years of tagging along, our kids have inherited this love of diet sodas and even certain frozen drinks like slushies. The mere mention of Thorntons, Speedway, or 7-Eleven seems to lighten their mood and get them ready for their day. In fact, on our vacation road trips, we have found that planning a strategic gas station stop for drinks has become a welcomed routine for the family.
The reason I consider this a “healthy” addiction is that there are several benefits to this morning routine. When Bobbie is out of town, I get late night texts asking “what time are we going to the Speedway in the morning?” Not if we are going, but the direct question of when. It can be a challenge to work this into my morning work schedule but I really enjoy the face time with the kids, especially since they no longer live in our house.
On nearly every other morning, Bobbie religiously schedules the daily trip to ensure each of them get their daily fix along with other positive benefits. As we have mentioned, our kids thrive on routine and this daily habit encourages them to wake early and be ready to leave on time. They look forward to the morning routine, spending time with Mom and starting the day off with something they really enjoy. Bobbie effectively uses this “captive audience” time with the kids to review schedules, discuss things they might be struggling with, or ask them about their feelings on certain subjects.
In addition, it has given Dylan and Jolee the opportunity to improve their social skills. They need to navigate an often-crowded gas station, politely waiting when needed and paying for their drinks before they leave. Oftentimes, we stay outside or in the car to let them work independently through the entire process. The cashiers know our family well and are amazingly patient and respectful of our kids.
The final benefit is exercise and fresh air. They take advantage of nice weather, turning a car trip into a one-mile round trip walk that even our dog Junior gets to participate in. Our kids prefer to be sedentary, so this gives them the incentive to leave the comfort of their apartment and check “getting their steps in” off the list. I love that Bobbie never forces them to walk, talk, or work on new skills. We always give them the option to just stay home without getting a beverage. To me, the proof that we are having a positive impact here is that they have yet to take the stay home option.