We watched the movie Tin-Tin the other day. It’s a good movie, but one of the main characters is a total drunk. As we were driving home afterwards, we talked with the kids about alcohol.

“But,” my wife said after we were done, “there’s nothing wrong with a drink every once in a while for people that don’t have a problem. They just have to be responsible.”

“The key is staying in control of yourself,” I chimed in. That’s pretty much my favorite lecture these days. Homework, church, exercise… I’m always trying to get the kids to keep their brains in charge of what they do.

“Yeah,” my wife said. “Have you ever seen me drink myself silly?”

“No,” my oldest answered.

“What about Daddy? Have you ever seen him get silly when he’s drinking a beer?”

An awkward silence settled over the back seats. I couldn’t believe it. My drinking days ended long before the kids arrived. I average about a beer a month these days, if that.

My wife looked over her shoulder. “Well?”

“Well,” my youngest said. “He’s always silly.”

“Yeah,” his older brother chimed in,  “but it’s not because of alcohol.”

Yep, that’s me. I live in a state of perpetual intoxication.

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