The drama continues

Near the end of January, the Today Show had a blurb about Mommies doing some social drinking at playdates. And they invited Melissa from Suburban Bliss onto the show to be interviewed by Meredith Viera along with another guest, Dr. Janet.

I'm all for it. At the end of the day? A bunch of Moms having one glass of wine? Yeah!

What I'm against is a parent (ANY PARENT) drinking all day long. Day in and day out. That's when it's self-medicating. That's when a person turns numb. That's when it's a problem. And THAT issue was not the one that was being (or should have been) highlighted in THIS piece. But that's what Dr. Janet seemed to be harping upon. The people who drink excessively.

But these gals they showed in the initial piece and Melissa? They were fine. One glass of wine. Not a big deal. These ladies are not "babysitters" Meredith. These are Moms. Twenty-four seven. And if they take a time to chat it up while their kids run around and play, then it's a win-win for everyone in attendance. The ladies aren't boozing it up. Got that Dr. Janet? These ladies aren't advocating drunken behavior. They're socializing with one alcoholic beverage. And for us Moms who've been full-time stay-at-home Moms? We KNOW that one drink can make us feel like an adult. After spending hours upon hours negotiating and guiding our children. Picking up after them. Wiping their little noses and bottoms. Trying to decipher words out of the goobly gook language that some of our littles ones use. That one act of having a glass in a wine glass (not a plastic cup) can make all the difference in the world! Makes you feel like an adult. Makes you feel a part of the outside world. You ladies KNOW what I'm talking about.

And this morning? The Today Show had an "update" interview with Dr. Janet and another Mom, Stefanie from Baby on Bored (I think it was her house and friends they showed in the initial piece). This interview was MUCH MORE balanced. Stefanie actually had an opportunity to speak. Intelligently. With LOTS of humor.

But this topic of Moms having a drink at playdates seems to have Moms/Dads polarized. It's another right versus wrong thing. It's amazing to see. I've been reading other Mom blogs. I've read the comments on Meredith's blog. Everyone has their opinion. Like with all other parenting decisions.

There have been comments that many Dads (and Moms) have a drink during a football/baseball game. With their kids running around. And watching a sporting event while drinking an adult beverage happens every week in some households. And no one ever seems to have a debate about that. Why? Why not?

And just imagine the behavior displayed when you actually ATTEND a professional sporting event! The yelling! The cursing! The fighting on the field and in the stands! And then there's the drinking! This is why we don't attend professional football games. The drinking at the pre-game tailgates? A lot of people get crazy! That's just something I don't want my kids around.

Anyway, did you see TLC's Moving Up on Saturday night? Episode #221 called Shipped Out, Spent Up? I bring this up because there was a single Dad who purchased a home. And he would drink wine at the end of the day. He's a SINGLE Dad, so he's got no person to share the child-rearing duties with. Did TLC get a bunch of complaints about this guy? No. I went to their site forum and there's nothing about it. Nada. Zero. Zilch. So is it because he's a Dad and HE is responsible? Hmmm....

What would you say to or about my neighbors across the street who both have a bottle of beer in their hand when they're out watching their kids play in the cul-de-sac. It's not a once in a while thing either. They've got a bottle every time they're watching the kids play outside. When the neighborhood kids play, all us parents generally gather and chat. So I see the beer. But do any of us say anything? No. They are the parents to their kids. It's THEIR decision to relax with a beer at the end of the day.

Just like I tell my daughter. Our family does things our way. Other families do things their way. So can't we all just get along now?