WWYD? potential child in to margarita?

[Lisa1970]

My son who is a 3rd grader has a hard time making friends. He has PDD-NOS (very high functioning autism) and is speech delayed. But he has this one friend. The mom is very nice and the friend is really really nice. He is just one of the sweetest little boys. The mom is single. Last night, I went out with the mom and her children and her boyfriend and his child and my son. They each had a margarita at the restaurant, just one.

Then, once back at their house, all was fine. I left shortly before 10pm. The mom calls me at close to midnight that my son was throwing up. I went and picked my son up (and I cleaned the vomit in their bathroom because I felt I should). It seemed odd he was sick, considering no fever, no one else sick in the family, he was fine when I dropped him. Figured these things just happen. But then he started telling me about the funny tasting "frozen mountain dew." I had him describe it and he said it was in a mug in the freezer and he and his friend took them out and tried them. I asked him how he knew it was mountain dew, he said his friend told him. I know his friend well enough to know his friend no doubt really thought this. Seriously, this is a very very sweet little boy. His mom is generally very conscientious so I am guessing that maybe she did not want her son to know that she had an alcoholic beverage and told him it was mountain dew? That is just a big guess, really, just a guess. But my son described it as tasting like very "sharp" lemonade. He was yellow. It was in a mug and frozen. It was not in a soda pop can, it was not bubbly, nothing like that that would make me think it was really mountain dew.


SOOOOO.......would you call the mom and tell her about the mountain dew? It is so awkward because I don't wish to embarrass the mom, but if her little boy is getting in to it thinking it is soda pop...or maybe it really is soda pop? I just don't know.

What would you do? Plus, really, my son does not really have friends so if I come off as accusing, I am afraid he really won't have ANY friends at all. Maybe I am just being paranoid? If so, please tell me so, but in a kind way.

Thanks!

[Ashley_R]

I think you should call her and ask if she has frozen mountain dew in the freezer. Then explain the situation and say you just wanted to alert her about it so incase it was alcohol she could watch her son and make sure he's OK. If you come off sounding concerned about her child it might take any sting out of her embarressment. Just make sure to keep any condemning tone out of your voice.
I know I would want to know if my children got into alcohol accidently, so I could first of all watch them to make sure they are OK and second so I could make sure it doesn't happen again.
Good Luck

[eclipse]

I would call her, too. If you're worried that she'll think you're blaming her or judging her for alchohol or something, you could even say that your son said they both drank something that tasted funny from the freezer and since he got sick later, you wanted to let her know in case there was something wrong with whatever it was. But I think if you just talk to her respectfully, and let her know that even if it was alchohol you aren't angry with her but just thought she should knwo, you won't come off as being accusatory.

[Mama2Bug]

I would call her and just present it as you trying to figure out what could have made him ill, so that he can avoid it in the future. I'd say something along the lines of "DS mentioned drinking something new, but I can't figure out what it could be. He described it as frozen Mountain Dew and said it was cold etc." Do you have any idea what he might be talking about? I just want to make sure we're not overlooking a food sensitivity or something...."

She might have a moment of clarity, realize that the kids got into some mixed drinks and apologize OR she might choose to say nothing. Either way, she will know to keep a better eye on their alcohol in the future.

[Adaline'sMama]

I would absolutely call. Id want someone to tell me if they has even a suspicion that either kid had gotten into alcohol. I would say, "My son said he drank something from the fridge that looked like a frozen Mt dew, but tasted like sharp lemonade. Was this something meant for them to drink?" I would allow her to tell me the rest.

[nextcommercial]

I would call them to say "Thanks, he's fine... sorry about that.... Oh, and hey... he told me they drank something from a mug in your fridge, he thinks it upset his stomach... again, I'm sorry about the bathroom floor".

Stuff like that happens. It's really nobody's fault. My daycare girl went to a pool party when she was little. They had a margarita maker. She apparently kept refilling her margarita because the maker had a nifty spout to pour from. She was sick for two days after that. A three year old pouring herself a margarita at a bar is totally different than grade schooler drinking something from the fridge. I can see how that would happen.

I hope your son and his friend have years of fun together.

