Dear Care and Feeding: How do I stand up for myself when the taunting is endless?
I just turned 20 and finished my sophomore year of college. I don’t drink, and I don’t plan on drinking when I turn 21, either. I know I have poor impulse control and weak discipline, and I’m afraid if I start drinking, I’ll like it and I won’t be able to stop. Addiction runs in my dad’s family. My dad was an alcoholic who left us when I was 8 and died on the streets.
People think that because I don’t drink, it means that I would have an awful social life on campus, or that people would constantly be mocking me, calling me a wuss or something. I’ve found that most people my age don’t really care. I’ve never had to explain my reasoning. Parties also aren’t really my scene. I hate loud noises and being around drunk people. Instead, I play board games or watch movies or go hiking with friends on weekends.
However, people at home do make fun of me. My mom’s family and my stepfather like to think of themselves as the “cool parents,” letting kids as young as 15 drink at any family events. I’m sure if other people were in my shoes, they’d be thrilled to have a family who supported their drinking. But I don’t drink, and no one in my family respects me. My step dad always calls me a square and tells me to lighten up. My uncles and aunts call me a loser .
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