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Cheers to Responsibility: A Guide to Having a Festive and Fun Holiday Celebration

December is filled with family traditions, gift giving, and a lot of party festivities. It’s a time for Good Friends, Good Choices, and Good Tidings! And whether you are hosting a holiday party for your friends or attending one of your friend’s parties, I want to share with you some ideas on how to host or attend a holiday event responsibly. I also want to gently remind you that whether you  choose a beverage with alcohol or a zero proof option, it is your choice, and I have some tips for you to consider either way!

 

Remember, when you make smart choices about alcohol, you are able to fully enjoy the holiday spirit. And If you choose not to drink, be confident in that choice, and don’t let others pressure you into changing your decision or compromising your values. Respect the decision of others if they choose not to drink.

 

SERVE A VARIETY OF FOOD

I’m all about being health conscious and setting up single serving snack food at a party for cleanliness and convenience. This way it’s not buffet or served family style where all of the guests are sticking their hands in the chip bowl or double dipping in the guacamole! Think outside the box for ideas to make each appetizer or snack fit into individualized cups or bowls. For example, you can put pre-cut carrots and celery into a cup with ranch at the bottom for easy dipping and eating. You can put a serving of chips in individually wrapped bags for guests to easily take on the go. I recommend offering food that can he handheld so there is no need for scooping or utensils! Trust me, it’s a win win for everyone! Just make sure you serve food, especially if you are also serving alcohol.

 

Pro Tip: If you are attending a holiday party, hydrate with water and eat before and during events. Eating before you drink can reduce your peak BAC by as much as 35-40%.  

 

PROVIDE A VARIETY OF BEVERAGES 

First, make sure everyone drinking alcohol is 21+! Even if your high school graduate just wants a single sip, we want to role model responsible drinking, which means they don’t drink until they are of legal age. Did you know the National Institute on Drug Abuse recently released its annual Monitoring the Future survey results showing underage drinking prevalence rates have continued to decline for 10th and 12th graders for the fourth year in a row?

 

Pro Tip: You may want to set up a separate station for beverages for those who are underage or choose not to drink. In addition, contemplate different cups or glasses to differentiate between drinks that do and do not contain alcohol.

 

When hosting a party, make sure you provide a variety of beverages like water, juice, and even a speciality mocktail! Some people want be able to or will want to drink an alcoholic cocktail, so make sure you have zero proof options and water available, too. This is important so your guests can monitor their alcohol intake and take turns sipping alcohol and water throughout the gathering. And this way, your gathering can be family friendly and won’t leave anyone out whether they are under 21 or choose not to drink for their own personal reason.

 

MAKE A STANDARD POUR

I have been to gatherings in the past where there is a self serve drink table and I’ve witnessed guests helping themselves and not gauging how much alcohol is actually going in their glass. This goes for beer, wine, and spirits. I recommend having a jigger on your drink table or asking a friend (or even hiring someone) to be a bartender for your gathering. This way you can ensure your guests are getting a standard pour each and every time! A standard pour means 1.5 ounces of a distilled spirt, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer.

 

Pro Tip: Don’t top off drinks! It makes it harder to gauge how much you have consumed. 

 

TALK WITH YOUR KIDS

Be open to conversations about alcohol. Before the gathering, make sure to spend time with your children and let them know about what to expect. Let them be aware of any ground rules you may have and why it is important to be responsible. Make sure they know which beverages are alcoholic and which ones they are allowed to drink. Also, make sure they learn how to say NO if any of the guests offer them a drink. Make sure they know to only drink out of a cup they filled or know what’s inside and not to leave their cup anywhere for a long period of time and then drink it later. Their cup should stay in their hand at all times or they need to get a new drink if left unattended.

 

Also, if you choose to drink, don’t hide it. Show your children that alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly as part of social occasions if you can demonstrate self-control. Make it clear that you know your limits and stick to them, showing that it’s important to make conscious and informed decisions about alcohol consumption. And please, never drive drunk. Always have a plan for safe transportation if you’ve been drinking, such as using a designated driver, public transportation, or a ride-sharing service.

 

Talk openly about the effects of alcohol, the importance of being mindful and knowing your limits, and the legal drinking age. Explain why you make certain choices regarding alcohol. Set clear expectations and establish and communicate clear family rules about alcohol consumption, especially regarding the intolerance of underage drinking. Share real-life examples and stories that highlight the consequences of irresponsible drinking, including health risks and legal issues. And make sure that other adults understand your stance on responsibility and your intolerance for serving or supplying alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age. Working together, parents can normalize that most kids don’t drink.

 

KNOW HOW TO MANAGE STRESS

 

As a licensed mental health therapist, this one is very important to me. If you cope with stress by using alcohol, please consider other options like meditation, journaling, shoulder tapping, exercising, and other responsible ways. Show your children healthy ways to cope with stress and emotions that do not involve turning to alcohol. And promote and engage in activities that do not involve alcohol, emphasizing that socializing and having fun do not require drinking. And. encourage your friends and children (if they are old enough) alternatives to drinking.

