Do you have a teen who “can’t think before coffee”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That seems messed up to me? It seems bad even when adults say that. If you’ve had a good night of sleep (and you should be arranging your schedule so that you have) why can’t you be alert and function before coffee?

Teens can’t arrange their schedules because public schools are not given enough money to run sufficient buses for HS to start at 10 or 11 AM. The only way for teens to arrange their schedule that is currently feasible is homeschooling. And DCUM has already decided all homeschooled teens are depressed, anxious socially awkward outcasts who do not know how to have a conversation with their peers.

[Anonymous]

My teen can't talk to anybody for an hour after waking but no coffee is involved. I think the coffee is just something to do I don't think it actually kicks in and makes them think/act better.

Doing something for 30 minutes in the morning... walk, meditate, coffee, tea is a good way to start the day mindfully and recommended by therapists teaching CBT and DBT.

[Anonymous]

I sleep well and get up early. I don’t want to have a conversation until I’ve had some coffee.

[Anonymous]

I wish somebody had introduced me to coffee when I was a teen. I would have been in trouble a lot less for missing first-period classes.

I start functioning midway through my first cup. Having some trouble understanding the arrogance of someone who imagines everybody hops out of bed ready to function. Not one day in my life have I been like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a grown woman and I don’t want anyone to talk to me before I’ve had my coffee in the morning. I’m not surprised that a teenager feels the same.

Really? and you take pride on that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That seems messed up to me? It seems bad even when adults say that. If you’ve had a good night of sleep (and you should be arranging your schedule so that you have) why can’t you be alert and function before coffee?

Teens can’t arrange their schedules because public schools are not given enough money to run sufficient buses for HS to start at 10 or 11 AM. The only way for teens to arrange their schedule that is currently feasible is homeschooling. And DCUM has already decided all homeschooled teens are depressed, anxious socially awkward outcasts who do not know how to have a conversation with their peers.

Not PP, but Really? in a real world who starts their day at 10 or 11 am anyway? Teach/help your teen arrange their schedule. Don't encourage the addiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t even know if that’s a caffeine addiction or if coffee is the issue. I like to wake up slowly so I tell people I can’t talk until I have a cup of coffee and everyone leaves me alone. So it might be a way of getting space in the morning.

I came on here to say this. It’s not the coffee for me - it’s a societally acceptable way to have a bit of a slow start, some alone time to regroup and get ready for the day. If I just said I was still waking up or if I told everyone they had to leave me alone for an hour in the morning, everyone would be annoyed by me. But I can say I haven’t had my coffee yet haha! And everyone gets it.

Agree. I always say my kids aren’t fit for public until they’ve “had their coffee” but they don’t drink coffee. Some people need a hour or more in the morning to wake up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ADHD runs in our family.

My ADHD teen can't get organized easily before his meds.
I have a very mild form of ADHD and can get by with caffeine.
And yes, I have often told my kids not to bother me before my morning cup of black tea.

This is me. I don't want to take my meds, I don't have to take them to do well at work and with my family, so I don't take my meds. I do drink coffee in the morning and tea throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a grown woman and I don’t want anyone to talk to me before I’ve had my coffee in the morning. I’m not surprised that a teenager feels the same.

Really? and you take pride on that?

NP. Not a morning coffee drinker, eh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That seems messed up to me? It seems bad even when adults say that. If you’ve had a good night of sleep (and you should be arranging your schedule so that you have) why can’t you be alert and function before coffee?

How many people are able to get a good nights sleep? Seriously, so many people have overly full schedules and others have sleep issues.

Also, whenever I do get a goods night rest, I often am horribly groggy the next morning. Drinking coffee is a ritual that helps some of us slowly wake up.

And, given you seem pretty judgmental about people who are not morning people, you may want to try some empathy. You do not have to understand how it feels. Just know that when some people wake up they feel sick. The slowly waking up is actually waiting for your body to stop feeling so bad.

[Anonymous]

Also, whenever I do get a goods night rest, I often am horribly groggy the next morning. Drinking coffee is a ritual that helps some of us slowly wake up.

Yep - I build time into my morning to drink coffee before I do anything. I could start work as late as 10 am if I wanted, but I force myself to start at 9. It doesn't mean I'm inherently lazy or useless - I do stuff at night after the morning people go to sleep at 9 pm.

[Anonymous]

Surprise to see that teens are drinking coffee already. My kids are younger, I thought coffee/caffeine is not good for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprise to see that teens are drinking coffee already. My kids are younger, I thought coffee/caffeine is not good for kids.

My teens don’t.

My 16-year old occasionally will have a sip of mine, but it’s once in a blue moon.

13-year old has a kid palate and thinks it’s gross which is great since he has enough energy to fuel a town.

[Anonymous]

I'm 47 and can't think before coffee.

I started drinking coffee in high school. I seem pretty functional otherwise.

[Anonymous]

When I was a teen I could not think before coffee either.

I do not have ADHD.