Baby in the Liquor Store: Bad Parenting?

LIFE'S A PARTY! 

As I walked into the liquor store with my daughter to grab a bottle of wine, I couldn't help but feel the guilt of being there with a toddler.  It was mostly the thought of people judging me as I entered, as though I'm buying her a keg. What will people say? Should I care? It's not as though I'm drinking and driving, tipsy or cracking open the bottle while my baby is with me and giving her free samples! Then why do I feel so uneasy?

I find the topic of bringing a baby in the liquor store interesting, because I've thought about it on many occasions as I shopped for a bottle of wine for a dinner host, get-togethers, and have also had the conversation with other parents in the same position. Is bringing a baby into a liquor store socially acceptable? Or is it tacky and unwelcome? I do it and have witnessed many parents do it as well. Then why do I cringe every time?

After talking to other parents as well as reading a great deal about drinking habits, I believe much of this topic revolves around our drinking culture, which of course is coupled with personal belief. Drinking culture refers to the habits and customs surrounding the consumption of alcohol. Practices vary cross-culturally from prohibition to indulgence, and although drinking varies from place to place, it is regulated everywhere, whether through government or fundamental themes of a society such as norms involving who can drink, when, where, how much, with whom and even why, that is, what causes one to drink? In many places around the world, it's customary to drink with family (children included), yet our morally charged society almost ties the relationship of the purchase of alcohol with its consumption, and it being something problematic and negative. And while this can be the case and given the increases in addiction and alcohol related issues within our society, I can't help but wonder why we have such issues in higher reported quantities than other countries, despite all of the laws in the United States surrounding alcohol. In addition, most liquor stores post a sign that reads "No one under 21 allowed to enter." Do they actually enforce this? No. But, I'll digress, and in returning to the topic at hand, think to myself, how many of the "judges" staring in dismay at me in the liquor store with my baby are hypocrites, and have in fact wanted to or have taken a child in the store with them? How many times have they gone to a restaurant and had a glass of wine or a cocktail with dinner, knowing they had to drive their family home? Many people judge. It's some people's hobby. But if they do something different than you, is it bad? I'm just speaking up about something many parents have experienced and thought about, and in my personal experience and opinion, I do not think running to the liquor store with baby in tow and sober is a problem or bad parenting.


What do you think? Email ozzy@ozzybaby.com or comment and share your experience at ozzybaby.com. We love to hear from you.

-OzzyMommy