ABCs & ABVs - Parenting and the Drinks Industry
We managed to pin Dee Davis down to get her thoughts on parenting and the drinks industry, this is what she had to say.
On the surface, becoming a parent is the next logical step from bartending. You're already used to customers with bad coordination, no logic and mood swings, not too far removed than dealing with a toddler. That was certainly one of my thoughts anyway.
I was lucky, I had an easy pregnancy, the support of a great bar team and I didn't even miss the drinking (that much). My tip percentage doubled, both from people amazed I was still shaking cocktails at 8 months and those checking out my newly grown cleavage, before guiltily noticing the baby bump.
Plus the last festive period before maternity leave was far less ridiculous than usual, because no-one wants to be "that guy" yelling absurd requests at a heavily pregnant lady.
So far so good! However, in reality, becoming a mother was far more difficult than I was prepared for. It turns out raising a child is a lot more parenting and a lot less watching cartoons than I was expecting!
Once your child comes into the world, wave goodbye to the life you once knew. Now I'm aware becoming a parent is an overhaul no matter what job you do, but you have to admit, the drinks industry is particularly non-conducive to mother/fatherhood.
I had to take a step back from bartending, which was heartbreaking. While I'm sure there's people out there who can serve their last shot at 3am and make their kid breakfast at 7, I am not one of them.
The mornings were a real struggle. I was more than happy staying up until 6am, but waking up at that time to start your day is a completely different (and by that I mean much, much worse) ball game.
Hangovers with a child are something straight from Satan's playbook. Hair of the dog is completely out of the question and if you take your eyes off them for one moment, they start eating charcoal out of the fireplace.
Don't get me wrong, my son is an absolute legend, I know I made the right decision stepping back from running bars to have him. For every training session or after hours chill and gossip I miss, there's an early morning Ghibli marathon or a made up story about dragons to make up for it.
Working with Bristol Syrup Co has been a lifeline. Keeping me in touch with the drinks industry, while offering flexible and more child-friendly hours. Once even setting up a play area in the corner so I could simultaneously organise a photoshoot and Mother, big up to you guys.
So let's raise a (non-alcoholic) glass to all you service industry parents out there:
Adventure Thyme
15ml Strawberry Shrub
40ml apple juice
60ml cooled peppermint tea
1 sprig of thyme.