At Valley Recovery Center, we cater specifically to men in our sober living homes. But that doesn’t mean we can’t draw inspiration from things happening within the “Mommy Culture.” On that note, a new virtual Sober Mom Squad has emerged among women throughout the U.S., helping to further alcohol abstinence (and gaining national attention in the process).
The TODAY Show site published a recent article on the Sober Mom Squad, highlighting how they’re teaching women to shun away from traditional wine hours. One influencer who has made a major impact in the movement is Emily Lynn Paulson (who also happens to be a recovery coach).
Paulson spoke with TODAY and believes that the stressors of COVID-19 have had a major impact on alcohol consumption (particularly amongst parents). We’ve shared similar stats, which show a dramatic increase in beer and wine sales over the past eight months.
As Paulson explained, this behavior can have dire consequences and is setting a bad example for children in the home.
“I had women reaching out to me and saying gosh, I thought I was a social drinker, but now I’m home and I’m drinking all the time,” she told the site. “And their kids are home, and they’re witnessing their drinking.”
So to help promote a cleaner lifestyle, Paulson co-founded the Sober Mom Squad. Here, women get together via Zoom and offer support to one another. For added fees, there are also one-on-one coaching sessions and virtual counseling options available; all in a safe and comfortable environment.
The group has now become quite active on social media, sharing inspiring recovery messages on channels like Facebook and Instagram. Over the past eight months, Sober Mom Squad has earned thousands of followers and become a true online community.
Paulson also happens to be a recovering alcoholic, who openly discusses here story through her own Instagram experience. And in an interesting twist, she shared that plans are in the works to launch a new sober group for husbands; much in the same vein.
We agree that virtual sober groups transcend gender (and any category, for that matter). The concept, itself, is promising and much needed during times of social isolation. So whether you’re a “Mommy,” a “Daddy,” or anything in between, we strongly support delving in to virtual support when alcoholic temptations arise.
