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SAHP

A place for stay at home mums and dads to discuss life as a full-time parent.

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Original poster

How much do you drink?

50 replies

whatsthesenseinsharing · 11/12/2023 19:20

I'm a SAHM, and are constantly run off my feet. My watch keeps giving me awards and badges as to how much I'm moving. It's not enough as it's not what I'd like to do but I'm running after four kids all day everyday so it does build up cardio I think.

What I do to relax is a glass or two of wine at night, at this time of year it's more easy to indulge. Is that too much? How much do parents drink during week and weekend?

I should say I don't get a chance at weekends as so busy back to back.

OP posts:

RudsyFarmer · 12/12/2023 07:45

If you’re drinking up to two glasses of wine (big glasses?) every night o would say you are on a slippery slope to drinking far too much and it potentially becoming problematic.

I don’t drink at all and my DP who does drink will have one glass of wine on a Sat or Sunday night or one cider on a Saturday night.

hillyland · 12/12/2023 07:45

Virtually never, maybe once a year. I've only ever drank to be sociable and I never go out and socialise except trips out with the dc.

ohtowinthelottery · 12/12/2023 07:52

I googled 'units in a medium glass of wine' yesterday as I wanted to work out how much I was drinking compared to the recommendations. A 175ml (medium) glass of wine has 2.3 units. I often drink a couple of glasses of white wine on Fri, Sat and Sun so I just scraped in to the recommended maximum of 14 units. I don't feel like I drink a lot but was shocked to see I'm pushing the guidelines every week.

Oliotya · 12/12/2023 08:02

I drink a bottle of fruity wine most weekends. So about 7 units a week. Plus a night out every 2 months or so.
Your best bet is to keep track of how many units you're having, a "glass or two" could be fine or way too much depending on the size.
If I fancy more of a drink I switch to the lower alcohol stuff.

HairdryerMary · 12/12/2023 08:09

@FedUpMumof10YO I know this is an awful thing to say but it's really hard to find other ways to relax. The OP is a stay at home mum, she's probably exhausted, money might be a tight (in my case). It's really difficult to find a substitute for a glass of wine in the evenings.
OP what would you like to do? Would you be able to find something which is just for you once or twice a week? Join a nice gym with a pool and sauna and chill out there? Find an evening class or meet a friend once or twice a week?

HairdryerMary · 12/12/2023 08:11

Btw I drink a bottle of wine every weekend spread over Friday and Saturday and maybe a can of ipa in the week. Very often the first sip is the best then I get distracted and leave it on the side to get warm and don't fancy it after that.

shivawn · 12/12/2023 08:15

I drink far far less since having children but I was never really one for drinking at home, much more of a social drinker. I like the buzz of a busy pub and having chats over a few rounds. Even when I go out now though I drink less because I know I'll be busy with the kids the next day.

I probably have a drink once every 2 or 3 weeks (something like a bottle of flavoured cider) but usually just because my husband is getting himself one and asks if I'd like one too, I don't really think of it myself.

CornishHearty · 12/12/2023 08:20

I don’t drink alcohol, not smug about it, I just don’t like it.

socks1107 · 12/12/2023 08:20

I don't drink in the week and at weekend I'll have 4 glasses of wine on both nights and two on a Sunday. My children are young ish really much older teenagers

Jinglingallthewaytochristmas · 12/12/2023 08:22

A glass of wine 5 nights a week is going to be between 15 and 25 units depends on the amount of wine you have.

Infusedwithfigandhoney · 12/12/2023 08:26

I think you are underestimating the units Op
A 250 ml glass is 3 units

Even if you are having one it's 15 units a week, 2 is 30 units a week.
The fact you are asking indicates you are concerned.
There are lots of other ways to relax, exercise, bath with nice treat bath products, book etc

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 12/12/2023 08:33

You say 8-10 units, but you also say you have 1-2 drinks a night. 10 units is one bottle of wine - do you have very small glasses to get 2 drinks out of it every night for a week? Or are you actually drinking a bit more than 10 units?

janfebmarchapril · 12/12/2023 14:28

I have a 2 year old and am pregnant. I used to have a couple of glasses a night a few times a week. I really miss it!

