Thank you, Oprah. Here's To Sober Parenting

My nearly 8 month old baby girl is talking "Bah, bah, bah, dah, dahh, dahhhh." A huge milestone. And as I faintly hear this background music I am sucked into a 20/20 episode on, of course, the OWN network which I dvr'd the night before. It features the stories of 4 women who have used alcohol as a crutch in their life and throughout motherhood.

Here is just one of their stories. It scared me straight. I couldn't believe what I was seeing...it was my own mother in each of them, but I was seeing her from an adult perspective for the first time.  (I know there are a million of you out there who can relate.) I have made a promise to myself to never be like her. But, that doesn't mean I am not ripped with paranoia. And this hour long 20/20 episode proved that I have every right to be.

Ironically, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, the author of (among others) Sippy Cups Are Not For
Chardonnay, went public with her battle with the bottle after that very book was published and was a featured guest on the show. She is honest, hilarious and plain relate-able.  She writes about life as a mother here.

Like her, I totally get the feeling of being drug through the mud as a new mother and wondering how "good" of a job I am doing at the end of the day.  I have realized and accepted the fact that I am never going to be that mom with that child that has everything just so, matchy-matchy, monogrammed, perfect from head to toe bedazzlement. Um, yeah...no. And,  playgroup?  Hmmm...I have attended a few now but wind up feeling anxious by all the chaos and wondering if the other mothers feel the same way or am I alone in this sentiment?

{Break in writing here for a few hours to comfort teething baby who is screaming so loud my ear drums are vibrating, make dinner, take shower, drip dry while soothing aforesaid screaming baby, feed baby, give baby bath, put baby to sleep, eat dinner with husband.  And watch the dvr'd Oprah Finale (sans a Moscow Mule) with hubby.

So, to recap my TV intake for the day: I watched the 20/20 show on OWN this morning and ended my day watching Oprah's finale. I am inspired and feel good about this...Oprah seemed to be "whispering" to me. Really.

The last time I saw my mother was about 7 years ago. When I drove home that day I cried with pity over what she had become and how her life may succumb to alcoholism. But, like Oprah said, we are responsible for our own energy. And that's empowering. Children of alcoholics are dealt a fragile hand so you have to be very careful and very aware. Just because you have a day like this does not mean chardonnay will necessarily make it better. Going for a walk, having a hobby, reading a book, taking a shower, calling your best girlfriend or sister--these are all great stress reducers.

I hate to be a buzz kill...but thanks, 20/20 and Oprah, for shedding light on an important, yet rarely spoken of, very real issue.  It was a true "a-ha" moment.