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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No, I'm not an alcoholic though.[/quote]

What's it like in your black and white world?[/quote]

It's great. I am capable of spending an hour walking my kid around the neighborhood and then enjoying a glass of wine at home, without needing to carry a little "mommy juice" around with me while I make a nice memory with my kid.

I'm sorry that you can't do normal parenting activities without alcohol. That sounds difficult.[/quote]

DP
You sound insufferable and judgmental.  Glad you're so perfect.[/quote]

Read the responses on this thread. There is a reason people are judgmental about it. Some parents turn Halloween, a children's event that often takes place on a weeknight, into an excuse to get trashed with their friends. It's weird. There's nothing wrong with drinking but this need some parents have to turn kid-centric events into an excuse to get drunk is a sign of a drinking problem. Sorry if that hits close to home for you.[/quote]

I honestly think this attitude is part of why parenting in the U.S. is so much harder than it is in some other countries. We are slaves to our children and feel guilty when we don’t make things entirely about them. I legitimately don’t think it’s healthy for kids to live and see their parents living this way. It’s not really about alcohol but more about the idea that if you don’t make holidays and vacations entirely about children you’re a selfish, bad parent.

Have any of you ever spent Christmas in the UK? The whole season has more of a festive vibe because adults are allowed to enjoy it, go to pubs with friends, have parties and enjoy activities too. The season isn’t 100% about Santa and Christmas morning with children.

I say all this as a parent who only socially drinks sometimes. But I think it’s important to include kids in our real lives and not be so weird and puritanical about alcohol. Drinking does not have to mean getting drunk.[/quote]

I actually think the focus on alcohol for parents on Halloween is a symptom of our weird relationship with parenting and alcohol, not a break from it.  Like only in the US would you have a whole thread dedicated to asking parents if they planned to drink alcohol while trick or treating. Or making a big deal about how the parents "let loose" on Halloween since they aren't allowed to other times.

It's that juxtaposition specifically that is unhealthy. In countries where parents are not required to sacrifice every ounce of their being at the altar of parenting, people also don't make such a big deal about something like drinking at a holiday party. I agree with you that Americans are too extreme about their expectations of parents, but I also think running around doing jello shots during trick or treating is the extreme counter-reaction. A more moderate approach on both ends would be healthier for everyone.[/quote]

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