Saturday Morning Matchas

After yesterday morning’s swim lesson, the family piled back into the car and Joseph asked, “Coffee shop?”

He’s two years old and already knows exactly what the coffee shop is.

And honestly, that’s okay because it’s one of our favorite things to do as a family.

So we headed home to grab Joseph’s shoes, let Jillian change, and then made our way to our favorite coffee shop.

It was packed, which isn’t unusual for a Saturday morning, although we normally get there a little earlier. Jillian and Brooks got in line while Joseph and I claimed the last table that would fit all four of us.

Joseph was hungry and getting restless, so I dug some granola balls out of the diaper bag while we waited.

Meanwhile, Jillian ordered strawberry cream matchas for the two of us, muffins for the boys, and a smoothie for them to share.

Once the muffins arrived, Joseph climbed onto my lap and all was right with the world again.

He dug into that chocolate muffin like it was his full-time job, smashing pieces into his face while I tried to keep up with the crumbs falling in every direction.

Across the table, Brooks methodically worked through his blueberry muffin while announcing that he was going to be the first one to finish his drink.

Meanwhile, Jillian and I attempted to enjoy our matchas while also helping the boys with theirs.

Every family has traditions.

As a kid, I thought family traditions revolved around holidays and big events. Things like Christmas morning or our annual trips to the mountains.

Now that I’m older and have kids of my own, I’ve realized traditions can be much smaller than that.

They can be things like going to the used book sale at the library on the first Saturday of the month.

Reading together before bedtime.

Or Saturday mornings at the coffee shop.

None of those traditions were planned.

Nobody sat down and decided they would become part of our family’s routine.

They just happened naturally and kept happening until they became part of who we are.

And that’s what I love about these Saturday mornings.

It’s not really about the matchas, although they are delicious.

It’s not about the muffins.

And it’s not even about the coffee shop itself.

It’s about taking thirty minutes to get out of the house and sit around a table together.

No work.

No chores.

No bills.

No errands.

Just the four of us enjoying each other’s company.

Who knows how long this tradition will last?

The boys will get older. They’ll have sports, activities, and friends competing for their weekends. Eventually they’ll be going to the coffee shop without Mom and Dad.

That’s part of growing up.

But until then, until the Saturday morning matchas are no more and muffins are no longer on the menu, I’ll keep enjoying these mornings around the table.

Because sometimes the traditions we cherish most aren’t the ones we set out to create.

They’re the ones that quietly become part of our lives before we even realize they’re traditions at all.