Kids 'R' Us

When I first came into the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, I often had to bring my two-year-old daughter with me to meetings. Not once did anyone complain when she used to crawl around under the tables and untie everyone's shoes. Instead she and I were met with smiling faces and loving embraces. There were plenty of times when my daughter would speak out loud during a meeting (two-year-olds don't understand the concept of whispering). There were plenty of times when she got tired of trying to keep still, got frustrated, and started to cry, and when that happened, someone in the group would just get up, take my child out into another room, and entertain her. And when I'd walk into a meeting all stressed out (and didn't even know it), someone would see my anguish and pick up my child so I could sit still in the meeting. People would take shifts with her so I could get a good grip on this wonderful program. I never had to worry that they were not treating her well. I just accepted their gift to me. Thank God for those people for their compelling love toward me and my daughter.