by Erin Carr

Created on: February 13, 2009   Last Updated: March 10, 2009

Ask an honest mom how she unwinds at the end of a long day and you may be surprised at her answer. Chances are, Mama's foregoing candlelit bubble baths and romance novels, choosing instead to tip back a glass of cabernet or a couple of microbrews to help her relax. The pressures of dealing with small children all day and the limited opportunities for grown-up social interaction can have even the most respectable mom wishing the local liquor store would offer delivery service. Couple that with an emerging trend in "Mommyland" - naptime happy hour, wine and cheese playdates, and the general resurgent "coolness" of the cocktail - and you've got a recipe for one heck of a problem (or one hell of a party, depending on your point of view). While there's no shame in getting the girls together to find comfort in the bottom of a glass every now and then, there does come a point when alcohol use can turn into abuse. So how is a good mom to know when things have gotten out of control? And how can you stop yourself before the problem becomes more than you can handle? If you recognize yourself or a friend in any of the following scenarios, it may be time to seek help.

The Life of the Party: Getting together with friends at the local hot spot to kvetch about husbands and kids over a few too many cosmos does not an addiction make. However, if that monthly girls' night out is turning into a weekly event and those two or three martinis have become six or seven, you may want to reassess the company you're keeping or how you choose to spend your free time. The Life of the Party consistently drinks more than seven times in a single week or frequently has more than three drinks at one sitting, a clear indication that her drinking is beyond purely social. More than three drinks every day and she may be in the early stages of alcohol addiction.

The Daily Planner: Most busy moms live and die by structure and routine. Having a well-planned schedule makes life easier and keeps everybody (relatively) happy. But drinking shouldn't be popping up on the daily "To Do" list. The Daily Planner needs a drink in order to perform everyday tasks, schedules drinking around or in conjunction with other activities, or regularly has several drinks throughout the day without thinking about it. She worries about having time for her next drink and has to drink before socializing to help her relax. Feeling as though she needs a drink to get to sleep, to help her wake up, or to equip her deal with unpleasant

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