Inspiring People Who Are Rethinking Drinking Volume 30
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Meet Marie-Claire*
The Quebec mom watched what alcohol could do to her favourite person - and she didn’t like what she saw.
*Our inspiring woman’s name has been changed to maintain privacy.
Please introduce yourself to our readers!
I’m a 45-year-old woman living in Québec, Canada. I work in Marketing full-time and am a single Mom to two amazing boys whom I also have full-time. I enjoy anything creative such as drawing, painting, cooking, baking and gardening.
What was your relationship with alcohol prior to rethinking drinking?
I never really gave much thought to my own relationship with alcohol over the years – I neither feared it nor craved it. It was more other people’s alcohol consumption that often provoked feelings in me. My Mother struggled for years with what I call “functional alcoholism” she cared for everyone and everything in our family/household - on the outside you would never have suspected. I hated what the beer did to my favourite person, and as an early teenager I remember angrily emptying bottles into the sink. As a young adult, when I started going out to parties I would follow my friends during the evening and had a few hangovers but never did I feel tempted to take it a step further.
Later on my boyfriend who would eventually become my husband and father of my children also had familiar patterns as I had seen in my Mother. Maybe it was the familiarity that gave me the false sense of being able to “manage” the situation with regards to his alcohol consumption. Whatever it was, it didn’t work out in the end and his alcoholism contributed in part to the decay of marriage.
What was the moment that you decided to rethink your drinking?
It was about 15 years ago when a major event landed my Mother in the hospital that was due to her alcohol consumption. I nearly lost her that day, and perhaps this was the ‘wake up call’ she needed. She received treatment and counselling for the alcoholism and I am so proud to say she was been stone cold sober ever since. For a couple of years at family gatherings I wouldn’t refuse a glass of wine with a meal, and see my Mom discreetly pour herself some soda or juice. As I matured I started appreciating how strong of a person my Mother is for being able to overcome something as invasive as alcohol addiction and wanted to support her. I wasn’t one to drink by myself anyway, so this wasn’t that big of a change.
What are some benefits you have experienced since cutting out alcohol?
Since I very rarely drink anymore at all, it might be once a year if that – I really enjoy being able to be dependable for my family and friends at parties or get togethers. On occasions been the designated driver, and a couple of times the unexpected designated driver when some friends over-imbibed. It felt good knowing I could make sure they got home safe. Also driving myself home during the holidays, or after evenings out, I don’t have any fear about police checkpoints or hangovers the next morning.
How did removing drinking change your ability to contribute as a Mom?
I can have open discussions with my children about responsible drinking and be an example that you don’t need to consume alcohol to have a good time.
What is the top piece of advice to someone who might want to rethink drinking?
That there are a lot of great non-alcoholic products, which I like to bring with me when I’m in an environment where I don’t want to draw attention to the fact that I’m not drinking alcohol. I’d encourage people to try different ones until they find one that they really enjoy the taste of.
