“I started crossing the line when my child was two years old. I’m a stay-at- home mom, and that gave me the freedom to drink during the day.
It was a difficult time for me and my marriage. My relationship with my husband was not very good, and I felt disconnected from him. I had gained some extra pounds that I couldn’t lose.
When I think of myself back then, I can see I wasn’t happy, I didn’t have any confidence. My drinking began in gatherings with other moms, but after a short time, I also started drinking by myself, and that gave me a comfortable space where I didn’t think too much.
Getting together and drinking with other moms was okay initially, but then our conversations became more gossipy and negative. It didn’t pay to be vulnerable with them. I felt they were going to judge me if I didn’t show some strength. I wanted to be respected, so it was impossible for me to talk with them about my developing problem with alcohol and to ask for help. I was ashamed about drinking way too much.
So I also gossiped and pointed out the shortcomings and mistakes of others in the group. That made me feel better about myself because I wasn’t the only one with problems. I didn’t feel ashamed and mortified about myself, because I perceived the same issues in many of them. I liked what I was doing: drawing attention to their mistakes instead of to my own drinking behavior and relationship problems.” —Kathy
Lamberghini-West, A., & Karlen Triplett, P. (2025). Tipsy: A Woman’s Self-Guided Method for Managing Alcohol. US: Aysen Wellness.