Drinking in public (VERY SPARINGLY)

[rlollar22]

Okay-  I was wondering.

DH- and my son and I go out to eat at least once a week to a nice place.   I drink very sparingly (like one beer or one mixed drink every two weeks or so)

But I have never drank in front of my son.

But have thought about it.

I was wondering what everyone thinks.  Do you think it is okay to have a glass of wine at dinner while out in front of your child?

DH usually gets one glass-  But I never do, because I am afraid of what people might think. 

Would that be considered bad or wrong?  To have both parents having a glass of wine at dinner?  Or should just one parent do so?


That is why I haven't.  Just curious. 

~Beck~   

[AprilAnney]

I think treating alcohol like it's a bad thing will teach kids the wrong message.  Having a beer or glass of wine occasionally at dinner teaches your children that alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed in moderation... and it teaches them to respect it.

In my opnion, if you treat it like it's  a negative thing, your chilren will grow up to wonder what the fuss is all about and then possibly go overboard.

I'm not saying get wasted every time you're out with your kid(s)...but the occasional beer/wine/margarita (YUM!) won't hurt at all... 

[sophie_sue24]

I had a glass of wine with dinner tonight...well it was arbor mist...i love it...anyway.  Only one of us ever drinks,  at home or otherwise..just in case of an emergency....one of us has to drive....but no i dont think having a beverage in front of your kids is wrong...as long as your not gettin wasted.

[JenniL05]

Quoting AprilAnney:

I think treating alcohol like it's a bad thing will teach kids the wrong message.  Having a beer or glass of wine occasionally at dinner teaches your children that alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed in moderation... and it teaches them to respect it.

In my opnion, if you treat it like it's  a negative thing, your chilren will grow up to wonder what the fuss is all about and then possibly go overboard.

I'm not saying get wasted every time you're out with your kid(s)...but the occasional beer/wine/margarita (YUM!) won't hurt at all... 

My thoughts exactly! I have a problem with people who get drunk in front of their kids, but that's a whole different story! :) I think if you do drink the 1 or 2 drinks in front of your kids it's fine. Everything in moderation.

[brandymay07]

We go to applebees a lot, and I love their strawberry banana daqueris. mmmmm.  Two of them wont get me drunk, infact, they dont affect me at all because there is so little alcohol in them. 

[iheartmyjs]

I think it is totally fine.  I don't know about anyone else, but I never catch myself looking around at everyone in a restaurant and seeing what they have to drink and if they have kids there or not.  Now, if they're making a drunken scene...

   I'm Loving this Baby Girl!

[mcquistionmom2]

I agree with the ladies above. If you treat it like its a negative thing they'll grow up wondering about it. For instance, my parents treated it like they would treat anything...we were around it (neither of my parents really drink very often, my mom likes wine coolers and my dad my have a glass of wine here and there but my grandpa - who lived w/ us - had 1 beer with his lunch and a glass of wine with dinner - not all the time though) and now we have a drink every once in awhile. They were also honest about drugs and that they themselves experimented with drugs when they were younger and I am proud to say that neither of us (me and my sister) have ever tried a single drug. But in the case of my cousins, there parents treated alcohol and drugs/smoking in a very negative way and 2/3 daughters are alcoholics/druggies.

~Dee Dee: mom of 2 boys and proud Air Force wife!

 

It's great to be so in love!

 

[teach_ohio]

We actually talked about this very subject in my Social Problems class this past semester. I am against alcohol myself, yuck, but I can be around people who drink RESPONSIBLY just fine. I always said that I would not let my son be around someone drinking and told my BF when he moved in that he could never keep alcoholic beverages in the fridge. My son's bio-father's family is full of alcoholics (my son never sees them though), and I didn't want to even expose my son to that type of life or idea. We read about and discussed the fact that, unless drinking is HIGHLY against your religious beliefs and your children follow those beliefs into adulthood and choose to abstain from alcohol, that never allowing children to see responsible drinking can be just as bad as letting them see abusive or addictive drinking behavior. I had never considered that, but now I try to be a little more lax. My BF doesn't drink heavily, but I did allow his friend to bring beer over one night for them, and then we had leftovers in the fridge...actually....I think they are still there.....LOL.
As far as the drinking while out to dinner......I think it might be ok for one parent to drink some....but...and I KNOW people say "you can still drive after one drink"...blah blah blah....I hate to see a family out to dinner where both parents are drinking while their children are with them, b/c why take that sort of risk with your children in the car. I used to waitress while I was pregnant, and I just wanted to hit the parents over the head who came in and ordered beers for both of them while the children were there. I don't even mind the fact that they are drinking a little in front of the children, you know...it's that one of them will be driving...and it's already so dangerous on the roads...why take the chance of having just a slightly slower reaction time while your kids are in the car?
So all in all, if you can be a model of responsible drinking for your children, then I say go right ahead. Just be safe!

[fatcat0908]

Quoting JenniL05:

Quoting AprilAnney:

I think treating alcohol like it's a bad thing will teach kids the wrong message.  Having a beer or glass of wine occasionally at dinner teaches your children that alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed in moderation... and it teaches them to respect it.

In my opnion, if you treat it like it's  a negative thing, your chilren will grow up to wonder what the fuss is all about and then possibly go overboard.

I'm not saying get wasted every time you're out with your kid(s)...but the occasional beer/wine/margarita (YUM!) won't hurt at all... 

My thoughts exactly! I have a problem with people who get drunk in front of their kids, but that's a whole different story! :) I think if you do drink the 1 or 2 drinks in front of your kids it's fine. Everything in moderation.

I couldn't agree more. We (my husband and I) both grew up in families where everybody drinks at the table, in a restaurant or home. We have a huge assortments of wine at home and will always have a glass of the appropriate wine with a nice dinner. The same at a restaurant. Just a glass, or a beer if we are out for pizza and wings. We also have many cookouts, etc. here where beer is served. My kids are 3 & 4 and just know beer, wine etc is a grown up drink. I think respectfully drinking around your kids is a great lesson. They do learn from example and when parents drink responsibly it teaches kids to do so too when they come of age.

Group Owner of 2001 Anniversaries

http://www.cafemom.com/group/2001anniversaries

[kissmiss213]

Quoting AprilAnney:

I think treating alcohol like it's a bad thing will teach kids the wrong message.  Having a beer or glass of wine occasionally at dinner teaches your children that alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed in moderation... and it teaches them to respect it.

In my opnion, if you treat it like it's  a negative thing, your chilren will grow up to wonder what the fuss is all about and then possibly go overboard.

I'm not saying get wasted every time you're out with your kid(s)...but the occasional beer/wine/margarita (YUM!) won't hurt at all... 

i agree with this totally, plus one glass of wine WITH dinner is NOT going to get you drunk and make you have difficulty getting home. i dont drink much at all (like 1 drink every few months) but we have gone out to dinner and there have been times when both of us have ordered a drink (i never end up finishing mine though). if you never show your kids that it can be done safely then they wont know how to treat alcohol.

[manders018]

I don't drink but I see nothing wrong with it. One glass of wine won't hurt you.