My sister-in-law wanted to offer a response, but was unable to log into her account, so this is from her. She is a Mom of 6 kids, ages 1-15.
Stop felling guilty for needing a little pick me up. if you need 1 or 2 caffeinated drinks to be able to keep up with your kids, and be an active Mom to them, that's better for your kids than you being a bump on the log, and not being involved with your kids because you are too tired. Drinking caffeine is the lesser of 2 evils here! It's all about choices and balance. You can set a good example for your kids by showing them that almost anything, in moderation, is not bad for you. If you avoid the things you like, or want, you are more prone to binge on them at some point, and that is not a good example.
Some suggestions: 1. A multi-B complex vitamin in the morning. It's a natural pick-me-up, and you can get a month's supply of the generic at Walgreens for about $3
2. Power Edge Energy Drink mix (water drop ins, sold near the water bottles, or by the Powerade, or Gatorade), they have a little bit of caffeine, a mix of energy vitamins, and they are sugar free, and corn syrup free. They come in a verity of fruit flavors. I recommend the Wild-berry...I think it tastes the best! (www.sturmfoods.com 1-866-596-2736, I got the information off the box I have.)
3. Sweet Tea...it comes in many flavors, and you can add as much, or as little sugar as you want. If you brew it yourself, you can control the sugar and it's corn syrup free! It is easy to brew in a coffee pot, if you have one, and then you can mix it with ice in a pitcher.
4. If you really like your soda, but you don't want your son to see it, you can pour it into a cup, even one with a lid. You can tell him that it's Mom sippy cup! Just remember that you can't hide the existence of soda from him forever. Showing him that drinking it in moderation isn't such a bad thing, so he can learn from your example as he grows up.
5. Any other form of caffeine, or boost, as long as you watch the labels. You can get half-caf coffee that tastes the same as coffee, but has half the caffeine. Now they even have sugar-free energy drinks. If you watch the labels, you can find ones with very little corn syrup, and a high juice content, so you are getting the natural vitamins that can help boost energy.
Realistically, your kids are not going to make it through life without trying caffeine. The best thing you can do for them is set an example of how to enjoy things in moderation. I'm sure you've taught them to enjoy things like cake and cookies and candy in moderation. This is just another thing that a person can enjoy, in small amounts. Teaching them to read labels, and pick healthy things is a very important lesson for kids, but so is understanding that enjoying things in moderation can prevent bingeing.