To think I’m not doing anything wrong

I'm a lone parent. I've not had a night out since 2019. So I will drink at home on a Saturday. I've got a friend 2 mins away who doesn't drink so would be here in an emergency. What the fuck am I supposed to do, never have a drink "just in case". Ridiculous. YANBU OP, your husband is being weird.

So, you sometimes drink, then return to look after your kids. That’s grand.

I’m afraid I don’t share your (apparent) view that parents drinking in moderation damages children. I don’t believe there’s any evidence of that.

I used to live in a Mediterranean country with my kids. Families have wine with their meals all the time. Children don’t find it ‘scary’: it’s a normal, civilised way of life. They don’t binge drink as people do in many Northern European countries. But I realise different cultures are different.

I know.

These are probably the same pearl clutchers who bang on about people in Spain and Italy and France being so much more inclusive of children.

What do they think those parents are drinking? Chocolate milk??

The notion that a parent at home can't have a couple of drinks is absurd.

It's really no wonder other forums take the piss out of Mumsnet when you read threads like this one 😆

”Yes, I can babysit on Thursday. Going anywhere nice?”

”No. I’ll be sat on the other sofa having a glass of wine. I just need you there in the unlikely event that one of the children explodes. I am incapable of calling an uber, you see.”

This level of batshittery gives me life.

So i need to pay for a babysitter to sit in my house with me whilst I have a single glass of wine? Have you actually heard yourself?

What do you think people who can't drive do in this situation? Think really really hard before you answer.

"Exactly this" my arse.

Any husband who spoke to me like that would get wine in his face.

Yes, I have always actively made an effort to read in front of my children, to encourage good habits. All of my children are very very keen readers.

Firstly, if a child is fully engaged in their play an adult wading in to "interact" with them is unhelpful for their development, creativity and learning.

Secondly, if child sees a parent reading a book it has a positive impact and sends the message that it is an enjoyable activity. With children increasing less interested in reading for its own sake this is a valuable example to set.

Thirdly, OP was drinking one glass of wine, presumably not at speed as she was relaxing with a book and crisps. Her children, had they even recognised that she was drinking alcohol would have seen that it was done responsibly and with moderation.

I think that's totally normal and I really know something about problem drinking. In other cultures it's totally normal to have a drink for lunch or brunch.
Also people who think you have to interact with your children all the time are really doing them a disservice. Indepent play promotes good mental health.

Surely if they are so poorly that they need to be taken to the hospital, you would call an ambulance anyway?

And 1 drink is fine to drive on and OP does have a DH that I’m sure isn’t too far away or there’s taxis/buses that non drivers use too.

To the poster who thinks she was a superior mother because she read and drank in secret

seriously ??? You only read in bed after a hard days parenting ???and felt that drinking must be done out of view of children ???
you really think that kids need to be “interacted” with for 12 hours a day …. I’d go mad , utterly utterly mad

God help her husband??

OP is in the same house, has been interacting with her kids all day and right there to interact with them the second they want to.

Yet her DH was out of the house and wasn’t interacting with the kids, nor was he there if they want to interact with him, yet OP is seen as the bad parent in this situation.

I’m not saying the DH has done anything wrong by being out of the house because he’s not but isn’t it funny how posters are judging the mum for reading a book/not giving her undivided attention to the kids 24/7 and God forbid having a glass of wine too!
Yet the dad is not even in the house, he’s out doing his hobby not interacting with the kids at all and yet that’s fine apparently.

Threads like these are truly the gifts that keep on giving🤣

That old chestnut about driving....So many people don't have access to cars - in my city it's one in three families. If that was the only way of accessing medical care we'd be fucked as a nation!

I’d be secretly watching dh’s alcohol consumption in future

How utterly ridiculous!!! Over one glass of wine on an afternoon. Get a grip.

Exactly this. If you are the responsible person present with children, you should not be drinking.

It's threads like this that stop me from leaving Mumsnet. There are so many truly bonkers and anal people on this forum that it makes me feel so good about my life and just how normal it is 😆😆

😆😆😆

God I think even I need a drink now and I haven’t drank in years!

Don’t worry though, DD1 is fast asleep and DD2 is roaming the front room enjoying some peace from her big sister!

You’re commenting repeatedly on her thread…

This thread is enough to make anybody turn to drink. There are some absolute nut jobs on here.