Mum drinking at pick up

agree. It just not normal is it?!

@ClareBlue

The normalising of using alcohol whilst parenting is a real eye opener on this thread.

Isn’t it just. It’s really shocking how much people are minimising this. A glass of wine at the end of a long day looking after children is a million miles away from carrying booze in a bottle to school pickup.

I think people are being deliberately obtuse.

The majority of parents do not conceal wine in a water cooler in the park and drink it on their own whilst stating it's the only way they can get through the day.
The normalising of using alcohol whilst parenting is a real eye opener on this thread.
The posts by those that experienced this as a child tell you all you need to know.

The people recommending “befriending” this person are being hopelessly naive.

Alcoholism is a hugely complex, multi factorial and often genetically influenced psychological disorder (physical if it’s got to the point of physical dependence).

The idea that an alcoholic just wants more friends is woefully simplistic. If it were that easy there would be few alcoholics. I have sadly had friends and family members who struggled with alcohol dependency. If it was as simple as lending a friendly ear it would have been solved years ago. Alcoholics by definition don’t want to admit they have a problem and don’t want help until they get to the point of losing everything.

Someone who is joking about needing to carry wine around to get through the school day is a million miles away from being ready to face her problems and a random person asking her intrusive questions about her alcohol intake is not going to seem constructive.

And that’s leaving aside the fact that most people don’t want to invite another complex and demanding relationship with a psychologically damaged individual on top of their other problems.

This woman very clearly has a problem. I am quite shocked at the extent to which people are minimising this.

Of course report to school.

All those saying if it was a one off etc it is OK. The OP said she said 'it is the only way to get through the day' that's not a one off in the park on a Friday afternoon. Together with concealment and isolated drinking which are all classic indicators of a significant issue.
There might already be safe guarding concerns. I think you have to report to the school as a factual event. Nothing else.

I find it very telling that one of the loudest voices that keeps returning to this thread to 'joke' and make light of this is someone who has previously admitted to having an issue with their drinking levels.

I would 100% inform the school. They'll know whether it's something that needs further attention.

In which case why would she be doing it? Breaking the law whilst having children in her care?

There is something not right with this... transferring alcohol into another container could be seen as a practical choice but could also be seen as an attempt to conceal it. Her reasons are known only to herself but for the majority of parents who collect kids from school, the alcohol can wait till later.

It's not regular behaviour. There is a possibility that this is a concern. Who wants to take that risk when it comes to kids' safety (and potentially Mum's wellbeing)?

Report it confidentially to the school and let them decide. Then get on with your day.

Who's pretending it's water? She wasn't on the school run she was in a park

Putting wine into a water bottle and pretending its water. Swigging it back on the school run. This might be “normal” where youre from but not for me! Odd behaviour imo

Are you suggesting you would call SS if you saw a mum at a picnic in the park drinking wine from a plastic glass? Why does it matter if she was drinking alone? Maybe she likes being on her own?

Yes. She is drinking outside rather than inside.

Yes adults are allowed to have a drink on a Friday afternoon

oh that ok then 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

That’s the way it should work. But over on the jury service thread a poster who did jury service stated, “- it is very clear that this girl has been horribly let down in the past by her parents , the police , the school , the NHS , children's services - all had opportunities to see and document what would be evidence or report concerns at that time
How many 13 year olds get chlamydia ?
How does a child go from being a good student to attending a PRU in 6 months without questions.”

So the system is definitely broken in lots of places. I’m not saying this poster shouldn’t report - but reporting doesn’t always mean action is taken.

She's not doing it sneakily. Transferring something from a glass bottle to a plastic bottle when out and about is not only more convenient but safer.

I agree with those saying report to the school. It is not OK like some comments here. A mum has responsibility of looking after the children so if she needs to drink then drink wisely and at times when it wouldn't affect the children.

Are you serious 🤣 what do you think social services are going to say to someone reporting a mother for having some wine?

So much ridiculous projection on this thread.

Death, drunk driving, crashing into schools at 9am, alcoholics saying it is shocking, people choking on their vomit and dying, more examples of drunk driving, people "just drinking beer and regretting it now". "Sneakliy hiding". "Poor Kids"

NONE OF THIS APPLIES.

Is this normal behaviour or someone who has alcohol issues?

“She told me that she had filled her water bottle with white wine and laughed saying it was the only way to get through the day. She then continued to drink the wine.”

sneakily replacing water in her drinks bottle with white wine?? Thats normal in your world yeah?

A woman has some wine on a Friday afternoon and you're now stating she's a raging alcoholic

But what's not normal having a drink in the afternoon.

You've never met a friend for lunch and had a glass of wine while your kids are at school

OK so I had three children through primary school, and I had nursery/ Childminders to pick them up. I never heard anything about parents having consumed alcohol before the pick up? That beggars belief!

Reporting a Mother can have consequences. Assuming she didn’t drive, she hasn’t done anything wrong.

I’m a fairly relaxed parent I think? This and the actual replies have actually shocked me. I have no judgement towards to lady at all, it’s reeeeally easy to develop a bad relationship with alcohol. However, this isn’t normal. Report it OP.