Keeping it a secret over the holidays?

Ryan&Kristin062009

Any tips as far as getting away with not drinking?

jay-tea

I just didn't make a big deal of it - you'd be surprised at how few people even think to notice.  Otherwise - just carry around a glass of wine or claim designated driver status.

mjellison81

I used the "I'm on antibiotics" excuse a couple of times early on, and like PP said, most people really won't even notice if you don't say anything about it, especially if you're carrying around a glass of club soda or really anything in a glass with a slice of lime. The designated driver excuse works well too.

MoFin07

This is going to be tough for me with my sister, Mom and my sister's MIL (we are close).  I agree that typically people don't notice, but when my family gets together wine is a big part of it.  At a family party a few weeks ago my sister gave me a side glance when I said I was not drinking.  I told her I was going to be the DD and let DH drive.  Since I'm hosting Christmas I can't use that excuse.  My plan is to make Sangria and pour myself a tiny bit and then fill it with juice and nurse it to not arouse suspicion.  I'm hoping that works.

olivia_eve

I am a big wine drinker, so when I'm not drinking it, people look at me funny.  The girls in my book club figured out I was pregnant over the summer because I had an iced tea at a BBQ!

My plan is to have a Sprite with a slice of lime in it for when I'm at other people's houses.  We're hosting Christmas at our house, so I'm going to get some sparkling juice and drink that.  I'll be able to explain away the juice being purchased in the first place because my cousin's wife is breastfeeding, so I don't know how much she's drinking these days.  I really hope I can keep it a secret, my MIL is soooo nosy and she tells everyone she knows when we're pregnant, even when we specifically ask her to not tell anyone. 

damabo80

Unless you are known as the "Girl who is drunk on top of the table by 8p" person, it's really.not.that.big.of.a.deal, and most people probably won't notice. The people who would notice are probably the same people who will quiz you everytime they see you, "so, are you KUed yet?". If you do have these types of friends, it's time to learn how to set appropiate boundaries with them about what is appropiate to ask and what is not.

So, my advice to you? Just don't drink. If you're handed a drink, carry it around, and then set it down on another table a few minutes later. If you *have* to have an excuse, pick one:

-You're giving your liver a break from the bender you went on the day before

-You're DD for the evening

-You took some Advil/medicine before

-You'd rather eat your calories than drink them

-You're just not in the mood

-You joined the Mormon religion

Like I said, it's really not that hard or that big of a deal. Hardly anyone will even notice.

ksulli

My ILs were over right after our BFP and knew we were trying- I didn't want the question, so I filled an empty beer bottle with water and kept my mouth shut, let them think what they will.

jay-tea

damabo80:

Unless you are known as the "Girl who is drunk on top of the table by 8p" person, it's really.not.that.big.of.a.deal, and most people probably won't notice. The people who would notice are probably the same people who will quiz you everytime they see you, "so, are you KUed yet?". If you do have these types of friends, it's time to learn how to set appropiate boundaries with them about what is appropiate to ask and what is not.

So, my advice to you? Just don't drink. If you're handed a drink, carry it around, and then set it down on another table a few minutes later. If you *have* to have an excuse, pick one:

-You're giving your liver a break from the bender you went on the day before

-You're DD for the evening

-You took some Advil/medicine before

-You'd rather eat your calories than drink them

-You're just not in the mood

-You joined the Mormon religion

Like I said, it's really not that hard or that big of a deal. Hardly anyone will even notice.

- You just took a vicodin for those darn pre-menstrual cramps and don't want to fall face first into the rum cake.

SweetieD21

Friends of ours have a NYE party every year.  Last year the wife had just found out she was pregnant but didn't tell anyone.  She drank root beer all night, claiming it was root beer and root beer vodka, and did a hell of a job pretending to be drunk!  I never guessed she really wasn't!

MissLMS

The problem I have is that my family ALWAYS has wine with dinner during family meals. I love drinking wine, so if I turn down a glass, my mom and sister will know something is up in a heartbeat.

My plan is to take a glass of wine at dinner and pretend to be sipping on it. At some point I hope to pass off the glass to DH next to me who will gulp it for me.

I'm nervous about Christmas Eve dinner because it really will be the one time that I might accidentally out myself!

lindsay.lou

You don't have to be an alcoholic for people to take note of you not drinking.

When I get together with my extended family (who I don't get to see often) for the holidays, drinking is expected. It would be WEIRD if someone didn't drink.  I don't think fake drinking is ridiculous at all. Pour apple juice in a wine glass or something like that.