Single Parenting Tip: Parenting and Drinking Just Do Not Mix

Life seemed to be easier when it was a two parent home, responsibilities were shared with less stress.  Now all of a sudden you are a single parent, Mr./Mrs. Everything.  Your day starts early, getting the kids up for school, being at work until 5 PM and then rushing home to prepare dinner, stopping at the grocery store or even being the driver for those extra curricular activities.  Your first, thought as you rise -- here we go again.

Just when do you have the time to relax?  Well, thank goodness for things like little league.  This is a perfect opportunity to relax with other parents and have a few cool ones.  Sometimes after games you can be the host parent for pizza and soda, at least for the little ones, and a perfect time to sit back and enjoy a few cold beers and let the day unwind and de-stress.

It would be really cool during work, after a rousing sales meeting, if you could toast to future sales or something with a few brews.  Drinking at work is, however, discouraged. Most businesses believe that alcohol impairs your thinking and they want you to be focused and alert.  Businesses value both their employees and customers to much to risk mixing alcohol and business.  Can you see their point?  You need to remain sharp, focused and alert on your 8 hour work shift.

So as a single parent why do many find time to combine drinking with parenting? How many single parents feel they need a Bloody Mary at 7:30 AM with their morning coffee?  Why do you feel it’s necessary to have “happy hour” when you know in an hour or so you will probably have to help out with the homework or drive off for last minutes supplies or dance lessons?  You know drinking and driving don’t mix.  If you’re drinking, is it the best time to have that serious conversation with your teenager?  Like your 9-5 job, parenting also requires you to stay sharp, focused and alert.

Your work thinks your job is important and you have to refrain from drinking to fully concentrate. It’s fair to say parenting is a job and probably your most important “job” you will ever do. Parenting, just like your 9-5 job, is not a job that should be done with a slight buzz.

As a single parent or dual parenting household your first instinct is to safeguard your children.  You would never do anything to harm them.  In fact most of us would do just about anything to protect them. If we protect our children at all costs, why do we think it is OK to drink and raise them?