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So, I'm going to fall back on the old standby - reprint. From 1/17/08
There's this blog I read - Magneto Bold Too - and today she's told the story about Moo, her 16 year old daughter, and Moo's recent experience drinking a Vodka based drink that had her head in the toilet for the day. And how miserable she felt. (Moo, that is.) And there was even a picture of Moo paying homage to the porcelain Goddess - doing a good job of keeping her nice, long hair out of the way. And I really felt sorry for Moo. But not quite as sorry as I felt for #2 son in November of 2000, when we were in Ireland.
Below is a picture of said son, taken while on that trip. He is standing at the edge of a road that wraps around the face of a clifff in western Ireland, near Clifden. He is, at this point, sober. Thankfully.
As you can see, at 16 years of age and 6'1" tall he was (and is) a pretty impressive young man. And that's the way he liked (and likes to this day) to dress. I never had to tell him to pull up his pants nor did I ever worry about what holes he might make in his body or decorations he might add to his skin that he wasn't born with. But I knew that he and his older brother used to nip into my liquor supply when I wasn't around - but I don't think that either one of them had ever been 'drunk'.
Anyway, on this particular trip, he and I sat in the bar at the hotel one night and I introduced him to Magner's Cider - which, in Ireland, has as much alcohol as beer. But it doesn't taste like it. It does taste good, though. Real good. And it sort of sneaks up on you. And it snuck up on him.
You could see the headache he had the next day. He didn't get sick, but he sure didn't feel like running around the hills of western Ireland that day, I can tell you. We talked about how he felt. I told him I knew that he and his brother had been getting into my booze. I told him that after we got home to the States, he could have a drink, with me, any time he wanted - as long as he didn't plan on going out afterwards and as long as it was just him - no friends. I laid down the same law to his (by 2 years) older brother. To this day, they both drink responsibly. #1 son will be 26 in May. #2 son will be 24. (Yes, girls, he's married.)
24 comments:
I forgot all about that post. And remember this one.
Unfortunately Moo has found a tolerance for Vodka...
I think that was a very wise thing to do, getting drunk on Irish soil is the best lesson one can ever get I think! I love that picture, because I love Ireland from the bottom of my soul!
i think you dealt with that perfectly! mmmm, teenagers, i already feel the bean's teenhead sticking its head out at times and i'm dreading it...
Smart dad.
Perfect solution.
I can't afford Ireland....how to make it impressive in St. Louis...
My daughters had much the same lesson, not in Ireland but here in the states. We stressed being responsible and the designated driver thing when they went off to college. Our youngest who was just a year younger than #2 but the youngest in her group, hated it because she was always the DD. Now she is the DD by choice. They are good kids. :)
Good idea Dad.
And it worked!
Handsome young man too.
G
xx
Wise, very wise. Nothing like a good hangover to drive the point home!
You handled that beautifully.
It's good to teach your kids about alcohol at a young age - you handled it beautifully :-) and yes, your son is a handsome young man.
When my kids are older, I plan to use your method of teaching them to drink responsibly. Neither my husband nor I drink alcohol on any regular basis. But, when they're older and hanging out with friends, I want them to know how to make the right choices.
I'm so glad I'm past the rasing teenagers/alcohol thing. Mine are 26 and almost 29; and are both responsible.
You are such a great father. And he's a fine lookin' fella just like his dad isn't he?!
thx for visiting my blog .
i have been focused on my cat stories lately. i have an older post entitled the kitchen table.
i never did enter it but it was for a contest of some kind.....anyhow read if interested; i see you like to write.
thanks for sharing your stories.
Lessons in boosing in Ireland! Perfect location :)
Nice Photo of your son. Good story about drinking in Ireland. People drank wine, beer and cider because water was too dangerous to drink. Besides, the former tastes better too. :)
Just awesome, Lou, how you handled that. I really do think that as a country we have some odd ways of acting about alcohol, and common sense like yours would go a long way if more people were as reasonable.
Hope I can do the same with my boy. I know he'll sample my liquor cabinet as well but I'll know when he does.
Great story Lou. Sound like great boys (ahem men)
Funny you should mention this, Lou...
I was 27 the first time I ever had anything with alcohol in it. (Yes, really.) I had two sips of champagne at a wedding reception.
Two years ago, my mother-in-law died, just three months after Ed and I got married. That night, my husband, sister-in-law and brother-in-law had some friends and family over. While I didn't know it at the time, my husband told me last week that I was drunk by the end of the night. (I really didn't know, and didn't suffer any ill effects the next day that might have clued me in.)
It was the day he'd buried his mother... not a usual day at all... and we were "letting loose" a little, at least in part because his sister-in-law, his Ma's main caregiver, needed to. Still, I don't think it's appropriate to be drunk.
Ed has promised he'll not offer me the second strong drink next time. And I'll know next time that I need to tell him "no" if he does offer.
Thank you for letting me share... I likely wouldn't tell this story on my own blog. :)
Handsome lad...yes he is. Ireland is beautiful...on my list of must-do's someday.
We used to 'borrow' from my dad's stash, but refill it with water. It worked for a while anyway.
Ay, poor Moo. And your poor son. It's never fun feeling icky while away on vacation. :( You handled that very well. I hope I do as good a job with Babisodes.
p.s. LOVE the landscape in this pic. He is rather handsome.
Kelley: Kel, that's really distressing to hear.
Jientje: I, too, LOVE Ireland.
Shadow: One day, one step at a time.
Christy: Your girls will be fine. I KNOW you'll teach them properly.
Patsy: Great. Teach them at home. That's what parents do.
Myst_72: He kept us on the edge of our seats. Girls were on him like flies.
Calicobebop: Supervised hangover. And lessons were well learned.
Ayewonder: Thank you, Mike.
Lady Language: teach them oyung and it's no big deal when they get a little older.
Joyce-Anne: Good luck. The idea is to make sure they understand it's no big deal.
Employee: I'm glad they're responsible. That's a GOOD thing.
Eve Grey: Well, HE'S good lookin', anyway.
Whatloknows: I'll check it out.
Theresa: Yeah. It WAS cool.
Moneythoughts: Thanks Fred. And that stuff is sneaky good.
Maggies Mind: The whole idea was to teach responsibility.
Tash: Stinker wouldn't do that, would he? Just keep an eye.
Rebecca: You know what they say about confession.
Hyphen Mama: The west of Ireland is some of the most beautiful country on earth.
Sandy C: It's one of my best candid shots, ever. And yes, women do weem to find him easy on the eyes.
I bet cider can be a real kick in the ass the next day.
As for the drinking at home thing? Not a bad idea - I think part of the reason kids binge drink here in the States is because they aren't allowed to drink in moderation.
Married huh? Now that is disappointing to hear ;) BG x
What a strappin lad!
Your approach sounds good. If you make something taboo, kids just want it more and will sneak around to get what they want.
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