To not want MiL to drink while babysitting

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My MiL looks after DD(2.5) once a week while I’m at work. She will send pictures to show what they’re up to, and I noticed in the most recent an empty bottle of wine and two glasses on the table. She was meeting her friend for lunch and they had a bottle between them, whilst she’s looking after her granddaughter.

One glass might be ok, I suppose, but half a bottle seems like a lot. When I mentioned it to DP, he said that it was ok because she drinks a lot normally so half a bottle isn’t a lot for her!

AIBU to be really cross that she’s had that much whilst in charge of my little one?

Definitely Laurie

But y'know - if you can't beat the twats on this thread, join em!

Seriously, why on earth does he bother with one can of beer a year? He clearly doesn't like it that much, or he'd be more inclined to have, you know, at least two a year (maybe one on his birthday, as well). Or is it a grudging concession he's won from you after half a decade of begging?

From me? I have nothing to do with it. If he wants to drink, that's up to him.

He said he doesn't know. He feels it's the "done thing" and he doesn't like wine. He can't really explain.

He actually did do a beer tasting on his 40th, but he wasn't in charge of any children, so that was acceptable for him

No, he doesn't get drunk and annoying, do anything that puts a strain on NHS resources, go on and on (and on) about how he needs gin/wine/prosecco because of how hard parenthood is, try and force drink on me, fight, embarrass himself and he can get through social events or just a meal or an evening without it.

Finding drinking and drunkenness pathetic is fair enough, but plenty of people can do all of those things and still have an alcoholic drink. Finding people “pathetic” just because they may have an occasional drink of alcohol is as bad as finding people “pathetic” for being teetotal.

I know, Beans, it was teasing.

Ah OK. Not enough (any!) gin in my system yet. ;)

Now that's one thing I don't get - to me, gin tastes like perfume

lynmilne65

“If your children are more precious why are you working?”

IF this is a thinly veiled dig at working parents, then the answer is because life doesn’t stop when you become a parent. It’s entirely possible for your children to be your most precious beings while also having your own life including a job or career. Those things may a fraction as important in the grand scheme of things as your precious babies, but that doesn’t mean they become irrelevant. part of good parenting is ensuring that whoever is in loco parentis for periods of time is looking after your child in the manner you want, and providing the kind of environment you want. Which often means paying a LOT of money. If you want a freebie, then you’re choices are more limited.

but it think it is dangerous to be drinking while caring for a small child

It's dangerous to drink too much whilst caring for a child.

Now that's one thing I don't get - to me, gin tastes like perfume

I draw the line at drinking perfume!

Gin is nectar of the gods. Fact.

'What I do know is that usually, the people on Mumsnet who drink don't like those who don't and repeatedly take the piss out of them. Very classy.'

Blimey I don't often see quite such hypocrisy on here.

Was it not you who made a jibe about me user name....

Hmmmmm

'My'

Whoops

Hiccup

You get it in every alcohol thread where apparently no one drinks in case a previously well child needs immediate hospitalisation

ICan'tCopeAnymore

But whilst we're on the subject, reckon your username may be rather apt

Without a G and T now again when I had 3 under 5 and a job, I’d have been in danger of being hospitalised. But it was all good, because I paid for good quality childcare, and only drank gin when the little people were safely in beddy byes

That's why I chose it

Saying that though, I could do with a change. Maybe I'll try FuckingLoon, or BatshitTeeTotaller.

If it makes you happy

Go for it

I think I'm too miserable and boring to get away with it

Oh please do stop with the Mumsnet sillyness!! Many people have a drink or 2 (or 5) while in charge of their children. IT IS NOT A CRIMINAL OFFENCE. As much as some of you love to get all on your high horses about these things. Most people are still aware enough of their children and their needs even after a couple of drinks and most people over the age of 30 do NOT get so drunk that they would not be able to care for children. If you don't drink ...fine. But please don't make ouit a few drinks on a Friday night equals bad parenting either. And after saying that YABU OP a couple of glasses of wine meh ...whatever IMO

Do people go on holiday and take it in turns to have a drink too or is it only whilst within the confines of home life that the car constraint is always considered?

Do people go on holiday and take it in turns to have a drink too or is it only whilst within the confines of home life that the car constraint is always considered?

Holidays? Unless they are to Disneyland or similar and completely child centred, then how selfish of those parents. Of course drinking shouldn't happen, parents must put their own needs and enjoyment aside once they have kids

Wouldn't be surprised to see a post like this tbh!

Now that's one thing I don't get - to me, gin tastes like perfume

I used to think the same - it’s all about the tonic though ;)

I tend to think the particular brand of pearl-clutching teetotal types must've either grown up in homes where alcohol was abused (in which case their stance is completely understandable), or in temperant homes and think of it as some sort of evil, and are genuinely scared of it.

Vast swathes of people (I suspect the majority) come from homes were alcohol is/was consumed, and everyone went on to lead perfectly normal, healthy, loving, functioning lives.

We see the bad news stories and evidence of people abusing alcohol, and forget that this is not most people. Not most adults.

Both my parents drank alcohol (to be fair, DM very little), but I never saw them drunk. They entertained a lot, and I don't remember ever seeing any of our family friends drunk either. That was my model, and I suspect it's many other people's model.

We entertain a lot, too. Alcohol is pretty much always involved, too. Everyone has a great time, lots of laughs, and then goes home. I am certain this is not unusual, because whenever I go to anyone else's house, that's what happens to.

Do people get rip roaringly drunk? Well, yes, sometimes, but that's the exception (and obviously not when DC are around). We all have kids we have to get up with the next morning and/or jobs to go to.

We're adults that enjoy a good time, and are mature enough to know when we've had enough. This is the norm, I am certain of it.

It's just people who haven't grown up around this that can't understand it.