Sorry, I'm a little late posting this morning because…well, because…Happy New Year! Yes, it's true. Sometimes parents like to have a little party, drink a glass of wine or three, and celebrate the coming of 2015 with our loved ones. Crazy, I know. However, gone are the days when, after a night of drinks and dancing, you could sleep until 1pm, roll out of bed, meet your mates for a late brunch, and then head back to bed for another three or twelve hours. When you're a parent, kids pretty much don't care how much your head is pounding or how nauseous you might feel as you stir their breakfast eggs. This is why, when I knew I'd be at a New Year's soiree at our dear friend Bree's this year, I had to ask some Vancouver moms: "How do you hide your hangover from your kids?"
Jessica Thorburn of Paper BlueJay - Netflix and snacks
"The secret to curing any hangover is sleeping in. Obviously a near impossible feat with children in the house, but nothing a bag of goldfish crackers and an iPad full of Netflix won't remedy. Let the kids have a free-for-all morning while cartoons do some babysitting and you are sure to be able to get to sleep in until at least 8:30am. Your pounding head will be grateful until the meltdowns start around lunchtime."
Danielle Valentine of Commondekor and Melisa - Hair of the dog
Both Danielle and Melisa agree that "hair of the dog" is the key to a better day the morning after an adult party. Danielle sites the simplicity of Baileys in the morning coffee, and an extreme amount of willpower, to give a mom the ability to trudge through the day with the kids until a hangover's thunder claps finally retreat. Melisa says: "Caesars and Netflix. You can never go wrong with a "special" brunch out after only having enough energy to eat/make toast for breakfast. And then immediately get a ceasar. If I'm really ambitious I'll try for a walk through the woods with the kids which often helps bring me back to the real world. But afternoons are always Netflix. They usually think these days are the best ever."
Jennifer and Kyla - the Greasy Spoon breakfast & human jungle gym
Jennifer says: "My go to is the "special treat" going out for breakfast (ie greasy breakfast) and definitely having a pjs movie day....nothing too fancy but then again this will be the first new years we'll have a babysitter so maybe next year I'll have more tips!" Kyla languishes in the certainty that her son is too young to suspect that anything is amiss. "My son can't talk yet but the day after Halloween consisted of his father and I laying on the living floor with lots of Gatorade while our son just climbed and crawled all over us. He never knew a thing!"
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There you have it. Real hangover solutions from real Vancouver moms. Now pat yourself on the back for having a fun night and staying safe, and go make your kids some breakfast.
- All illustrations by Carina-Marie Nilsson
Carina-Marie Nilsson is the co-founder of Peaks and Harbours, a Vancouver “not just for moms” blog that showcases everything our city has to offer the younger crowd. @carinamarienilsson
