feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

[retteacher]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Everyone: The meetings in this small town are awesome. There is a beautiful clubhouse w/meetings 3 times daily. We went to one this morning whose topic was: "What is your history w/entering AA?" Something like that. People talked about their experience, strength, & hope w/AA...also, there was plenty of talk about how there was resistance to AA as well. If you asked me 10 years about if I would be a member of AA someday, I'd say: "Heck no!" I feel like we're making personal connections here. Our son, g-friend, & g-kids have school/work during the day, so I think we'd be pretty lost wo/AA. I couldn't be more grateful to be a member. Plus, there is a stack of Grapevines for the borrowing. I'm getting all caught up. Great stuff! Mary

[bettygirl]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

cool mary! what a nice experience

im on my way to a meeting...I haven't been to one in weeks! winter gets to me like that.

my husband is going to a conference at the end of march, so I need to strengthen my fortitude and keep my butt involved...those times were always major binge times for me in the past. I would drink my everyday amount plus more when he was out of town...I'm not worried, just planning ahead.

peace!

[retteacher]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

BG: My husband travelled for work, so yes, I too drank unbridled during those trips...kind of a free for all. Awful. My husband has an overnight spiritual retreat during the middle of March, so I too have to be very, very careful during that time. During a retreat in 2012, I relapsed. It was an automatic response to being in the house alone. I had those "nobody will ever know" thoughts. Of course, I didn't think the relapse would extend to when he returned & then some. Fantastical thinking: "I'll stop when he gets home." That relapse led to the very humbling experience of telling my loved ones & sponsor & having to pick up a 24 hour chip some weeks later. Never again, I hope! Mary

[Solitaire]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Hello friends!
Today I am picking up my son from rehab, he may go out from 1 to 5pm.
He asked to go for a haircut, and maybe lunch,
Tomorrow, he spends the day with us at home from 11 to 5! So....
Chickens are cooking away, soon to be transformed into chicken pie.
He is done with Step 5, I can't wait to spend some time with him!
Hugs! xxx

[retteacher]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Sol: I love that you took time to tell us about your son! It's so rewarding to see. Have a wonderful time w/him. Having a child in recovery is one of the greatest of parental experiences. Love, Mary

[bettygirl]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

sol, best to you and your son! there was a man and his son at a meeting I went to last night. the son was a third generation AAer.

there was also a newcomer that really touched me last night. her teenager had caught her with a beer at 9 am yesterday. apparently, she has drank for years because of anxiety and yesterday was the culmination of it with her kid. she was red faced, sad, and scared. I went to her and talked about what happens in the meetings (this group is a particularly fun and joyous group), and that they will ask if she wants a phone list, and that she should take one, and that she didn't have to do anything except have the desire to stop drinking to be a member. I hope she calls me, I have never felt that much empathy for a newcomer before...maybe this is the next step in sobriety, or maybe not! we'll see what happens.

peace

[retteacher]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

BG: What an interesting story of the newcomer you mentioned. That could have been me having that morning drink to calm the jitters. Getting caught is so humiliating, but it was what got me into AA. I don't think I would have done it on my own. Did she identify as an alcoholic? Was this her first meeting? I'm so glad you took the time to speak w/her. Newcomers need that TLC. Mary

[Solitaire]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

20 February 2014.
At 13:00 I go fetch my son from the treatment facility!
Today he is 2 months clean and sober!!
Tonight we attend a meeting for the 1st time together...
I am: grateful, excited, scared, worried, apprehensive...
Time to Let go and Let God!
I just don't know how you lead a life of abstinence from the tender age of 19...
Sure, it can be done, I don't think it is going to be easy, New friends, because the old ones aren't clean... Etc.
From today, I will double my focus on my own recovery, and remind myself that I am just his mom, not his sponsor!
One day at a time...
Love
Sol xxx

[caysea]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Hi All
Sol I Am so happy to see you and your family's life coming together. Odd how the common problem off addiction can bring a family together when it is faced and dealt with. We all know the other destructive side of addiction.
Walking the walk by you is a powerful example for your son and also those in your program. One of the many reasons getting sober is the most important thing us alkies can do for ourselves and those we love.

Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF. 5-16-08

[retteacher]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Sol: You & your son are such an inspiration! Yes, you are right that you aren't his sponsor. My son is a recovering alcoholic. It's hard not to want to direct him, but it's his life. Our children have to find their own way of being in the world with or without alcohol.

While on vacation here in TX, I've been reading many back issues of the Grapevine. There are plenty of stories from teens & young adults who got/stayed sober early. It can be done. Remember the slogans: One day at a time, Let go & let God, etc. They apply here.

Take care of yourself. I must admit it is a joy going to a meeting w/my son. Mary

[Doggygirl]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Hello Mary, Sol, Bettygirl, Sunny and Caysea! So wonderful to see you all here and posting. I'm checking in to touch the lifeline!

Your posts about your children remind me of a young woman I met at a meeting who was celebrating her 21st birthday in AA clean and sober. She expressed concern about being so young with all the young people partying around her. Another woman spoke up - a woman who was probably in her 40's. This other woman said "I too got sober before I was 21 and have never taken a legal drink." It was just very interesting the connections and similarities that can be found in AA.

I wish the best to each of you and to each of your children!

DG

[retteacher]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

DG: So glad to see you here. How are your studies progressing? I have a lot of respect for all of you who do that work. We NEED rehab. I was just reading the "doctor's opinion" this morning. He felt that many alcoholics need hospitalization (as he referred to it). I agree. Though I did my detox on my own, that's not for everyone. I went to many, many meetings that first year of sobriety. Likewise, I went to many, many meetings after my relapse in '12. I still attend many meetings. I can't say enough about AA...especially now that we're here on an extended vacation in TX. We happened to find an incredibly vibrant AA community, complete w/a wonderful clubhouse. A coincidence? I don't think so. Tonight we are attending their monthly potluck. Good to see you here. Mary

[Doggygirl]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Mary - how awesome you have found great support in Texas! As a world wide group, AA is truly amazing. For those who do need rehab, AA can provide such an important source of long term support for those who give it a chance. I can't tell you how many times I've suggested "take what you need and leave the rest" to those who wonder if it might help them after treatment.

There is something special about being among people who totally understand my compulsions.

Travel safely Mary. When are you headed home, if you know?

DG

[retteacher]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

DG: We're headed home Fri. morning. We've enjoyed our son, his g-friend, & the g-kids. But, I never would have expected such a vibrant AA community & such a beautiful clubhouse in such a tiny TX town. HP at work I'm sure! Last night was the monthly potluck followed by the birthday meeting. There was a collective 200 years of sobriety this month. One guy told me that last month was 168 years. Lots of solid long-term sobriety.

All we can do is suggest AA as a program of recovery. Even Bill W. & Dr. Bob agreed that AA isn't the be all & end all of recovery programs. There are plenty of ways to get sober. AA works for me, but I'm not closed-minded about it. There are other ways to do it.

Mary

[Solitaire]

feb-bbbbbbrrrrrr-uary AA thread

Hello friends,
I just love waking up and hearing the soft rain falling!
So, an update:
My family is complete again!
All is well, my prince is in a good space, going to meetings, started attending class at university...
However... Somehow, I am battling to trust him! Years of lies, I "anticipate" my disappointment!
I realise it is my disease! A silly example:
We went to different meetings last night. When I checked my phone after we were done, there was a message from him, although his meeting should finish an hour after mine....
My 1st thought was: what lame excuse will he have for missing his meeting...
They have a break halfway through....
The councilors in rehab told him that he broke and lost our trust, and that he will have to work to get it back...
So, thanks for letting me share in this safe "place"
Hugs from Sol xxx