“I went back to work full time—by necessity, not by plan—when the oldest started kindergarten. My youngest was still nursing, which was stopped almost immediately because it was too hard to pump at work,” she shares. Overwhelmed with mom guilt, Martina over-volunteered in her kids’ extracurricular activities to try and compensate for not being home. “I was sure the kids were missing out by my not being home. There was a lot of guilt and heaviness surrounding that.” By the end of the day, Martina would come home and practically collapse. “By the time we ate and got the kids to bed it was either fall asleep by 8 p.m. with no significant interaction with my spouse or have some wine (a glass or two). It woke me up enough to stay awake for a few more hours, but not so much I couldn’t fall asleep.” Martina adds that monitoring her intake wasn’t her strong suit, resulting in numerous occasions of overindulging and waking up with weekend hangovers. “I can’t count the number of times I attended an early weekend game with a hangover. What kept me from overindulgence—mostly—was the next day’s schedule. Getting yourself ready for work and three young kids ready for school before 7:30 will put the fear of God into anyone.” It was when her kids began middle school that they started making “wine mom” jokes about Martina and her friends. “It felt pretty [awful],” she recalls. “They were clearly paying more attention to my behavior than I was.” Today, Martina’s children are grown, and her relationship with wine has shifted. “These days I drink wine to celebrate, for review and with company. On the upside, all kids—now in their 20s—show absolutely no interest in wine—drinking at all, for that matter.” A complex varietal Just like all wines are complex and different, the same goes for today’s wine moms. The variations are vast—it’s not a one-size-fits-all description. Luckily, our local communities offer support for all types, whether it’s family friendly wineries, women support groups or options for relaxation alternatives. So grab your magnesium tablets, your CBD gummies, or your favorite splash of rosè, and relax and recharge in whatever form that might be. g
Family-Friendly Wineries If you’re looking to get out with the family and enjoy some wine, here are a few wineries that are sure to please. g Francis Ford Coppola offers the ultimate experience for families, with their two pools and poolside food and drink service. The kids can splash and swim while mom and dad sip their favorite chilled wine. 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville g Imagery Estate in Glen Ellen has several options for kid-friendly fun, including giant Jenga, bocce ball and corn hole. Not to mention, their beautiful grounds are picturesque and worth the visit. 14335 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen g Hook & Ladder in Santa Rosa is a must—generously decorated in its firefighter theme, with murals, classic red trucks, firefighter T-shirts, bocce ball and more. 2134 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa g Seghesio Family Vineyards in Healdsburg is a blast for the active family. Their bocce and bottle experience allows mom and dad to taste wine while challenging the family to a competition of bocce ball on one of their many courts. 700 Grove Street, Healdsburg. winecountry.com/blog/family-friendly- wineries-sonoma-county/
Please email comments to editor@NorthBaybiz.com
44 NorthBaybiz
March 2024
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator