Does Quitting Drinking Make You More Present as a Parent?

Does Quitting Drinking Make You More Present as a Parent?

Being a parent means constantly thinking about how you can improve your ability to give your kids what they need. Whether your kid is an infant or in the middle of their teens, one of the greatest gifts that you can give them is your attention. Unfortunately, life’s stresses often get in the way of you being able to be fully present in your child’s life, and you may have found that drinking has become your go-to way to unwind when you feel tense.

While parents often try to focus on what they need to do to be more involved in their child’s life, the truth is that you can increase your presence by dropping habits that interfere with your ability to give your child your full attention. As you look for ways to improve your family dynamics, consider how quitting drinking makes you a more present parent.

End the Dreaded Hangover

Spend a moment thinking about how long it takes you to wake up on the mornings after you drink. While you might manage to get up with the alarm and get your kids off to school each day, it’s also just as likely that you are not fully awake. During your morning rush, your kids share valuable insights about their day. From wanting to go over their oral presentation to talking about a new friend, your ability to focus on what they say in the morning makes a big difference in their day. When you quit drinking, you find it much easier to enjoy the special moments that occur as your family gets ready for the day. Plus, you can look forward to waking up without that pounding headache that just seems to get worse throughout the day.

Direct Your Budget Toward Family-Friendly Activities

There’s no way around the fact that alcohol is expensive. While it may seem like no big deal to pick up a bottle of wine or a six pack here or there, the truth is that you may be spending more on your drinking habit than you realize. Although money can’t buy you happiness, having a little extra cash in your budget does make it possible to do more things together as a family. Sit down and figure out how much money you really spend on alcohol each month. Then, realistically assess if that money could be saved for something better. Whether you get season tickets to your favorite sporting event for your family or take your kids out to eat once a week, creating a ritual outside of the house helps you bond.

Be Prepared to Listen and Give Advice

You never know when your kids will need you, and kids have a funny way of needing your help at the strangest times. Sadly, being inebriated may make you less present if your kid comes to you after dinner to talk about a fight that they had with their best friend. Drinking alcohol clouds your judgment, and you have got to be on your toes when your kids need advice. Fortunately, skipping that drink or two every evening makes you a better listener, and you’ll be able to give your kid the help they need to overcome any challenge.

Remember Every Moment With Your Kids

Drinking in excess is linked to memory loss. Over time, heavy drinking leads to blackouts that may cause you to forget all of those special moments that you spend with your kids. Trying to recall what your kids said the night before or failing to remember that you gave them permission to go out creates issues in your family. Spending time with your kids sober not only makes you more present, but you will find it easier to remember every single minute that you spend together.

Ending your drinking habit puts you a step closer to achieving your goal of being more present in your child’s life. However, you may find it harder to stop than you expect. If you do, be sure to reach out for help, and be honest with your family about your goal to stop drinking. By doing so, you not only increase your presence in your child’s life, but you teach them the value of taking action to improve your life.