First sleep over for my daughter, and the mom was drinking wine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think when you reach around 40, or maybe the late 30s, then you do need to be more careful about alcohol intake. As President Bush said, he realized that too much of his social life revolved around alcohol, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with that. I can see that point of view.

Me, too.

Yes, let's all turn to Bush for guidance and insights on self-control.

Imperfect, as is President Obama, but a good person, husband, and dad, IMHO. I'm not nearly as liberal in my viewpoints as President Obama, but I credit him with being a good person and a good family man as well. I think it speaks well of a person when they realize that drinking has become a problem and change direction.

[Anonymous]

Tonight I dropped my 6 year old daughter off at her first sleep over. She loves the birthday girl and the other kids that are there. Here's the thing. . .when I arrived the mom (hostess) invited me to stay for a glass of wine. I declined, as I had to get home. A few other moms arrived, and they all had wine together.

So now I am worrying. Is this the norm here? My kid is really chill and won't have a problem sleeping at another house. But should parents be drinking when they are responsible for so many kids?

Anonymous wrote:

OP again. I was so surprised to hear all of the comments about wine. It got a little crazy in my opinion.

My family considers it a great compliment to a nice meal. I will even pour my daughter half a glass (gasp!) when she is 18 when we have dinner as a family.

Just from my own experience, you learn responsible drinking by seeing people do it. Not by hiding it or making it verboten.

Wait... I am completely confused by your original post now. Really confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Tonight I dropped my 6 year old daughter off at her first sleep over. She loves the birthday girl and the other kids that are there. Here's the thing. . .when I arrived the mom (hostess) invited me to stay for a glass of wine. I declined, as I had to get home. A few other moms arrived, and they all had wine together.

So now I am worrying. Is this the norm here? My kid is really chill and won't have a problem sleeping at another house. But should parents be drinking when they are responsible for so many kids?

Anonymous wrote:

OP again. I was so surprised to hear all of the comments about wine. It got a little crazy in my opinion.

My family considers it a great compliment to a nice meal. I will even pour my daughter half a glass (gasp!) when she is 18 when we have dinner as a family.

Just from my own experience, you learn responsible drinking by seeing people do it. Not by hiding it or making it verboten.

Could be a different poster just making a point . . .

Wait... I am completely confused by your original post now. Really confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Tonight I dropped my 6 year old daughter off at her first sleep over. She loves the birthday girl and the other kids that are there. Here's the thing. . .when I arrived the mom (hostess) invited me to stay for a glass of wine. I declined, as I had to get home. A few other moms arrived, and they all had wine together.

So now I am worrying. Is this the norm here? My kid is really chill and won't have a problem sleeping at another house. But should parents be drinking when they are responsible for so many kids?

Anonymous wrote:

OP again. I was so surprised to hear all of the comments about wine. It got a little crazy in my opinion.

My family considers it a great compliment to a nice meal. I will even pour my daughter half a glass (gasp!) when she is 18 when we have dinner as a family.

Just from my own experience, you learn responsible drinking by seeing people do it. Not by hiding it or making it verboten.

Wait... I am completely confused by your original post now. Really confused.

Me too. What a troll.

[Anonymous]

Oh my gosh I can't believe this turned out to be a troll!! (well... I believe it but you know)... Very good job OP you got exactly what you were hoping for.

And I appreciate that I have learned a great deal about DC parents and their level of responsibility (or lack there of) when it comes to watching other people's children

[Anonymous]

I drink occasionally and frequently go to parties and don't drink at all. I have gone months without a single glass of wine or cocktail at a party. Sometimes I just don't feel like it, sometimes I had some allergy meds. I have never felt judged, nor have I made excuses - perhaps you are a bit defensive as a non-drinker? Maybe you make a bigger deal than you think you do of being a non-drinker.

I'm the non-drinker PP, and you might be right about me being overly defensive. When I say "no thank you" to alcohol and someone responds along the lines of "Really? Oh come on now. . ." I can definitely understand that I might be reading way too much into such a response. Do other people let off a vibe that I am uncool or uptight because I am not drinking or does that feeling come from my own insecurities? That's why I asked what people are really thinking about a non-drinker in the group. It does seem that several people assume I am either pregnant or a recovering alcoholic (I'm neither), as if there are no other socially acceptable reasons not to drink.

[Anonymous]

In my house, yes, pretty much. On special occasions, we may both drink at the same time, but one of us limits our drinking to just one. And may I add, that I believe that how society perceives parents who drink around their kids (by 'drink' I mean have more than 1 drink) is going to change, just as how society now views drinking by others "on the job".

So it's OK to be responsibel for children after having one drink? Well. Isn't that what the hostess did in the OP's scenario? (Unless you're going to assume, without any foundation, that the invitation was a prelude to an evening of debauchary.)

