People without children- please respond on this situation... (costumes, sidewalk, legal)

[Mrs.Bewitched]

I am only asking people without children to respond, because I have already posted this in parenting to get the parent's views, and in education to get the teacher's views. Both of those views might be a bit biased, so now I would like to hear from people without children. If you do have children, or are a teacher, please answer the posts in the other forums.

I'm a teacher. Each year I go to a pirate festival that is in a neighboring city to where I teach (I live in this neighboring city). It's a good time- lots of sites to sees, and sidewalk shows. My husband, two sons ages 8 and 13, and I dress alike, as a group of pirates with homemade costumes and we have a team name. We also participate in the treasure hunt too. It's all outdoors in sunny, beautiful FL. This year I'll also be going with my sister-in-law, her husband and her two young children (3 and 5 months).

It's crowded, and lots of people walking around with beer in a cup. I am one of them I don't go out much, and I enjoy a beer or two or three in an active atmosphere, out on a sunny day.

It has never arose, but I worry about it. What if I come across some students of mine, with their parents at this festival, and I'm carrying a cup of beer? Am I expected to quickly hide it, or pass it off to my husband? Then throw a mint in my mouth so I don't smell like it? Or can I simply still hold it because I'm an adult, on my own time, in my own city...talk to them....not sip it while talking....and expect them to not think "badly" of me?

Thanks for your opinion..........

[2goldens]

Tough one. You have a respectable image and the smallest things can tarnish your reputation. Personally, I wouldn't drink beer at a local gathering, maybe out of state - YES!

[PA2UK]

How old are the students? Old enough to know it's definitely alcohol?

I don't think you should hide it. You could run into a student at a restaurant while having some wine with dinner. I don't think teacher should be expected to only drink alcohol at home. It's not illegal so why be ashamed? You are there with your own children or your sister's children, if it's okay to have a beer in front of them, I don't think there should be anything wrong with having a beer in front of any other children. It's a family atmosphere regardless of the beer so I wouldn't worry about it.

My sister in law is a teacher and while we were on vacation in St Thomas, she discovered one of the kids at her school (not her student but she knew him from lunch and recess) was at the very same resort with his family. She did feel very akward because she was, after all, in a bikini and drinking strawberry daiquiris at noon. But she wasn't about to ruin her vacation which she paid very good money to go on and enjoy by covering herself up and staying 100% sober. It's not like she was getting wasted and making a fool out of herself by dancing on tables or anything. I'm sure the kid's own mother probably had a few drinks while she was there too.

So I can understand why it's awkward - it IS weird to see a teacher outside of their teaching atmosphere - but that is just a part of life and you're not doing anything wrong or even inappropriate so I wouldn't try to hide it.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

Thank you very much for your comments. The kids are 6-7. I guess it's more the parents I might have been concerned with...as 2goldens hinted...you never know what might change the parent's perspective of me........

[jfre81]

If their parents are worth their weight in beer they'd teach their kids that some things are appropriate for adults and not for children. No need to hide it.

[happynoodleboycey]

You're an adult so just so long as you're not sh*tfaced on the floor with vomit and beer down your shirt and a collection of empty glasses around you you shouldn't have to worry. Teachers are allowed to be human as well.

[gizmobizmo]

You are grown and what you do on your own time is your business. As long as what you are doing is not illegal, don't worry about what the kids parents think. After working with a classrom fulls of kids all week, you deserve a drink.

With that said, I might wonder about it if my son's teacher regularly participated in Pole Dancing at the local club. That might not be an image a gal could live down!!!

Live your own life, sweetie. There will always be someone who may look down their nose but you can't please everyone.

[jfre81]

There are some other extracurricular activities worth avoiding, not that I'm saying you would...still, some things are proven to land people in the unemployment line.

That said, in the grand scheme of things, having a beer at the pirate festival falls well below anything like this or pole dancing

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Bewitched

Thank you very much for your comments. The kids are 6-7. I guess it's more the parents I might have been concerned with...as 2goldens hinted...you never know what might change the parent's perspective of me........

Yes but I think any parent who has a problem with what you described is being very unreasonable.

[AliceT]

My personal opinion is biased. I was once a child and remember that my parents (2 people I believed were saints sent from heaven) both drank alcoholic beverages. Their friends did. They didn't hide it, didn't tell me it was made by devils to corrupt people nor did they sway me to think that people who drank alcoholic beverages were trouble looking for a place to happen. It was something like coffee - it was a drink just for grown-ups.

That's my bias. It was well presented at home.

That's the real issue: are the parents of your students presenting it well at home?

If you are falling down drunk on a city sidewalk, then YOU are not presenting yourself as a responsible drinker, but that's a whole other thing.

Go to your festival, be a pirate, have a beer and and a good time. Don't feel awkward or ashamed for being an adult having fun with your family and the community. It's a legal activity in this country.