"But Rachel also has another hobby, one that makes her a bit different from the other moms in her Texas suburb—not that she talks about it with them. Once a month or so, after she and her husband put the kids to bed, Rachel texts her in-laws—who live just down the street—to make sure they’re home and available in the event of an emergency.
“And then, Rachel takes a generous dose of magic mushrooms, or sometimes MDMA, and—there’s really no other way to say this— spends the next several hours tripping balls.”
It still seems pretty negligent even if the inlaws are down the street, should a vagina scented candle get knocked over… And the kid who comes downstairs for a drink of water will not know how to deal with mom “tripping balls”.
The article says nothing about her husband partaking, so presumably there’s another sober adult present and no risk.
It felt implied (why text the in-laws?) but maybe not?
There may be a medical emergency where the husband needs to take her and leave the kids alone.
People get drunk with their kids at home all the time, not ideal but super common. Hallucinogens don’t make people catatonic or unable to interact. It’s just not that serious. I’m assuming the kids aren’t infants though. Infants need so much care so frequently that you have to be 100% on as much as possible. But I seriously doubt a nursing mother would do this (or at least trip and tell people about it)
Overall people need to lay off of parents unless they’re really harming their kids. I know people afraid to make their kids walk to school because the neighbors will call protective services. It’s ridiculous.
Seems sortof like the husband is trip sitting at least some of the time
Assuming she doesn’t take such a large dose that she can’t deal with a knocked over candle.
Also, one partner can stay relatively sober to manage reality.
I guess there’s a lot of flexibility in the phrase “tripping balls for several hours”.
As ling as you don’t take very small doses a regular shroom trip will usually last several hours
We trip regularly and I use to work in childcare. This does not sound negligent to me at all.
Mushrooms just aren’t very disabling once you’re familiar with them and measure doses. I’ve ran into and chatted with professional acquaintances while on mushrooms. It’s fine.
It’s done wonders for our relationship and mental health. I don’t think it’s for everyone, but it’s been a huge boon to us.
Did you do it at the same time as watching the kids?
Of course not but at work as a primary carer for other people’s kids is a very different scenario that at home with your own kids who are asleep while you have trusted sober adults on standby.
But I’m being told it’s absolutely fine to do. Why is it irresponsible with other people’s kids but not your own?
Because you can judge the risk for yourself and decide that at home with the kids asleep and someone on standby is within your risk tolerance. But it’s not ethical to make that decision for other people.
And it’s not just about others’ kids vs your own - there are many factors that make them different situations.
You are making that risk decision for other people though - the sleeping kids.
Parents assess risks on behalf of their children all the time, that’s like the main thing about being a parent.
They do. And they often make bad decisions. Which this is.
Would you say the same of a parent that gets drunk at night?
Yes.
Right? I would hate to be responsible for a child’s life all the time.