[Anonymous]

If I have one drink, I soon have two, then its three, then its shots of jaeger bombs, then its doing lines in the bathroom and maybe a tab of E. Downward spiral and slippery slope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In my house, yes, pretty much. On special occasions, we may both drink at the same time, but one of us limits our drinking to just one. And may I add, that I believe that how society perceives parents who drink around their kids (by 'drink' I mean have more than 1 drink) is going to change, just as how society now views drinking by others "on the job".

So it's OK to be responsibel for children after having one drink? Well. Isn't that what the hostess did in the OP's scenario? (Unless you're going to assume, without any foundation, that the invitation was a prelude to an evening of debauchary.)

No, its not "ok". I just said we do. We are not perfect. But even then, its limited: its never been in front of the children, never been when we've had to drive anywhere at all, never when we have a sick child or any other people's children as guest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I have one drink, I soon have two, then its three, then its shots of jaeger bombs, then its doing lines in the bathroom and maybe a tab of E. Downward spiral and slippery slope.

You are joking, but sadly, this is true for some people, hopefully a small number of people, but some. In fact, this has described my husband on several occasions over the last 10 years, minus the lines (usually) and the E. And at times when you might not expect it. Which is why I am never comfortable drinking anymore. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think when you reach around 40, or maybe the late 30s, then you do need to be more careful about alcohol intake. As President Bush said, he realized that too much of his social life revolved around alcohol, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with that. I can see that point of view.

Me, too.

Yes, let's all turn to Bush for guidance and insights on self-control.

I am very liberal, but unlike others, I don't feel the need to always disparage those who I don't agree with politically.

There was nothing wrong with what he said. Don't take political advice from him, but hopefully his words on drinking helped others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think when you reach around 40, or maybe the late 30s, then you do need to be more careful about alcohol intake. As President Bush said, he realized that too much of his social life revolved around alcohol, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with that. I can see that point of view.

Me, too.

Yes, let's all turn to Bush for guidance and insights on self-control.

I am very liberal, but unlike others, I don't feel the need to always disparage those who I don't agree with politically.

There was nothing wrong with what he said. Don't take political advice from him, but hopefully his words on drinking helped others.

That's the way I feel about Nancy Pelosi. I can appreciate that she has very good taste, plus the money to buy fabulous clothes and jewelry, get a great haircut, and afford a facelift. She looks fabulous for her age. I just wouldn't take political advice from her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think when you reach around 40, or maybe the late 30s, then you do need to be more careful about alcohol intake. As President Bush said, he realized that too much of his social life revolved around alcohol, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with that. I can see that point of view.

Me, too.

Yes, let's all turn to Bush for guidance and insights on self-control.

I am very liberal, but unlike others, I don't feel the need to always disparage those who I don't agree with politically.

There was nothing wrong with what he said. Don't take political advice from him, but hopefully his words on drinking helped others.

He was a drunk. That was his problem. He did not realize social drinking was a problem. There is a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think when you reach around 40, or maybe the late 30s, then you do need to be more careful about alcohol intake. As President Bush said, he realized that too much of his social life revolved around alcohol, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with that. I can see that point of view.

Me, too.

Yes, let's all turn to Bush for guidance and insights on self-control.

I am very liberal, but unlike others, I don't feel the need to always disparage those who I don't agree with politically.

There was nothing wrong with what he said. Don't take political advice from him, but hopefully his words on drinking helped others.

He was a drunk. That was his problem. He did not realize social drinking was a problem. There is a difference.

You say that with such derision. I admire anyone who admits he has a problem and then commits to sobriety, which he has done for a very long time. Very different from those political leaders who engage in behaviors that they deny repeatedly, repeat for an extended period of time, and try to rationalize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think when you reach around 40, or maybe the late 30s, then you do need to be more careful about alcohol intake. As President Bush said, he realized that too much of his social life revolved around alcohol, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with that. I can see that point of view.

Me, too.

Yes, let's all turn to Bush for guidance and insights on self-control.

I am very liberal, but unlike others, I don't feel the need to always disparage those who I don't agree with politically.

There was nothing wrong with what he said. Don't take political advice from him, but hopefully his words on drinking helped others.

He was a drunk. That was his problem. He did not realize social drinking was a problem. There is a difference.

You say that with such derision. I admire anyone who admits he has a problem and then commits to sobriety, which he has done for a very long time. Very different from those political leaders who engage in behaviors that they deny repeatedly, repeat for an extended period of time, and try to rationalize.

I am just saying, he did not realize he had a slight problem in that he was in his 40's and suddenly realized his social life revolved around having a glass or two of wine, which is what the PP was implying since that's what this thread is about. He was a fall-down drunk. Hence he had to change his ways. There's a big difference. (Very commendable but not at all like suddenly realizing, hey, at all social gatherings I find myself with a glass of wine in my hand.)