Over the last 23 years of my recovery, my children have been observing and applying the steps of recovery in their individual lives. My daughter and her fiance came to me about wedding plans. I was quiet amazed to see how simple they had kept their plans and how mature in their approach to their future. The entire wedding preparations were discussed and finalised in a few hours with realistic and simplistic preparations.

Much of their pattern was based on AA principles, and traditions as such. The keep it simple approach was adopted. Questions like :"Is it necessary Dad?" or "Our budget does not allow for that," or "We would like to put that into our new home."

I realised today how important our influence can be on our children, even if they are very little not to understand alcoholism, but can and will participate in our subsequent recovery. I thank God for the wisdom he had given me to use the program and not relapse, and destroy myself and my family.