Do you drink in front of your dc?

[Nowandforeveridontcare]

I’m likely in peri menopause so barely drink these days as it’s not worth feeling unwell for, but recently I’ve been craving having a drink say on a Friday or Saturday night, like Dh and I used to, pre Dd.
If I meet up with friends for parties, I’ve had a glass of champagne or two, the kids don’t notice or bother to see as they’re off playing, Do you sit and have a drink in front of your dc? As in a Friday night watching tv etc?
I grew up with my dad being a big drinker, I remember the horrible feeling I’d have when he came home on a Saturday after a session with my uncles, I hated the way it changed him, even if he was just being silly, it made me feel insecure, I vowed never to drink when older, but went the other way for a while. When my parents come to stay, I’ve still made it a non drinking house, which probably sounds ridiculous, but the atmosphere changing when my dad has had a drink is not great for my anxiety and now it’s my house and I’m an adult and don’t want Dd around that. I also now hate Dh getting too tipsy at home or coming home like that. Recently I’ve been thinking maybe I need to lighten up a bit and relax and it might help me be me again a bit, like before I had Dd (6)
Do you do that or no drinking?

I don’t drink, but I don’t see the harm in a glass in front of them at the weekend. For me that’s not all that different than the Friday night takeaway a lot of people have, like it’s just a treat isn’t it?

I would probably not do more, but that’s my opinion. No judgement on anyone else.

I don't drink. It sets a very bad example. I think passed your 20's there is no need really.

Some times, I occasionally take them out for food and have a drink as well. Mine are older though at 13 and 11. I didn't really drink around them when they were younger but I would have a few when they were in bed

I didn't drink at home at all until DD was about 12 as I'm the only adult in the house.

She's in her late teens now and if I get a Dine in for £X will get a bottle of wine that lasts the weekend. DD even asked to try some tonight so gave her a small serving. Otherwise I just tend to drink alcohol free cider which I don't mind DD having and want her to see asking / buying / drinking that to be the norm and I like the taste and find it refreshing. DD is of an age where learning to drink sensibly if you are going to drink at all is a skill that needs teaching.

I barely drink but I don't see anything wrong with having a glass or two in front of children as long as you're being sensible. Personally I also wouldn't drink if I was the only person responsible for ds so I could drive him in an emergency if I had to.

I also have 2 adult dc and they'll occasionally come round and have a drink or have a drink when we go out for food

There’s no need, but that’s true in your 20s too! Some people like a glass of wine though 🤷‍♀️

Yes. With dinner at weekends. I have never denied them a taste/glass if they wanted it. They're now 18 and 16 and completely uninterested in it.

Yes, I will drink in front of my children, wine with dinner sometimes,.when out for dinner and occasionally in the evening (but would rather wait until they are in bed just so I can relax with a glass.of wine.😀)

Yes but I don't get drunk in front of them. Nothing wrong with a couple in front of the TV. There's a lot I can't do anymore because I'm at home with my dc so I'll be damned if I'm giving up wine too 😂

I dont blame you for not drinking, however we have wine with dinner and I grew up in a household who would drink but very sensibly. I think we have followed their lead

I drink in front of my 16yo, but I don't get drunk in front of her. She's definitely grown up seeing me have a glass of wine here or there but never seen me trollied. There'll be time for getting pissed together when she's grown, for now it's best she sees me as a more or less responsible human being.

Although I will never forget the first time I picked my mam up smashed after a night out. She was sat on the floor outside the pub, insisted on stopping for chips which she then dropped all over my car, tried to give me directions to my own house, and my da had to put her to bed with her clothes still on. The tables turned that night and it was very funny.

I don't drink anymore because it all started to make me feel ill, even the smallest of glasses.

But I don't think there's any harm in having a drink in front of children. Neither of my parents are big drinkers at all - never seen either of them drunk or even tipsy, and it did no damage at all to me or my siblings to see them have a glass of wine with dinner.

I did exactly the same as you OP and for similar reasons. Never wanted my DC to feel anxious at adults being different. I never lightened up on that and only ever drunk on nights out. Its actually done me a huge favour as it's meant I've never been much of a drinker and I've found it's had real benefits for my health now I'm older. My 3 adult DC never drink in their homes either, though they do socially.

We don't tend to drink at home unless we have people round as we can't be bothered but my 5 year old has often seen us have a drink on holiday, or at a restaurant, or with family. I don't think that's abnormal is it? We don't get drunk at these occasions and one of us will normally stick to a glass or two just in case.

My DD is 8 & I have never been ‘drunk’ since before she was born. I have a couple of Proseccos on a Fri/sat but I’m never even tipsy after those. Last night, me & 3 friends took our kids out for dinner & we all had 2/ 3 glasses & still fine. I want her to grow up with a healthy attitude towards alcohol.

Yes my DD(4) has seen us have wine or beer (or the occasional cocktail) often. We don't drink much, maybe a couple of times a week, but if we're out at restaurants for lunch with friends we'll almost always have a small glass of beer or wine. I live in a Southern European country where drinking (small) amounts of alcohol with most meals is common, so it never occurred to me not to drink in front of her. Almost all the kids parties we go to serve beer or wine so she'd be exposed to alcohol even if we ourselves weren't drinking!
I think that if you would like to drink (a little) in front of your DD it would be no bad thing. However given your own bad memories of it I can see why you're wary.

I'll have a glass of wine with dinner about once a week when PiL are visiting, or if we're out for a meal. I don't get drunk in front of the kids (and tbh hangovers now are so awful I never really get drunk any more)

Never been a big drinker but I would have a glass of something in front of kids. I think it is better to for them to see you can drink responsibly, it's not taboo or to be hidden and how to have a healthy relationship with alcohol. Sometimes I do wait until they're in bed just because I can relax more then 😅

Yes, My children gave grown up in pubs.
I had a health visitor appointment in the bar.

I don't drink but I have marijuana. I'm in Canada.

My son is 13 and knows. He also knows his brain won't fully develop until 25 so don't do drugs before then. Hopefully he listens.

I don't like alcohol. It doesn't make me feel good. I've never made a good decision drunk. I have barely drank since I was 20.

I might have a drink but I hate being drunk. I think it demonstrates you can drink in moderation without being loud, obnoxious or be impaired by it.
That said, if I do drink in front of DC it's maybe once a month, and 99% of the time when DH is home. If an emergency occurred when DH was out, I'd get a taxi as DH would have the car anyway.

Yes, I have always drank alcohol around DDs as I think of it as part of normal life to have a glass of wine with food. Had I grown up around alcohol abuse then I might think differently, but fidtunately none of us have experienced that.

Yes I do, I don't really drink often but have a drink at Xmas and new years im a single parent and I dont drive so I've never factored that part in

Not at home watching TV, but that's because I didn't do that pre DC , the only time I really drink at home is occasionally a glass of wine with dinner, especially if we have guests, summer BBQs, but ds sees me drink if we're out for dinner/at an occasion etc. I wouldn't be drunk because I'd be conscious of keeping an eye on him, but I'm not really a regular drinker anymore, I definitely was in my younger days!