Drinking and Summer Vacation

Modadunn
Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:14:03 +0000

I really do think parental approach is crucial to this discussion and the decision. When S was about 16 we went to Ohio to visit my SIL. We all went out to dinner and apparently it is perfectly alright to serve your child wine if you order a bottle for the table. Here, that’s not OK. But my niece seemed all too thirsty throughout the evening for my taste and my SIL seemed rather oblivious or humored by it (or a little bit of both). My niece seemed intent on proving she could drink, whereas our S at 16 thought she was ridiculous. Throughout the weekend she had the tendency to be a tad too much of a drunk and I completely disapproved of my SIL acting like it was somehow perfectly fine since she was present. It was a family wedding, which is always a good time on either side of my family. However, I wouldn’t have been very humored if any of my kids (of age or not) ended the evening with slurred speech. My parents were both the oldest of very large families, and admittedly, my uncle’s weddings (five of them) were always a great opportunity to have a couple at the age of 16&17 at the open bar. But I think it was HOW we did it that had our parents using peripheral vision instead of a heavy stare. There is a balance to be found. We all won’t agree, but we also all have different families, different expectations of behavior within that family and different kids.

Anyway… my point is really that it all depends on the kid/family. I would have no problem with my son having a beer with dinner at this point if we were out. On the other hand, my niece at 20 still seems to associate drinking with the invitation to over imbibe and act slightly goofy. Not falling down or ridiculous, but definitely goofy. Truth is, and based on family gene pool, she worries me on a couple of levels. :)