Pub quiz! When is it acceptable to put beer in your 2-year-old's sippy cup? a.) When you've run out of chocolate milk b.) When it's way past everybody's bedtime and clearly somebody needs himself a little "nightcap" or c.) Never. Okay, obviously the correct answer is a.) When you've run out of chocolate milk ... no! Just kidding, duh. The correct answer is obviously NEVER. It's NEVER acceptable to put beer in your 2-year-old's sippy cup. Which is why Valerie Topete of Phoenix was arrested -- for allegedly putting beer in her 2-year-old son's sippy cup while dining at a restaurant. And charged with child abuse.
But here's the thing. (And here's the part where I'm going to lose a lot of you, but hang in there for a minute.) I don't think she deserved to be charged with child abuse, because I don't think she did anything wrong.
At first, of course, I did. But then I heard Topete's side of the story: Her family went out for pizza. They ordered a pitcher of beer. Her son, like most 2-year-olds, didn't want his sippy cup of apple juice, he wanted what the grown-ups were drinking, so he kept fussing and reaching for the pitcher. Finally Topete put a "splash of beer" in her son's cup as "reverse psychology." Which makes sense! Beer does not taste good to small children. I know exactly how this went down: You're not going to like it, that's for grown-ups. MINE! You won't like it. I WANT IT. You won't like it. NOW! Fine, here you go! How's that?! I no like it.
And that's the last time he'll ask for beer until he's 16. Brilliant move on Mom's part. Or, at the very least, NOT freaking child abuse. The 2-year-old was taken to a hospital for "precautionary reasons" and was later released to the care of his father, according to police. His mom is reportedly still in police custody.
Meanwhile, countless ACTUAL child abusers are doing serious harm to their kids behind closed doors. But we're too busy pointing fingers at a mom who merely made a snap decision in a public place to pay attention to the real criminals. It makes me absolutely sick.
Do you think this mom is guilty of child abuse for putting a "splash of beer" in her son's sippy cup?
Image via ECohen/Flickr
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 122
@ American Expat - Your logic has no place in modern times. In the time of the founding fathers, water was too contaminated to drink. Even milk wasn't a safe bet--the importance of simple hygeine tasks weren't known and pastuerization of milk wasn't widely done until the 20th century, nor were there tests for TB and other cow illnesses. The fermentation process of alcohol killed off most bacteria that could kill you, which is how most alcohol businesses in the US and other countries flourished.
I don't think this is child abuse; a splash of beer isn't going to hurt him. It's not like she took a funnel and poured it down his throat. However, it was unwise to do it in a public place and I understand why the restaurant called the police. Even if it didn't hurt the child, they could be liable for serving alcohol to a minor and technically what the mother did IS illegal in serving alcohol to her minor child.
Poor judgement of doing it in a restaurant and putting it in the sippy. At home and give them a sip out of your glass isn't that bad. Unfortunately, not all kids hate it as planned though-my daughter spit it out, while my son begged for more, lol.
that is some stupid crap she did that you don't give beer to kids that is a big no no
By doing this the mother sends a message to the child that they are allowed to have beer. What if the child liked it? Then she would have been back to square one of her child grabbing for the pitcher wanting more. Buck up and tell your child no. Your child is not in charge of you, you are in charge of your child, you are the parent.
Do we know for a fact that she only put a splash of beer in or is that what she is saying? It doesn't make sense to give your child a splash of beer in apple juice to get them to realize they won't like it because then it would just taste like apple juice with a little bit of beer in it and the child might not even notice it. Sounds like she's just making up an excuse.
Its no biggy to give your child a sip.Most kids hate the taste of it.I had a sip once when i was 7 years old,i was so gross now im 55 years old and i still hate it.