Monday, June 18, 2007

Some Questions...

I haven't blogged, or really even been online much this past week. I'll explain briefly: my best friend and her family were visiting last week, my inlaws arrived Thursday and didn't leave until this morning, and we had Thing 1's 5th birthday party on Saturday. It was a fun week, but today I just want to sit and RELAX.

But I do have a question. This was my first official "kids" party that I've thrown. I think it went well - thanks to all the help from the aforementioned best friend. She asked me an interesting question during the planning, which was "are you going to serve alcohol?"

I did attend a child's party earlier this year where booze was available. So this isn't a completely foreign concept to me...yet it is. I know that, in fact, a lot of adults serve alcohol at children's party - but something about this feels wrong to me. A few years ago a couple of fathers were trick or treating in our neighborhood and were drinking beers - this really unneverved me. Am I alone in this? I should state that for the record I do drink, not as frequently as I did before having kids, but I'm not alcohol adverse by any means. As a child I remember my parents having adult parties with a lot of booze (and the police being called several times for noise violations...but that's a whole other post), but never at our birthday parties. But my father stopped drinking when I was around five, which means that there wasn't a whole of of daily alcohol consumption at our house. The same is currently true in my own household since my husband no longer drinks. So, without further ado, here are my questions for the world at large:

Am I alone in this attitude that alcohol and kids don't really mix? Is this something that actually is quite normal but because I wasn't personally exposed to it I see as being abnormal? Is this a new trend or has it always been this way?

Just wondering.

5 comments:

Queen of the Mayhem said...

I think exposing them to responsible social drinking in limited amounts is not detrimental. However, drinking to excess on a daily basis...NOT SO MUCH!

PS: I don't drink as much since my children were born....but I want to more often! :)

Cristina said...

I have seen alcohol served at children's parties and don't really think there's anything wrong with it, but that's assuming that the adults can be adults and know their limits. If I saw a parent over-indulging in drinks, that would make me very uncomfortable and I might think twice about serving alcohol again (or maybe I'd just leave that person off the list!)

I would just do whatever you are comfortable with. If there was no alcohol at a children's party, I wouldn't think twice about that either.

Anonymous said...

I agree that exposing children to responsible social drinking won't hurt them. Frequently in the summer we sit outside while the kids play, drinking wine or beer with the neighbors. But, that being said, I've never served alcohol at a children's party. Children's party + alcohol doesn't seem right to me either. Not that I'd be offended if someone else did it. (I'd just have a drink.)

Mike Minzes said...

Great blog!!

I will be back!

-0-0-

Anonymous said...

I Vote No booze at a kids Birthday party. I've heard of it before, but what's the point? You liquor up the parents only to send them home driving their kids? Even if they are "responsible" drinkers why even take the chance?