NameChangeAgain23 · 12/12/2023 14:41

I don't really drink as I hate how it makes me feel the next day. I also finds even one drink disrupts my sleep and since i barely get any...

GreenIsTheMagicColour · 12/12/2023 14:53

I drink a smallish glass of wine every night, sometimes two at the weekend.

Original poster

whatsthesenseinsharing · 13/12/2023 04:16

Thanks for all replies. It's good to hear other people's point of view, and yes! I am slightly concerned hence asking and creating the post.

This week so far I've had one glass of Prosecco. I don't have big glasses that could accommodate a large glass of wine, glasses that are on the small side I use.

I can choose another way to relax, it's difficult carving out that time as the kids and their extra activities come first.

I won't have any tonight as I don't have any in. There would've been a time gone by that I would've bought a bottle but I don't reach for it as much now probably because I am so busy.

I've not drank for a year before too so I'm familiar with total abstinence.

The sitting at night when I can feels nice to do after some crazy days

OP posts:

Noicant · 13/12/2023 04:46

Two large glasses on a Friday night while watching a movie with DH. We are up early the rest of the week and I would struggle to get up. Extremely occasionally mid week we will have a drink (bdays etc). Generally I get a cup of tea and read to relax in the evening.

Noicant · 13/12/2023 04:49

I get it OP, I seem to be in and out of my house during the week and quite busy so being able to unwind at the end of the day is not always easy. When Dd was younger I struggled to focus enough to actually read a book. Podcasts are good as well if you don’t have the will to actually hold up a book.

Ragwort · 13/12/2023 05:01

I think people who do drink regularly probably won't join this thread as Mumsnet is quite vocal about drinking.
I have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner nearly every evening - unless I am needing to drive which is rare at night.
It is probably too much ... but I can afford it, don't binge drink, don't drink spirits, I don't go 'out' to drink, never get drunk or have a hangover, my DPs were the same & lived until their 90s so it is my 'norm' to drink wine with dinner. I would be healthier (& slimmer) if I didn't ... but I enjoy it.

Lizzieregina · 13/12/2023 05:06

i have a cocktail on Saturday (almost always) and one on Friday (sometimes).

I barely drank anything while my kids were little as I just got out of the habit. Also I’m always the driver when I go out. Not drinking socially doesn’t bother me a bit.

Now I enjoy the taste of my one drink while I watch something mushy on the tv!

everyredsock · 13/12/2023 05:08

I think a glass or two is fine so long as it's not every night. I try to not drink Monday - Thursday.
I can't cope with hangovers anymore so I tend to not drink that much generally.

bowiesmum · 13/12/2023 06:09

I drink between 1-2 bottles of wine a week. I don't tend to drink at home the odd time I'll have one glass. I'll either meet a friend or go to local with dh.

I didn't drink much at all when kids were small purely because I was too anxious but as they got older prob in last 2 years (14,14,9) I started to enjoy it again. I wouldn't drink midweek but couldn't go the weekend without it!

I'm going to do fry January this year which I never felt the need to as I didn't drink much

3luckystars · 13/12/2023 07:07

I’m still wondering what you mean ‘back to back’ and now you are saying you need to relax after ‘crazy days’
Have you too much on??

just because you don’t work outside the home, doesn’t mean you have to devote yourself day and night to the childrens activities. Have you any activities yourself?

SmileitMightNeverHappen · 13/12/2023 07:15

I used to have a glass or two of wine most nights but since the menopause I find I've gone right off alcohol. Shame as I used to love a nice glass of red. DH drinks wine every night, so do his parents who are 94 and 90 and in excellent health.

Jennywren2000 · 13/12/2023 07:21

One glass of wine most evenings at 7pm. I really love it. Often have one or two evenings where I don’t have a glass, maybe a Sunday and one weekday evening. Rarely drink more than one glass- maybe a handful of times a year.

I exercise every day and eat healthily so I forgive myself this small vice. It makes me feel relaxed.

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