The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Hi everyone. I went out with my neighbors last night and it was fun to give out candy, block style. But does everyone drink? I have been away from it for so long I think I forgot. I just don't associate with people who drink much anymore and seeing these people, who I don't really spend that much time with, was kind of strange. They were all getting pretty drunk and there were all these kids around. They were just having a good time but it disturbed me. It is not that I am against the drink, alcohol, but I have seen how much damage it can do so it just seemed odd to me. Anyway, I am glad my family now doesn't drink. It feels alot safer that way. No one in my home drinks. Just scares me. I did feel good though because I was part of Halloween. I even dressed up for work and took pictures and it was fun. I never did things like that before. I was always too scared. Now I enjoy taking part of daily life. There are times I still get scared but those times are alot less than they used to be.
I notice that too. Maybe it's because we are more sensitive to it. I work retail and with a lot of young people. I find my tolerance for when they come in smelling of alcohol or call in late or don't come in because they have been drinking, gets lower and lower. Perhaps it's my old age! lol I know the majority of these kids will not end up as alcoholics. But it still makes me worry about them. Glad you had fun!
Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
__________________
It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
I wonder about this too, there are appropriate times to drink and inappropriate times and it seems to me that there are a lot of people that just don't know the difference. Drinking at children's events seems ridiculous to me. In my opinion drinking should be reserved for adult time at home or an evening out not as the center of every celebration or event. Also there is a big difference between having a few drinks and drinking to get drunk. It seems that A's generally come from families who celebrate by drinking and I think we are also probably a little over sensitive to it as well, I really can't stand the smell of alcohol anymore, guess it's just years of conditioning with negative reinforcement.
Daily life is what it's all about. We don't get a second chance at that. Glad you had a good time. That, too, is what it's all about.
Like you, I am uncomfortable around people who are drinking. Never saw much use for it myself. And I think there is far too much of it going on. I remember when kids did not go to college to drink... That ought to give you some idea of how ancient I am. LOL!!
Best wishes,
Diva
__________________
"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
Hello Bella , I can relate to your post it does get easier to be around people that drink when u know u can leave and don't have to be a part of the crazieness . Our lives have been affected by alcohol and I used to have a real attitude around people who over did it . I had to be reminded that not every one who drank was alcoholic or would they end up like we did . Live and Let Live helped me alot early on in accepting the fact that thier lives were none of my business. To day I love eating in pups - go figure 1= the food is always great 2 = I know that none of them are going home with me . hehe
I'm glad you had fun too. I know in my neighborhood what people (not alcholics) did was they would have dinner with their kids before they went out trick or treating, then meet in the cul de sac with their respective candies and split a bottle of wine. This was how I learned what the true def of social drinking was: none of them finished their glasses, really, and the bottle of wine got spent because there was like, 4 or 5 of them in sum. And the whole of the 4 or 5 hours, however long it lasted, they yakked, caught up, did whatever. alot of these folks work on the base together and it was a nice opportunity to just do whatever outside of work, to talk about whatever away from their kids. Now the kids are grown of course and they still carry on the tradition. They talk about their kids in reguards to "she doesn't know about this major, I think she'll change. AGAIN!"..."Yeah, I think my son doesn't like his internship, but I'd rather he change programs now than graduate with a degree he hates..." And of course, whatever candy doesn't get taken, they eat. It's fun that way. Just something to chew on as you eat the kids candy. :)
I know what you mean - it's hard for us sometimes, to be comfortable around drinking of any type, even very moderate social drinking. And if someone should have a bit too much, and start to get ignorant, watch out! My tolerance for it is just about zero, these days.
But, the thing is, it has nothing to do with me. If I am uncomfortable, I can just walk away, or decline to spend time with people whose drinking makes me feel uneasy. There is no law that says you have to associate with people who do things you don't like, even if there is actually nothing wrong with what they are doing. I don't go to football games, either - not because I have any great stance against football, just don't like it. Drinking can be like that, for you.
Yeah, a couple of years ago I noticed that there were parents walking around on Halloween with open beer bottles. And these are VERY afluent people. I mean rich and popular. I was slightly shocked because alcohol has never been a part of my adult, parenting experience. I agree that alcohol just seems wrong when it is connected with childrens events. Like at kids birthday parties. But I guess that is something that even non-alcoholics do. I don't know. For me, alcohol has NEVER been a part of anything good in my life.
We don't party on our block during trick or treat, but a girl I work with has a Halloween block party every year. Usually it's just a bunch of people getting wasted and not about the kids at all. She asked me to come but I don't feel comfortable with this type of thing. I'm like Lin, I just don't have any tolerance for a bunch of drunks. It brings back too many bad memories of my alcoholic father and my AH, so I prefer not to put myself in that situation.
Trick or treat when I was little was a fun time for the kids. We got dressed up and went to our neighbors houses and got our treats, then went home and dumped our candy out on the kitchen table. My mom would sort out the good stuff and throw away the questionable stuff. I did the same thing with my daughter.
Now she and I sit on the front porch and pass out treats to our neighbors. We watch a scary movie and then go to bed. I can't see the point of all this partying, especially when the kids usually have school the next day.
Just my thoughts,
Cookie
__________________
A person's a person no matter how small --Dr Suess