[meemee]

absolutely call. call from a place of concern and leave it at that. she should not hold it against you.

and that IS the truth. you ARE concerned that she doesnt know what her son knows.

[Smokering]

Well done for not freaking out! You can remind him of this when he's a teenager and wants to experiment with binge drinking.

I'd let the other mother know.

[nola79]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama

I would absolutely call. Id want someone to tell me if they has even a suspicion that either kid had gotten into alcohol. I would say, "My son said he drank something from the fridge that looked like a frozen Mt dew, but tasted like sharp lemonade. Was this something meant for them to drink?" I would allow her to tell me the rest.

I'd call and say exactly this.

[Juvysen]

Originally Posted by eclipse

I would call her, too. If you're worried that she'll think you're blaming her or judging her for alchohol or something, you could even say that your son said they both drank something that tasted funny from the freezer and since he got sick later, you wanted to let her know in case there was something wrong with whatever it was. But I think if you just talk to her respectfully, and let her know that even if it was alchohol you aren't angry with her but just thought she should knwo, you won't come off as being accusatory.

[pigpokey]

There is a bottle of vodka in our freezer. My daughter brought it to me and asked me to open it. She thought it was club soda. So I think these assumptions can be spontaneous.

I guess we get them at Christmas as presents and it is in the freezer because that's where you put vodka; we don't drink vodka, and I can't recall a guest asking for it, but occasionally I'll use it to clean ink if I'm out of rubbing alcohol.

[nextcommercial]

Originally Posted by pigpokey

There is a bottle of vodka in our freezer. My daughter brought it to me and asked me to open it. She thought it was club soda. So I think these assumptions can be spontaneous.

I guess we get them at Christmas as presents and it is in the freezer because that's where you put vodka; we don't drink vodka, and I can't recall a guest asking for it, but occasionally I'll use it to clean ink if I'm out of rubbing alcohol.

I had no idea that you should put vodka in the freezer.

[meemee]

oye vey. neither did i.

[Limabean1975]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

I had no idea that you should put vodka in the freezer.

It doesn't go bad or anything. It's just that it tastes better at that temperature (the idea with vodka is for it to be tasteless).

[lilyka]

huh, I had no idea about the vodka...but i bet it would be better that way.

As for telling the mom. heck yeah, you gotta tell her. She probably thinks her drink is safe in there. I keep alcohol in the house. My kids know not to drink it. Even if I leave half a beer out they wouldn't drink it (its warm, flat and they have tasted it and think its gross. its not because I am too lame to realize kids swipe their parents alcohol) But I could see if i had something a little ambiguous (especially something that looked like a mt dew slushie) They might be inclined to swipe a taste or ten. I would sort of approach it from a "oh my gosh, your going to laugh....Did you put some leftover margarita in the fridge? The boys thought they were swiping a bit of your mt dew slushie and drank a bit. I don't know if thats why he threw up but I certainly thought you would like to know your slushie stash is not safe from our team of treat seeking superheros" apologize again about the puke and re~state that as soon as he is all mended you can't wait for the boys to get together again.

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

I had no idea that you should put vodka in the freezer.

Also you can tell if a teen (or anybody) has been drinking it and refilling with water, as it will freeze with water in it.

[Marsupialmom]

I would call the mom but without anger. I would also express concern like other said.

[SpiderMum]

Kids find stuff and assume sometimes...let the mom know. You're not trying to say she's a bad parent or that she intentionally gave it to them, so don't be afraid to say something.

We have Jagermeister in the freezer...I could totally see a kid finding it and thinking it was some weird thing they want to try.

[Drummer's Wife]

Definitely call the other mom. I think she should know so she can talk to her son about alcohol.

Off to put my raspberry vodka in the freezer...

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

I had no idea that you should put vodka in the freezer.

Yep, that's where ours is.

Stuff like this happens. A friend was mortified to tell us that their sitter gave my 6 or 8 y.o. DD, who was visiting, a glass of wine one day. It was a fruit wine, in a bottle decorated with fruit and flowers, already open in the fridge. The sitter thought it was juice. It was only when my DD told her it tasted funny that she looked closer and realized what it was.

I'd let your friend know.