The camera never blinks--even when pops is passing his kid a tasty cold one at the ball yard.

        This happened at Wrigley the other day, and got posted on www.awfulannoucning.com.

         Is it okay for Mom or Dad to slake Junior's thirst with an Old Style (remember, this is Wrigley)?

        I'm not the kind of guy who tells other parents how to raise their kids--Lord knows no one is asking ME to write a book about how I handled mine.       Conversely, if asked, I'll make a suggestion.

         I'm sure there were heads exploding out there as you hit the play button above and saw this kid take a pull.      When I got my first look, it took me back to Howards Grove, Wisconsin in the mid 60's and the backyard of my Uncle George's home where my parents and the rest of our clan were gathered for a Sunday.        Aunt Helen fed us Johnsonville brats (before they became global) and well as her usually array of homemade bread, jelly and deserts.      The adults would play sheephead (no extra "s" in the Sheboygan area) and the kids would be left to their own devices.        That meant lots of outdoor frolic, and a pretty mighty thirst.      Helen and George were always generous with the soda pop since their tap water came from a well and packed a distinctively froggy taste.      It was there, on a warm summer day, that I had my first taste of Kingsbury beer, from my mom's very glass.        My folks had no trouble with letting a kid have a taste--not a six-pack, mind you, just a swallow or two.       They thought that a little bit wouldn't hurt and was probably better than another bottle of what they affectionately called sugar-water.    And, they also thought that taking the mystery from booze might help prevent problems down the road.      Make it accessible, and the kid won't be so hell-bent to find out about it later on when no one is around.     I'd question the validity of that theory, but I know I suffered no long-term after-effect from the occasional taste of malt beverage.

         European parents have that approach--wine is all around, served in moderation in some households.     My boy just got home from a three-week swing through five European countries were he was allowed to have a beer at an event (with our prior consent) and wine at another.

        I don't know if I'd let my small child take a swig at Miller Park, though.      And, one has to always remember that at any public event these days the camera is always watching, and that there's a whole world rolling tape hoping to find something to put up on YouTube which means your every move could be subject to global scrutiny.     

       So, as always, think before you drink, or allow your kid to.