Written by Naomi, Mom Blogger at More With Four Blog

I recently went to a bar in the city with friends.  It had been a long time since I went to an actual bar with a packed dance floor.  We usually go to a sit-down restaurant and have an adult beverage.

The other weekend, I went with my girlfriends to a bar and I realized going to the bar is like having children.  I couldn’t really step out of my role as “mother”, because all I could see around me were a bunch of grown-up children.

My top ten reasons why going to the bar is like having children:

  1. Everyone is spilling drinks and the floor is a sticky mess. Just like my house… How can I escape my role as mother when I am tempted to bring out the paper towel and clean up after children on the dance floor?  Not to mention all the stains on our clothes…
  2. It is loud and everyone is pushing each other.  The noise didn’t bother me as it was just a decibel above the noise level at my house most days.  There was a lot of pushing and shoving though, reminding me once again of my house.  This kept me “on guard” for any potential fights that could break out at any moment.  There weren’t any good spots for a time-out though…
  3. Everyone congregates in the washroom.  I guess I will never pee alone.  Even at the bar, you are joined by many friends in the washroom.
  4. Some enjoy wearing costumes. My friend wore a little veil and sash to the bar as she was celebrating her upcoming wedding.  We saw two other girls wearing full wedding gowns.  No one really made a big deal about it as if it happened all the time.  This is common at my house too, where someone might enter the room as Batman, or a cowboy, or perhaps even enter the room naked. Speaking of naked,
  5. The less clothing, the better.  This seemed to be the standard dress code at the bar, which again is very similar to our house.  My sons especially adopt this philosophy sporting underwear or shorts and although my daughter tries, her father is constantly reminding her to cover up.  The “Mom” in me was tempted to tell a few girls at the bar to cover up as well.
  6. The music is catchy, but a little strange. I’m not sure which is worse, the familiar pop song with a dance beat that makes it sound really strange, or children’s songs about fire trucks and ice cream that are super catchy but super annoying.  Either way, I need some Tylenol.
  7. There is vomit.Yes, it is a hazard of drinking too much at the bar.  It is also a hazard of having children who go anywhere in public and pick up viruses.
  8. One minute someone is hugging you, and then the next minute you are fighting or crying.This is not uncommon at the bar.  Alcohol does mess with one’s emotions.  Children act like this too.  My sons could be hugging one moment and then in a matter of minutes be wrestling on the floor.  Okay, everyone, break it up.  I think it is nap time!
  9. Someone always passes out on the floor. It is inevitable that someone will drink too much and pass out at the table or on the floor.  Children do this too and they don’t even need alcohol.  One minute they are running around top speed, and the next minute, they are passed out on the floor.
  10. As crazy as it was, you will want to do it again.  After considering the first nine reasons it would make you wonder why anyone even goes to the bar or why anyone has children!  I know it may not make sense, but although the bar is not really “my scene” anymore, it doesn’t mean I will never go again.  And because having a child to care for can be difficult, it doesn’t mean I never wanted to do it again.  In fact, I did it three more times…

Why? Because it is a fun, crazy, emotional time when we bond with each other and create life-long memories.  We learn about ourselves and look out for each other while we dance, sing and hug.  We celebrate life and all that we are thankful for.  Sometimes we fight, sometimes we have too much, but we never forget how much fun we had.  And we have amazing stories to tell in the future…

What do you think?  Comment below or continue the conversation on the Bleeping Motherhood facebook page.

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