An Industry Built to Profit Off Struggles of Mothers: Interview with Celeste Yvonne
We were so honored to have the chance to chat with Celeste Yvonne, a leading voice in the conversation around alcohol and parenting. In her book, It's Not About the Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind Mommy Wine Culture, Celeste unpacks the societal pressures that push parents—especially moms—toward alcohol and reveals some of the deeper issues at play. Celeste has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, US Weekly, The Washington Post, CNN, and more, sharing her powerful insights on breaking free from mommy wine culture. In this interview, she opens up about her personal journey to reassess her relationship with alcohol, the challenges facing parents today, and how we can create a healthier, more supportive culture for families.
Can you tell us a bit about your choice to remove alcohol from your life? What inspired you to make this change, and how has it impacted your life?
Growing up with an alcoholic father, I saw the devastation of addiction firsthand in our family. Even so, I saw my own drinking progressively increase. When I became a mom, I realized I could not be a present mom and drink the way I liked to drink. I knew I’d have to make a choice, and when my boys were 1 and 3 years old, I quit drinking, and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.
In your book, “It’s Not About the Wine” you dive into mommy wine culture and how it’s actually really harming moms and covering up some bigger issues. Can you tell us more about that?
As social media ramped up in the 2010’s, this disturbing trend of making jokes about all the wine moms needed to parent their kids took off. Phrases like “Mommy needs wine” became a part of the parenting vernacular on Facebook, at playdates, and even on t-shirts at Target. I was complicit in this narrative too, often justifying my own drinking with jokes to help placate the harms and dangers of parenting under the influence.
Once I quit drinking, I realized the problem with mommy wine culture wasn’t actually the wine. Parents – especially mothers – are overwhelmed and under supported, and alcohol marketers pounced on the female demographic by suggesting they have “tools” to support this massive population.
The idea of moving away from alcohol can be a daunting one for people, even something that makes them feel defensive. We’re curious about the response you’ve seen to your book.
The number of mothers struggling with drinking, especially since Covid, has reached epidemic proportions. My book has helped many women understand that alcohol is not a long-term solution and that parents need substantial systemic changes to feel supported and valued, while also highlighting what we can do and how to elicit change. Through my story and sharing the stories of other mothers who got lost in the addiction spiral, my book helps mothers feel seen and offers tools and resources for how to quit drinking without feeling deprived.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing mothers today? And parents in general?
Our country does not value parents, and it shows in our antiquated corporate expectations for parents and flexible work environments, as well as our lack of federal policies around parental leave. We are one of the only countries that doesn’t offer paid leave for new parents, and the exorbitant costs of childcare leave many new parents to fend for themselves financially, physically, and from a mental health standpoint.
We also do not equip fathers to take on the critical work of parenting, both in terms of tools and by limiting paternity leave. In my research, I learned many new fathers do not take paternity leave, even when it’s offered, because their workplaces discourage it! This puts even more onus on the mothers and takes us full circle in the lack of support for mothers.
We know you did so much research for your book and are curious, with what you know today, what would you tell someone who is on the fence about reassessing their relationship to alcohol, especially as it relates to raising children.
After writing my book and hosting hundreds of support meetings for moms in recovery, I can say with conviction it is never too late to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. You will never regret a day you don’t drink, and sobriety will positively impact your relationships with your entire family.
What do you think is the most important thing for parents to model for their children when it comes to substance use, and why?
When we show our children healthy coping strategies and life choices, we teach them to think critically when it comes to peer pressure or external influences. My children are growing up with a dad who can drink in moderation and stops after one, and a mom who realized none is best. I hope through this experience they will learn the best path for themselves.
How can parents best support their children in making healthy choices, and what are some common pitfalls to avoid?
Statistics overwhelmingly show that the longer someone waits before drinking or experimenting with drugs, the better. Allowing our kids to “safely” experiment at home has been proven as dangerous and is more harmful than good. In our home, I encourage our family to openly discuss the effects of drinking, drugs, and smoking. They know why their dad drinks and their mom doesn’t. I always want them to know they can come to me with questions about anything and I will tell them the truth.
We are so grateful to Celeste for sharing her time, wisdom, and experience with us. If you’d like to learn more, you can find Celeste online at her website and follow her on social media for continued conversations about mindful parenting and breaking free from harmful cultural norms.