Alcohol

Well…we have come to that time of the year again where we are busy, busy, busy! I don’t know about you but I have quite a few gatherings and parties to go to over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas.

Usually by this time of the year people are starting to wind down after working so hard and often we find ourselves having a few of the liquid refreshments to relieve some stress.

First, let me make it quite clear that the bible does not say “Do not drink alcohol” but it does make it pretty clear that at no point in time should we drink so much that we are no longer of sober mind. Once our heads starts to get a little fuzzy after the first wine/beer (or two), it’s probably a good indication that we are starting to mentally feel the effects of the alcohol.

But drinking too much is not what this is about, even though drinking I believe to be a major cause of all domestic arguments which I am sure most people are not keen to be involved in over the holiday period. This is about the image we portray to our kids by our bouts of drinking.

Like that ad on TV, where the dad tells little Johny to go and get him another beer and then we see little Johny as a grown man saying the same thing to his son. Basically, monkey see, monkey do.

If you really do not want your children to be caught up in the drinking culture you can take some preventative steps now by setting a good example. Either avoid it all together, or make a point of only having one or two, then discuss these views and results of the night with them. Sometimes, Uncle Bob being plastered and stupid can be a great discussion with primary age children about the negative effects of consuming too much alcohol.

The best advice I personally have to give is that you have to live with the consequences of what your kids see you do now. And believe me, watching your child make mistakes that could harm them is not a rewarding experience.