Tiny moments of awareness sometimes sneak up on you. This morning while making a coffee for the second born, I was thinking about how calm it made me to be carefully making coffee for them even when I am exhausted or sick. It’s because I miss making coffee for my father.

My fathers visits were always a two coffee affair, one on arrival and another about an hour later, but only after he theatrically checked his watch to make sure he had time. He always had time.

Now I make coffee for my child, and although we don’t spend hours chatting as we drink it still makes me feel connected to them as they do that adulting thing to be the person they are becoming. I miss making coffee for my father, and one day I will miss making coffee for my child.

The last time you will do something is often a surprise, so I hope I am still making coffee for someone for a while yet, because I make a damn good cup.