As a young mom, I thought I was doing all the right things, cutting out sugar, adding a high fibre diet to our intake as well as not drinking coffee or tea, only hot water. We walked a lot and ate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, which we grew. Meanwhile we continued to consume alcohol and many times fell off the healthy diet by having impaired judgement when drinking, ordering in pizza or Chinese food when sometimes we couldn’t afford to and was not part of our healthy diet, by driving and many other day to day decisions.
One day, after a party,where alcohol had been consumed by family members, I was making spaghetti for our sons and thought, I think I’ll have a beer and tomato juice. Our five-year-old son, asked for some too, and I said ‘no, this is not for children.’ He looked at me and said, ‘when I grow up can I drink all the beer I want like my aunties and uncles and be silly too?’ I looked with amazement at the perception of this sweet little boy and thought about some of the horrid experiences observed in the previous days and said ‘no and neither will mom ever drink alcohol again.’
It is not a healthy choice, it destroys our respect for each other, our families and our brain cells, is the cause of many illnesses, and creates the need for more policing and justice systems, but it also impairs our decision making skills as well which will imprint on our children’s minds when they are parents.
My sons and I emptied the rest of the 24 beers down the sink, and this was the healthiest choice I have ever made.
I choose not to impair my thinking and make judgements based on what I hope is a sound, healthy mind. Support Dry Grad, lead by example. Show the children there are other choices and to be sober is the first step of making healthy choices for their lives.
Ellen Lewers
Sooke