Wine Not? Redefining Fun & Embracing Sobriety as a Wine Mom

Today, we're diving into a topic that resonates deeply with many: embracing sobriety as a Mom. For too long, the narrative around motherhood has been entwined with wine culture and societal pressures to unwind with a glass (or two...or half a bottle) of your favorite alcoholic beverage.

But here, we're flipping the script. Sobriety as a mom isn't just about giving up alcohol; it's about reclaiming control, rediscovering clarity, and living a life of intentionality.

When I read this post online written by my beautiful friend Sarah about her journey to end her habit of daily drinking; I immediately messaged her and asked if I could share it.  

She shares the challenges she faced and had to overcome in a vulnerable open letter...

I hope that you can find some inspiration & insight from my friend embracing sobriety as a Mom and sharing her experience of overcoming her addiction to alcohol. 

Well... today marks 5 years since I decided to live an alcohol-free life! Five years!

It all started with "Dry January" in 2019. It's not that I necessarily had a problem with alcohol at the time, at least not much more than the average person, but I just had this niggling feeling that alcohol was getting in the way of me living my best life. Trust the niggle!

I was a part of the "Mommy Wine Culture", the one that is embedded in our society. The same one that has t-shirts that say "Rose All Day", or "Mommy needs Wine". That normalized and glamorized story that says it's perfectly okay to have a glass of wine while cooking dinner (or two, maybe three!)  

Or maybe it's the story that says we need alcohol at every life event, good or bad, I'm talking birthdays, weddings, funerals, baby showers, anniversaries, every holiday, every vacation, cold beer at the beach and the bbq, at the ski hill, flying on a plane, when we are tired, excited, sad, angry, etc.... you name it!

Something just wasn't sitting right, something seemed a little off about all this...  

So, I decided, hmmm... maybe I will question this a little. Maybe I will just get off this train and observe a bit. Because who hasn't been negatively affected by alcohol, or known someone or loved someone who has been? The truth is all of us have, in one way or another. There is another way, and it's okay to challenge the narrative.  

So once I stopped drinking, I never planned on not drinking forever, I just really liked this new way of living, and didn't see much point in going back.

And I have to say, I wouldn't change it for a minute. A sober life is a beautiful life. It is a life well lived. It is fun and exciting, also ordinary and mundane, and that’s okay too, and it is by nature the exact opposite of missing out. In an age of distraction and the desire to fill our voids, it offers endless opportunities to be present and have meaningful experiences and interactions. I am pretty proud to be a sober parent, to show my kids that there is another way. Plus, as an added bonus, I always remember what I do or say, and I am never hungover and that is great!

The blessings are endless. There is another unexpected and beautiful thing that has happened on this journey...

There have been many other people that I have known and met, from all over the world who have come to me or messaged me with their own stories and successes. People who have also decided to live a sober life and how it has impacted them and their families. And wow, is that ever a beautiful thing.

I am not saying that drinking is bad or that people shouldn't drink, it could be a good part of your life, and may not cause any problems, then great, that okay too!

But, I think it's also important to normalize not-drinking, which oddly enough, is less common...

And especially after the holiday season, when drinks are usually plentiful, I thought I would share a different way of thinking.

There are some really great books out there if anyone is ever interested....

(There are affiliate links to Amazon, and we make a small commission from your purchase.)

"This Naked Mind" by Annie Grace

"We are the Luckiest" by Laura McKowen

"The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober" by Catherine Gray

"Quit Like a Woman" by Holly Whitaker

And, many more... (You would be surprised with the number of people who are choosing to live a sober life, many influential people as well, it's beginning to be a bit of a movement!)

Take care, enjoy the journey

Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy and healthy 2024

Sarah