Raise your OWN F*ing child!!! (long)

For most Marines, the Marine Corps Birthday Ball is an excuse to get drunk, dance like idiots, and get dressed up in their blues. For others, its an excuse to dress up with your spouse and have a REAL date and look amazing and have a few drinks and enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie of other Marines. For my husband and I, its a time to remember those who have gone before and honor them, and to celebrate one more year as a Marine family.

So, we will be attending the ball this coming weekend. The unit IS (after much complaint from parents) providing child-care for the evening. However, I will NOT be using it for my 5 month old son because I will need to breastfeed during the evening and he'll be cranky if I leave him with someone who's trying to watch 30 other kids. I don't think I should have to leave him with strangers to cry when I can simply skip the ceremony (which children are not permitted to attend for fear that they will cause a distraction) and go in after when dinner begins and take care of him myself and show him off and ENJOY the time as a family.

I'm just SICK of being told that i SHOULD NOT take my son because he shouldn't be around the drinking, music, or shenanigans. I keep hearing it implied that I'm a bad parent for not paying some stranger $5 an hour to watch him when I am perfectly capable of doing so. I will be SOBER (because I breastfeed) and the event is from 6pm-1am or so if I DO stay the whole time (rare), I'd have to go feed him at least twice during that time anyway.

To me, its just MORE hassle to have someone watch him. He's a great happy baby. And, he's used to East Coast time right now because we've been visiting family for 2 weeks and the Ball is the day we return, so he's been staying up til 9pm EDT (Midnight PDT). So, he won't be up "late" if I go put him to bed an hour or so after we finish dinner and enjoy ourselves for a little while.

And the drinking doesn't bother me. I'm not an alcoholic, but I'm not goign to be scandalized if a drunk person says hi to my son. Its not like my hubby and I won't be sober and taking care of him. Drunk people 3 tables away probably won't even SEE him (there will be over 1000 people there). Our small group of friends will not do anything scandalous whether they're drunk or not. Plus, he's 4 months, he's not going to have ANY scarring if he sees some Marine grind on a chick!

So I wish people would stop bitching at me for wanting to take my son! I've never left him with ANYONE (except grandma and grandpa for 2 hours when I had to go to the ER because I scratched my cornea and my eye was on fire).

The kid was at 2 weddings for our drinking-fun-loving-wild-crazy family in the last 3 months. I HIGHLY doubt a Marine Corps Ball will damage him!

Why can't people just let me parent the way I want to parent and get off my freaking back! He won't be in any danger and will probably have a GREAT time!

6pm - 1am PCT = 9pm - 4am ECT

So you'd be keeping your child up literally all night. You did your math wrong.

I say to keep him up to "4am" since his on east coast time is actually really shitty of you.

People are dumb, if you want to take him, take him.

I scratched my cornea like 3 times..it's probably the worst thing in life.

Quoting Animal Guardian:“ 6pm - 1am PCT = 9pm - 4am ECT So you'd be keeping your child up literally all night. You did your math ... [snip!] ... night. You did your math wrong. I say to keep him up to "4am" since his on east coast time is actually really shitty of you.”

   

Quoting Animal Guardian:“ 6pm - 1am PCT = 9pm - 4am ECT So you'd be keeping your child up literally all night. You did your math ... [snip!] ... night. You did your math wrong. I say to keep him up to "4am" since his on east coast time is actually really shitty of you.”

I won't be keeping him up. Iwill put him to bed when he is tired and I will stay in the hotel room WITH him. My son comes first.

And you're right for correcting my time. I am used to thinking of it backwards since I LIVE on Pacific time and am thinking on Eastern time now, haha.

I see nothing wrong with that. I hate it when people have smart comments to say about peoples parenting skills just because they dont feel right leaving their child somewhere.

Quoting Animal Guardian:“ 6pm - 1am PCT = 9pm - 4am ECT So you'd be keeping your child up literally all night. You did your math ... [snip!] ... night. You did your math wrong. I say to keep him up to "4am" since his on east coast time is actually really shitty of you.”

I agree, but think if he was in the daycare provided, he could nap some/

Quoting DevilPupMama *BCF*:“ I won't be keeping him up. Iwill put him to bed when he is tired and I will stay in the hotel room WITH ... [snip!] ... my time. I am used to thinking of it backwards since I LIVE on Pacific time and am thinking on Eastern time now, haha.”

Oooooh I see what you are saying. Umm screw them! I wouldn't let a stranger watch my kids either

Quoting Animal Guardian:“ 6pm - 1am PCT = 9pm - 4am ECT So you'd be keeping your child up literally all night. You did your math ... [snip!] ... night. You did your math wrong. I say to keep him up to "4am" since his on east coast time is actually really shitty of you.”

I'm sure he's not actually going to be "up" dancing and shit.... 
MOST kids sleep in their seat/stroller/whatever, when they get tired..... Did she say she was going to make him stay awake the whole time?!

Have you considered how other Marines would feel about a child at the ball?

Some girl brought her kid to the AF ball and for the same reasons you did, she was asked to leave. The ball isn't a play date or a casual event   IMO it is not a place for ANY child.

Quoting DevilPupMama *BCF*:“ For most Marines, the Marine Corps Birthday Ball is an excuse to get drunk, dance like idiots, and get ... [snip!] ... me parent the way I want to parent and get off my freaking back! He won't be in any danger and will probably have a GREAT time!”

1000 people, swine flu.. not a good mix... I wouldn't do it.

Quoting DevilPupMama *BCF*:“ I won't be keeping him up. Iwill put him to bed when he is tired and I will stay in the hotel room WITH ... [snip!] ... my time. I am used to thinking of it backwards since I LIVE on Pacific time and am thinking on Eastern time now, haha.”

Hotel room? I assumed this was closer to your home...

Either being in the room with him while he sleeps, or letting him sleep in the daycare/nursery provided is fine. If you prefer being in the hotel with him as opposed to partaking in the party, then by all means, go ahead.

People are just closed minded. There is nothing wrong with bringing your child so long as he sleeps when he is tiered, eats when he is hungry, and is happy. 

In all honesty you probably just scare the other mothers. Half of those women are wondering if they're not spending enough time with their kids and the other half are going to worry that if you keep it up you'll start a trend and then they won't have anyone to back them up when the complain about childcare in order to not have to deal with their own children.

You do what's best for your child and if anyone says anything just let them know your child is a part of your family and not some inconvenience you deal with when something enjoyable comes up.

DOUBLE POSTED!

SORRY  

Here's a thought...parent the way you see fit. If you don't have a problem with taking him, then take him...if you'd rather he not be around drunken stupidity all night long, then don't. Either way, it's nobody's business what you choose for your own child/family, and if they choose to make it their business...kindly ask 'em to take a long walk off a short pier.