A quick update...the house is getting there. A stack of books that are looking for a good home, papers that must be filed, and office furniture looking to make its way upstairs for good. Other than that, the pool house is up and Kraig has to finish the roof tomorrow as it looks like rain for a good majority of this week. He is exhausted but is working hard to finish. That's the update, pictures will be at a later date.
We were invited to a bonfire tonight at one of Kaleb's team mate's house. It was a nice invitation and had it been from someone at church or a friend, we would have gone. From stories I have heard in passing or from sitting in the bleachers, the majority of parents are big drinkers. I hate drinking. In fact, I don't know if the word hate is a strong enough word here. I don't like to be around it and I don't want our kids around it either. I feel like maybe I am being a stick in the mud by not going to the bonfire but I truly do not want to associate with many of these parents on a social basis. I really only know them very generally and by face, so perhaps I am judging based on talk. I don't know. Here's the question for anyone who has a thought on it. Would you go to an event like this? Why or why not?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Mmmmmm. Tough one. It's important to care for the people around you, including the parents of these other kids. Getting to know them, especially if you might be around them for a few years might be part of God's plan for you. But, exposing your young boys to such an environment is risky(Is there a parent you do trust to ask more questions?). You know your boys and yourself. Maybe you should create your own social venue in which you get to know these parents (one where you are more in control) or maybe you should just make more conversation when you see the parents at practice. Tough call.
I have a hard time with that one too Chris. We get asked for evening parties after games, and we know there is drinking there so we have chosen not to take our kids. We politely tell them no thank you and enjoy conversation with them at games and practices. We have decided to do what Laura has suggested and open our home for an after game event so we can be friendly, but no drinking.
Isn't parenting a fun adventure?
Chris,
I have a VERY strong opinion on drinking. But, first, I must say that I don't care what other people do. It is between them and God - I don't look down on them, many of my friends do drink occasionaly. If a person drinks, it wouldn't keep me from being a very good friend of theirs. And I also do believe we need to be a witness to others.
Now.....I stay away from drinking as much as possible because my grandfather, who I never knew, and my uncle, who I knew very well died, at very young ages, of liver damage caused by drinking. They would not support their families and my grandfather was abusive because he was drunk all the time. I HATE DRINKING!!!!! I have always kept it away from my kids because I didn't know if it was something in the family?? No parent knows what would happen to their kids when they take that first drink. So...I'm sure if this didn't happen in our family I may not be so strong on this subject. I never knew my grandfather and my mom and aunts don't have any good memories of their father. Who will become addicted?? I don't want to find out. I am with you on this one!!! The kids are the important ones here!!! ~Cathy
It is hard because I think that I tend to isolate myself from groups like this because of my experience. Many of you know this already. This Swan Valley community is one of drinking and I haven't found many who abstain from it with children around. I don't drink alcohol but I do get tired of the questioning looks and smirking laughs about it. Pastor Mark hit it right on the head today when he said don't buy into the world's view of living and the good life. I don't know if the drinking gene actually runs in the family...I think that people definitely have tendencies towards it. I'd rather talk with the parents at games or practices and leave the socializing/drinking out of the situation.
I agree that it's important to socialize with these families so that you have an opportunity to witness. I come from a large family of drinkers and it has been my experience that sitting around the campfire with coolers full of beer does NOT lead to discussions about the gospel. So, yes, go ahead and try to engage with these people at other times, but I would stay away from the drinking parties because there's not much good going on there anyway. And I agree with the others, I wouldn't want to expose my kids to that sort of entertainment.
I would go and maybe leave early.
We actually had to say to people that our party was a dry party. It was ackward but it was my party.
When you send kids out to play with white gloves, the dirt never gets "all glovey." There is not reason to think their goodness will rub off on their friends and not the other way around. You first duty is to protect your kids.
I'm with Phil. People drinking tend to start talking all stupid and I just start squirming. I can't deal with that and I don't want my kids around it.
Post a Comment