 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE DRINKING TIPS

Be mindful of your consumption and how often you are consuming an alcoholic drink per hour

Wait until you are done with your first drink before ordering or making a new one

Drink water between sips and between having a new drink

Eat food while you are consuming an alcoholic beverage

If needed, please have a designated driver drive you home or call a driver service like Uber or Lyft. Encourage everyone to plan ahead for a safe ride home or identify a designated driver

 

Learn about more hosting tips here from Responsibility.Org! 

 

Responsibility.org is a great resource for parents with kids of all ages to support a lifetime of conversations about alcohol responsibility. Learn more here! 

 

If you want to learn how alcohol and other factors can affect your blood alcohol content (BAC) and how to understand your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) visit this Virtual Bar here! 

 

I have been so honored to partner for the last five years with Responsibility.Org. I absolutely love what they stand for and that I can share their mission to help parents cultivate a lifetime of conversations with their kids, preventing underage drinking and drunk driving, and alcohol responsibility with all of you.

 

“PARENTS ARE THE NUMBER ONE INFLUENCE ON THEIR KIDS’ DECISIONS TO DRINK—OR NOT TO DRINK—ALCOHOL, AND WHEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALCOHOL BETWEEN CHILDREN AND PARENTS INCREASE, THE UNDERAGE DRINKING RATE DECREASES” – RESPONSIBILITY.ORG

 

As a parent, giving your child a voice is such a powerful and beneficial gift you can give them. And the earlier you talk to them, the better, but remember, it’s never to late to open the lines of communication. And Responsibility.org has a tremendous amount of resources and conversation starters to help you! Responsibility.org has conversation starters on their site here. In fact, their Ask, Listen, Learn program is a completely FREE digital underage drinking prevention program for kids ages 9-13 (grades 4-7) and their parents and educators with the goal to reduce underage drinking. 

This post is sponsored by @go_faar but all opinions are my own.

You can follow Responsibility.Org on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information!

#TeamResponsibility

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Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children.

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TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

About Dr. Kim

Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children. Read More…

My Instagram

🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had t 🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had today! 🇺🇸

As soon as we woke up I started educating my children, specifically my daughter, on what the inauguration meant and why today was such a special day in history. We both were glued to the television as we watched @kamalaharris be sworn in as the first Black South Asian woman Vice President and @joebiden be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. We also were powerfully moved hearing @amandascgorman - the youngest inaugural poet in history recite “The Hill We Climb.” 

My daughter was so excited to participate and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the county and she was so proud to see and be a part of history in the making. I haven’t been to Washington D.C. in about 8 years but I promised I would take her one day when the pandemic is over. 

In the meantime, I have a fun fact for you! Did you know that President Joe Biden and I both graduated from the same university? Yep! We both went to @syracuseu 🍊 And in fact, @joebiden is the first @syracuseu alumnus to become President of the United States! 

📸: @chrissywphoto #inauguration #inagurationday #inaguration2021 #joebiden #kamalaharris #presidentbiden #syracuseuniversity #syracuse #syracuseu #historyismade #madamvicepresident #mommyandme #46thpresident #sandiego #sandiegoblogger #momblogger #parentingblogger #motherhood
This time of year is notorious for dry air, allerg This time of year is notorious for dry air, allergies, and sinus trouble. #ad 

And since I work from home, it can get quite noisy and distracting with my husband and two children here, so sometimes I get my best work done in the comfort of my own bed. And the best part is that I can have my new @crane_usa “4 in 1” cool mist humidifier on at all times with essential oils to help with overall wellness and since it comes with a sound machine I can block out the other noises in the house! 

And at night, it helps my sinuses as I sleep, especially when the dry air of the heater is on, and it has a nightlight so my kids can see where they are going in the middle of the night when they inevitably need water or a hug! 

This is our 6th #cranehumidifier style and it’s my favorite one yet! Check out my stories for a closer look! 👀 #happyhealthyhumidity 

#humidifier #coldandflu #humidifiers #peaceandquiet #workingfromhome #workingmom #working #coldandfluseason #coldandflurelief #winter #winterstyle #wintertime #wintervibes #winter2021 #wahm #wahmlife #wahmlifestyle #workfromhomemom #workfromhomelife #workfromhome #workathomemom #workathome #workathomelife #newmom #babyshowergift #sinusrelief
{New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude {New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude” 🌱✨🌸

Throwing it back to one of the first mommy and me photos I ever posted on my feed because I’ve been teaching my daughter about gratitude since she was this little, possibly even younger (she is two here for reference)! 

Gratitude is such an important virtue and must have trait to build a child’s character. It also shows therapeutic benefits when you show gratitude to others, so why wouldn’t you want to make it a priority to teach and instill in your children? 

In this blog, I have suggestions for how to teach children gratitude broken down by ages and stages from infancy to teenage years, while also including some conversation prompts, and links to my favorite gratitude journals for busy families that we use here at home! 

Find the direct link to read in my bio and stories! I also published similar articles on @todayparents and @redtricycle if you follow me there! #drkimblog
DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I am DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

I am that mom who wants to do it all and when I get overwhelmed or start suffering from a major case of burnout, I feel guilty if I take a break instead of giving my body and mind permission to slow down or even stop. 

