Manners Matter: Think Before You Drink

Dear Mary Pat,

My family spends two weeks up in Door County every year with four different families. We rent a huge house right on a beach and we’ve always had so much fun. It has been our long-standing joke that we don’t have to worry about having too many cocktails since we never leave the compound. We go for a big shopping trip right when we get here and stock up on everything we will need.

This past weekend was no joking matter, however. The kids (they range in age from four to 12) were all swimming and playing near the water. I was around the grill with the guys drinking a couple of beers and our wives were all in the kitchen getting dinner ready and drinking wine. All of a sudden, my oldest son starting yelling saying that he didn’t know where his sister was. She’s four and I ran down to the beach right away and couldn’t see her. My heart was pounding. I was absolutely terrified that she was in the water. It seemed like three hours, but it was probably only 30 seconds and I heard her call my name. She had wandered down to the beach at the next house and it was hard to see her with the tall grass.

I don’t have a question. I just wanted to remind parents that things can take a tragic turn in an instant, and if you add alcohol into the mix, it will make things worse. With all of the adults talking and drinking, we weren’t paying attention to our kids. We are so thankful that my daughter was okay and wasn’t in the water. This could have had an entirely different ending. My 10-year-old son isn’t responsible for his sister, his mother and I are. We can’t expect our friends’ kids to be watching out either.

From now on, my wife and I decided that one of us will not drink in a group setting and will watch the kids the entire time they are near the water. It just isn’t worth the risk.

Signed,

Relieved Dad

Arlington Heights, Ill.

Dear Relieved Dad,

Thank you for your honest letter. I’m really glad that you shared your experience and I’m sure a lot of parents will appreciate your warning and your solution. So relieved that your daughter is OK!

Good luck,

Mary Pat