From time to time, we will post short interviews with interesting people about their thoughts and feelings on women and drinking. There is such a wide array of perspectives about this topic, and we are excited to gain insight into as many as possible and to share them with you.
Marile Borden is the founder and editor of Momicillin Publishing, LLC, publishers of momicillin.com and momswhoneedwine.com, both launched in 2009. Marile created Moms Who Need Wine as a Social Media avenue for like-minded Moms to come together and share stories, revel in their imperfections, and find solace in the fact that they are not going it alone. She was inspired to start Moms Who Need Wine by the hundreds of “real” moms that she knows, both in her inner and extended circles, and in the blogosphere. Moms come to her sites to find laughter, advice, sympathy, compassion, friendship and validation. Most of these women share a love of wine—but more importantly, they share the fact that day by day, hour by hour, they are striving to succeed at one of the toughest jobs in the world. The more moms “tell it like it is,” the less we all feel alone.
Marile also runs a successful marketing communications firm that has serviced a variety of clients up and down the East Coast for the last 9.5 years. When she’s not busy chasing down writers, clients, deadlines, sponsors and new opportunities, she’s chasing down son Jack, age 6, and daughter Lia, age 3.
Drinking Diaries: How old were you when you had your first drink and what was it?
Marile Borden: My first drink was a Bartles and Jaymes Wine Cooler (does that even count?) my junior year in high school — which makes me, what, about 17?
How did/does your family treat drinking?
My parents (now in their mid-80s) have their “cocktail hour” every day at 5:00. It’s one glass of wine, or one gin and tonic. I’ve never seen them drink more than that. But I also grew up with my older, college-aged brothers having keg parties in our backyard. I learned how to pour a beer from the tap at age 10. Of course the brothers all turned into respectable, hard-working men and dedicated fathers, who enjoy a frosty one now and then. And though I could pour a beer at an early age, I never much liked the taste of it, so no harm done.
How do you approach alcohol in your every day life?
I try not to approach it in my “every day” life. But a few drinks sure are nice on the weekends. Especially with friends.
If you have kids, how is the subject of drinking handled? Do you drink in front of them? With them?
My husband and I will have a glass of wine or a beer (or two) in front of the kids. It’s just “one of those drinks that has stuff in it that kids can’t have.” I want my kids to see us enjoy alcohol responsibly.
What’s your drink of choice?
Why wine, of course.
Can you tell us about the best time you ever had drinking?
Okay, I know I should talk about sipping wine poolside at a Vineyard in Tuscany, or something romantic like that. But the fact is, Spring Break my senior year in college (16 years ago!) in Cancun, Mexico (how cliché) still ranks up there as one of the best weeks in my life. There was a lot of tequila involved.
What about the worst time?
If I could remember it, I’d tell you.
Has culture or religion influenced your drinking?
I was raised Irish Catholic. Need I say more? We’re prudish about a lot of things, but drinking isn’t one of them.
Do you have a favorite book, song, or movie about drinking?
I’m a huge Jimmy Buffett fan. In fact, I may have to change my answer above about the best time I ever had drinking. It may have been a Buffett concert one hot August day with a bunch of friends, a parking lot, a grill, a blender and, well, you know the rest. “Wasting away again in…”
What do you like most about drinking?
Sharing it with friends.
If you could be any drink, what would it be? Why?
Well, I know I don’t want to come out of a keg. I don’t want to come back up the next morning. And I don’t really want to spend much time in skanky bars. So maybe something frozen and fruity? Maybe a Pina Colada? Yes, sip me on an oceanside deck. Perfect.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great fan page, on it often!
Coming from South Africa we’re pretty wine mad ourselves, the thing about wine is that it can bring stories, cultures, friends and family together…all under one sip: )
So cheers to moms, company… and I can’t leave without saying it… great South African wine.
jen@cybercellar
When my oldest (8) was 2 she hated taking medicine of any kind. One day when she held her cup up asking for some of the “juice” (wine) we were drinking, our first instinct was to tell her it was Mommy and Daddy “medicine.” She never asked again and now the name has stuck (she must think we’re pretty sick
). Really, she’s old enough now to understand that it is something that only adults can have and it would really make her sick.