As moms we often feel guilty if we take a break or believe we are perceived as weak if we ask for help. I have learned that the more I ask for help and the more time I take for myself, the better I am for my children. 

Guilt is an emotional response to something you perceived you did wrong, but when you experience unnecessary guilt, it’s counterproductive to healing and helping you with what you need most. So give it a try and let me know how you are going to take a break and not feel guilty about it this week below in the comments! ⤵️ #drkimparentingtips #theparentologist #drkimparentingadvice
DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when yo DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when you were little - and still do! 🙋🏼‍♀️🐱#ad

I am so excited to have all of these new items from the @erincondren Hello Kitty collection that launched today to keep work fun, playful, and reminiscent of childhood - something all adults need a little more of, am I right? 

The collection is all about organization, kindness, and friendship. My favorite piece of the collection is the “Daily Kindness and Joy Journal” that boldly says BE KIND, BE NICE, REPEAT on the front cover but I am also pretty obsessed with the Hello Kitty x Erin Condren Pencil Case and Vegan Leather Padfolio! 

Swipe to see my business attire on top and activewear on the bottom work style! 😉 And head to my stories to see it all up close and for your convenience I have everything linked for you http://liketk.it/35XZC and make sure to follow me at THEPARENTOLOGIST @liketoknow.it  for more of my favorites!!! #liketkit #erincondren
{New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and {New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and Role Play Ideas for Children with Autism” 🧩 🧸 🚂 ⚽️ 
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For the last 3 years I have spent my career therapeutically helping families and children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum. Play has been a fundamental way for many of my clients to communicate if they are non-verbal. And some of my clients have had to be taught how to play with a toy or another person. The play ideas listed on the blog can be used with children with or without special needs. Play is a universal way a child can explore their world in a way that makes sense to them and cultivate imagination, creativity, and fun! As a Registered Play Therapist, I love the work I do and couldn’t be prouder of the progress my clients have made with play over the years! #drkimblog
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#autism #autismmom #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismcommunity #autismparent #autismlife #autismparents #autismparenting #autistickids #autisticchildren #autistictoddler #autismresources #playtherapy #playtherapist #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #activitiesforkids #activitiesfortoddlers #activitiesforchildren #sensoryplay #sensoryplayideas #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensoryactivities #momswhoblog #ontheblog #newblogpost #parentingblogger #momblogger
{New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control {New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control of Your Eczema” #ad 
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These winter months have been so dry and my eczema has been flaring up. Can anyone relate? For decades I have used a variety of treatment options from over-the-counter ointments and lotions to doctor prescribed steroid medication. In today’s blog, I am partnering with @mediqcme to share more of my story and struggles with atopic dermatitis as well as some new treatment options! If you or a loved one suffer from eczema or atopic dermatitis it’s a must read! 
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Plus there is a survey at the end of the blog you can fill out and opt in to be entered to win 1 of 10 VISA gift cards! 🙌🏻 Link in bio and in stories! #itchyskinhelp #drkimblog
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#eczema #eczemarelief #eczemahealing #eczematreatment #eczemaproblems #eczemawarrior #atopicdermatitis #itchyskin #itchyskinrelief #atopicskin #atopicdermatitistreatment #atopicdermatitismanagement #eczemamanagement #winterskincare #winterskin #winterskincareroutine #winterskincaretips #newblogpost #momswhoblog #ontheblog #wellnessblogger #wellnesstips #wellnessexpert
{New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get {New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get Your Kids to Do What You Want” 
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As a Registered Play Therapist, play is the foundation to the way I help children conceptualize and conquer the world. Play is second nature to children and the way they respond to many of life’s obstacles. Sometimes as parents, it is easy to get into a power match with your children, especially when you want your children to comply with a request and they won’t budge. When this happens, we need to change the way our adult mind thinks and switch it to the way a child thinks. Instead of giving them a punitive consequence, try these play recommendations that can be used with children as young as toddlerhood all the way to adolescents! #drkimblog 
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#playtherapy #playtherapist #therapistsofinstagram #playoutsidethebox #learningthruplay #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #learningisfun #parenting #parentingtips #parenting101 #parentingteens #parentingtweens #parentingtoddlers #parentingadvice #parentingexpert #parentingblogger #parentingblog #newblogpost #ontheblog #momswhoblog #parenthood #toddlerproblems #toddlermom #behaviortherapist #behaviortherapy #positiveparentingsolutions #positiveparentingtips #positiveparenting
{New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effect {New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effectively in 2021” ✨ 
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It’s is usually around this time that I start thinking of the goals I want to accomplish for the year. And whether you believe in making resolutions, affirmations, or goals, it is time to be proactive!! On the blog, I outlined an organizational system I use year after year to help me accomplish my goals. And I hope they work for you!! 
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What are some of your goals you want to accomplish this year? 
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#2021 #2021goals #goals #goalsetting #goalgetter #goalsettingtips #goalsetter #goalsetting2021 #goalcrusher #momhustle #snowday #snowman #newgoals #newgoals2021 #mommyandme #letthembelittle #letthembekids #letthemplay #playoutside #playoutdoors #playoutsidethebox #familyday #familyfun #familysnowday
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