I have a 10 year old and am new to the program. Does anyone know of any literature I could get to explain to him at his level what AA is and how it is helping mom?
10 year olds are pretty advanced these days. He probably knows about your drinking problem. Just tell him its classes for you to learn how not to drink
If your son wanted to learn how to some cool new tricks on his bike, he would hang out with the kids who know how to do those cool tricks. He would listen to them, watch them, take advice from them ... he would become one of them.
The same is with AA ... YOU and I want to stop drinking, and since we can't learn how to do it on our own, we will start to hang out with those who don't drink. We listen to them, watch them, take advice from them ... and God willing, become one of them as well.
Oh he knows and I have explained. That is the thing he is so advanced he wants to know exactly how AA will help me.
give him the Big Book and tell him to read it. he can do a book report on for school. There's better than a slim chance (God forbid)that he may someday have a problem with it. I did a lot of talking to my son about the family hererditary aspect of the disease and how there is No good reason to drink at all. Given that both my parents, both his parents and both his other grand parents are alcoholics or problem drinkers, he doesn't have much of a chance statistically speaking.
We are not alone in the disease of alcoholism or AA. The wives and families who use to sit in the "other room" while the early alkies met eventually arrived at starting the Al-Anon Family Groups and in the 50s Alateen arrived. Alateen is a part of the Al-Anon Family Groups and though the starting age is 12 sometimes a younger person is allowed in the meeting if they can follow the protocols mostly "sit and listen". Often times Al-Anon will meet at the same time and place as AA. It was that way when I got into recovery.
Al-Anon does have literature that can support your 10 year old. They have one piece in comic art form with the title "What's drunk Momma?" go get that one and they have the Alateen daily reader (yes just like us) and more. They will not bar you at the door so fear not we are all here for the very same reason...to recover and recapture our lives after alcoholism. At 10 it is soooo very necessary that he get the information now and surely before his first drink.
In Support (((((hugs)))))
Very same 12 steps and very same traditions.
-- Edited by Jerry F on Tuesday 9th of June 2009 02:31:25 PM
Welcome to MIP, Ari. No suggestions here but a great big warm welcome & an invite to keep on coming back :) Great to have you here! Good luck in your Sobriety, Danielle x
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