Do you believe that children are a product of their environment?

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As in, if a parent drinks, the child will grow up to be a drinker as well?
How do you break the cycle? My husband isn't an alcoholic, but he does drink a lot and I dont want my son exposed to that
My son is 11 months old
 
During the first 5 years of a child's life, they copy their parents to learn how to survive in society. That is when a child's personality is created. However, their expeiriences can be interpreted in different ways. For example, a parent who drinks heavily and beats a child, might create them to believe that when they grow up, they NEVER want to drink.
 
Yes and no. Everything is nature AND nurture. Depending on what happens when he drinks combined with your son's perceptions of what happens, it could should your son how to use alcohol in a responsible manner, or it could teach him to like getting drunk, or it could make him hate alcohol so bad he never ever touches it.

While I really dont think parents should be drunk in front of their children, as the kids get older there is nothing wrong with having a drink here and there. But if he is getting drunk, its a huge problem.

And basically, the only thing you can do is pull rank as a mother and tell him that he needs to be sober around his child, and enforce it. If he cant remain sober around his child, then you need to consider the possibility that he IS an alcoholic, not just drinking a lot.
 
I strongly feel that environment does play a determining factor in the adult behaviors of children exposed to negativities. By maintaining a healthy home, attending church and instilling morals and values will help children learn to adapt and overcome issues such as drinking, etc...
 
My mom and dad where both drinkers bad drinkers. And my father was a druggie as well. I am a social drinker. But Other then that I believe myself to be a very good mom and person. My mom left when I was young and my dad turned into a alcoholic. I learned from the things I saw. I was left alone all the time. I was never taught to brush my hair or my teeth things like that. My childhood sucked bad. I have two children now one 8 one 2 and one on the way. I feel that I am a good mom. And take good care of my babies. I raised myself for the most part. My grandfather ended up trying to take control. But at the time it was a little late. I made allot of mistakes in my life. But I am a smarter stronger person because of it. My mother tells me now considering what I have had to deal with in my life time I should be a druggie living on the streets. And she is right I should be. But that's not what I wanted for myself. I was stronger then what was around me. And learned you make your own life. We learn from our parents it doesn't decide who we will become. I read some of the answers that oh that's the way it is. You are what you grow up around. I don't believe that for a second. I think if you hand your children strength and the knowing that they can be what ever they want. And show them that the world is their playground to be done with what they see fit. That they will be fine. I am living proof all it takes is a smart Strong person to break cycles. So give him strength and knowledge that life is his he doesn't have to be what he sees and can do what ever his heart wants , he will be ok. And all we can do is hope some of the most messed up people I have known in my life where the sons/daughters of mayors and doctors with beautiful lives. We hand them the tools to make good diction and hope they do the right things.
 
If you can help your husband or help your son in making wiser choices, you can help him stay clear of becoming the same way. it's hard to say what would happen but if your son associates his father and drinking in a negative way, he will likely stay clear if he is conscious of what is happening. best thing you can do is to encourage him to pursue things of interest and help raise his self esteem so he channels it in to other things besides drinking

Can you please help me with my question

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah5rlOaakGEaU45eGgf0_RPAFQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20090728112301AAFF93j
 
While environment can certainly impact a child, it does not dictate the kind of person they will grow up to be. My parents both struggled with addiction. I never have. It was a choice I made not to repeat the mistakes of my parents or raise my children in the kind of environment I was raised in.
For me, "breaking the cycle" was a matter of being around people that I admired and spoke honestly and candidly into my life. You can be the person in your son's life. If your husband's drinking bothers you in any way, it's probably time to speak to him about it.
 
Does anything result in your husbands drinking? Like getting beat, arguments, ect. If nothing negative comes from his drinking, then it should not effect him negatively.
Sometimes by exposing children to these kinds of enviorments turns them against alcohol and what not.
 
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