Instant love vs. Slow-brewed

For as long as I can remember, my dad has started his morning with a cup of microwaved, instant coffee. To be honest, for most of my life I didn't really know there was anything different. In my little world, coffee came from a jar and was stirred in, a couple teaspoons at a time, to a microwaved mug of water. Just a minute and it's ready to go- kick starting my dad's morning. But then came Starbucks, and all of a sudden, I found out what "real" coffee was. Starbucks patrons are passionate about their coffee and would be appalled to know that my dad still drinks the instant stuff. Why in the world would someone settle for the instant stuff when they can have the heaven that is a cup of Starbucks coffee? Well, let me take a stab at that question. The instant stuff- it's quick, it's cheap and it's got caffeine. Starbucks on the other hand is expensive, time consuming, and just way more work.

So, what's the point Katie? Well, let me tell you. First of all, I hate coffee. Not from a jar, not at a coffee bar. I do not like it near or far, I think it tastes like a cup of tar. Therefore, this post in no way reflects my opinions about Starbucks or instant coffee. I could really care less. It is simply to illustrate the following point.

There are two types of "love". One is the instant kind- heat up the water real quick, stir in the coffee grounds and walla! It's kind of like when I fell in love with Jordon of the New Kids on the Block! Show me one poster with his adorable face, let me listen to one line of his love ballad, throw in a little dancing, and I am one pre-teen totally "in-love". Just like my dad's morning cup o' joe, my infatuation with the new kid was enough to leave me in boy band heaven, at least until sixth grade and something else was way cooler. And that my friends, is instant love. Comes in quick and strong, and leaves you empty until the next cup.

But Starbucks love, that is way different. Starbucks love makes sure it brews with the finest beans and that the time is taken to slow brew the perfect cup. It comes with a price but man it's worth it (or so they tell me). This is no NKOTB love. This is the love that slow-brewed in the deep friendships I've made over the years. This is the love that I find and try to give in my relationship with Tom. And this is the love that is brewing in my new relationship with my daughter. And I would venture to say that any parent who truly loves their children has gone through this process. I know I see that love from my parents. Slow-brewed.

You see, in the movies, and even in stories I have heard from friends, they fell in love with their baby the instant they arrived. Like a magical, fairytale moment, they "loved" that newborn. Well, can I be totally honest with you? The first thing I said when I saw Bethany was, "Wow, she's here already and she looks really gross!" Leave it up to Katie to find the appropriate thing to say in the situation!! And then after that first moment, I spent the first few days of her life feeling overwhelmed by her. Feeding her, taking care of her, making sure she was okay. It all seemed very daunting to me. There was little room for feelings of instant love. But, sitting here today, two weeks later I can tell you that she is anything but gross and this cup of slow-brewed love is going strong. It took some searching, some sacrifice, and some time. But it is so sweet to wait for the good stuff. And I know that this love will continue to brew as we build our bond together as parent and child. At 14 days out, we're just getting started. So, no offense to the instant-coffee drinkers of the world, but I'm going to be a slow-brewed kind of girl.

But dad, you keep right on drinking that instant joe, save the good brewed stuff for your grandbaby!!