Emma's Journey: Quitting Alcohol to Show Up Differently for Her Kids

Childhood Influences and Early Drinking

• 🎨 Emma's childhood was marked by a bohemian atmosphere with artist parents who brewed their own alcohol, fostering a relaxed attitude towards drinking from a young age.
• 🥂 She recalls being offered wine with meals and eggnog when unwell, which felt normal and not alarming at the time.
• 🍻 In her teenage years, while friends explored spirits, Emma was less interested, reflecting her parents' approach of not making alcohol overly alluring.

University and Media Career: Escalating Alcohol Consumption

• 🎓 Moving away for university, Emma experienced homesickness and FOMO, leading her to construct a social life heavily centered around bars, clubbing, and socializing.
• 💼 Her career in the media industry in the '90s amplified this, with a culture that encouraged socializing with clients and a 'lad culture' environment where heavy drinking was normalized and even expected.
• 💸 Company expenses often covered excessive drinking, leading to prolonged hangovers, absenteeism, and a blurring of work and social life.

Realizing Alcohol's Impact and the Decision to Quit

• 📉 In her early 40s, Emma noticed changes in how her body processed alcohol, leading to unpredictable reactions and a sense of