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The comfort of coffee
Published May 12, 2010 | 
Sometimes, we have perfect mornings together. I want to remember them.
I know she won’t.
Today, as she shovelled Cheerios into her mouth, I put my coffee down on the table beside her. As usual, she stopped to look at it, and although she’s learned not to put her fingers in it, she likes to lean close and hold her hand over the top to feel the steam rising. Today, I tried to show her how to sniff and breathe in the smell, leaving her laughing at Mama’s wrinkled nose and exclamations of “MMMM, COFFEE!”
She won’t remember these days.
But there’s something profoundly comforting in knowing that the aroma of hazelnut creamer will remind her of comfort, and home, and me, many many years into the future.
Which scents bring memories back for you?
My mom drinking coffee when I was little is totally one of my favorite memories, and every time I smell it, I am instantly transported back to being 3 or 4 and her drinking coffee while playing with me in the sunlight that came in through the window. Every time.
Coffee, strangely enough. I used to love to inhale the smell of my mom’s coffee…and if she wasn’t looking, I’d take a sip.
Gorgeous post, by the way.
I would have to say the smell of “polish” foods–kielbasa, cabbage, potato pancakes. It doesn’t make me think specifically of my mom, but of when I was younger.
When I smell oregano, I think of Greece… the smell brings me back to my visits to the village where my parents were both born and raised. Visions of my grandmother chasing chickens and my grandfather sitting on an old wooden chair flash before me. A tiny little place when all is quiet on a hot summer afternoon when everyone has gone for a nap. Can’t wait to visit again.
Beautiful post.
The smell I link most with childhood is way different, sawdust. My dad is a master carpenter, nothing takes me back to being a little kid like the smell of sawdust and varnish. Walking into a Home Depot always reminds me of being with my dad.
I’d never really considered how my son will associate smells. Thanks for the reminder. The scent that brings me back is naphthalene (active ingredient in mothballs). My dad works at a company that makes products from that chemical and on days he’d visit the plant, he’d come home with such a distinct smell on his suit. My brother and I loved it (and he usually brought us home bubble wrap to pop). To this day, I love the smell of mothballs – they are comforting. Must seem so strange to people without that association.
When I think of Grampa, I think of the smell of sweat (but like…in that he worked all day kind of way, not in that HOLY CRAP kind of way) and “Polish foods”. IDK if I have a smell that reminds me of Mommy, but every time I eat a PBJ I think of her.
Awww what a lovely topic… I am really starting to feel the baby fever come on and your blog is partly to blame!
Coffee brings back memories for me too – weekend mornings with my parents reading the paper in the kitchen and letting me dunk my donuts in their cup.
Also, sawdust. My dad builds houses and used to let us come to work with him sometimes and “help” by sweeping things up, etc. I should tell him that….
I love how coffee gives a sense of peace, happiness.
My grandfather took his with cream and sugar and would let us sip on it.
When I had my son (my first) and before our fancy new coffee makers, I would make instant coffee during his first nap, when the house was quiet and I’d check email. I still feel all warm and motherly when I smell instant coffee. Also – instant is the kind my grandfather always made.
I love this post; smell is such a powerful memory trigger.
They were renovating the storefront beneath our old apartment when Irene was a newborn and Colum was two and a half and every night the smell of marijuana would waft up the heating vents, especially in the kids room. I remember thinking, “Oh no! This is the smell Colum’s going to associate his childhood with.” I was more worried about that than the effects of the actual smoke.
I have to say a mix of coffee with toast spread with butter. This is the memory of what I recall my mother when I was young.
And, while she was having that for breakfast, I would eat my rice krispies cereal leaning over the bowl to hear “Kric, Krac, Kroc!”
Mmm… great post! My daughter is constantly trying to get at my coffee in the morning. I always say “too hot!” and she puts here hands near my mug and blows on it! What a cutie.
For me… the smells of thanksgiving really make me remember my childhood. Turkey, stuffing, all those lovely root veggies!