I share this photo of a sponsee and his one year old.

The mother was in recovery, decided to experiment with drink again and some days later was dead.
They seemed such a happy couple, both in recovery, both quite yund and both with similar
mindest.
I was a regular recipient of her wonderful hospitality and we three shared many great recovery moments.
And then it ( the dis-ease) happens and she's gone forever.
After the shock had died down, Iasked T what baby felt and whether she missed L and all he had to say was 
"She dosent know better".

That was a very impacting moment for me friends; I realized how using, desperate and dying addicts deprive their kinds of love and security that they need very much of at that tender age.
I also know that this can happen in clean time too, when secondary addictions or other obssessions keep me away from good quality time with my family.

Thats why I try and remember on a daily basis that an addict, any addict, can stay clean, lose the desire to use and find a new way to live.

In my case it's been living and loving the NA Way !!

-- Edited by Raman on Saturday 1st of May 2010 06:35:30 AM

Know what that baby did after I clicked her ?? She wanted to click too. 
They see and they learn.
 
I was witness to the struggle the guy had to go thru, especially as a single father bringing up a girl-child. Bright part is that the guy has been weathering all those storms and is near one year clean.
 
Very difficult cause Ive been thru the same thing,, only in my case it was a divorce that left me with the responsibility. Ive been bringing up baby from when she was three. Couldnt have done it without Ma,, God bless her. 
Strange thing was that T had his Ma to support him too. 

For God's sake, how life leads us into situations where we become aware that we are alone in our suffering. T was exactly in the same situation that Id been in about 12 years ago and his unique story was unfolding right there before my very eyes.
Indeed was the Program at work there.

I had to be 12000 miles from my daughter to decide that although Id been with my girl upto the age of 11,  I wont deprive my girl of my prescence anymore.
 I will be her present and not absent parent at least till she is 18,,, then I shall wish her all the best and leave the rest to God Almighty !!!

-- Edited by Raman on Saturday 1st of May 2010 06:48:05 AM

Thanks for sharing Raman. There can be so much grief brought on by using strange things happen and people dont even have a clue.

Thanks Raman! unfortunately im my area there are many children I see in the rooms.I guess its a blessing that parents can make meetings,but I did hear a 16 year old share at his fathers celebration,that he hated coming to meetings and that it kept his family away from being home?Like Carol said "we have to remain vigilante also with "recovery at home" we are obsessed and compulsed people and easy to get caught up in "our stuff"like it says IN jANUARY "jUST FOR tODAY"  'what difference if we are using and out and gone all the time or we are at meetings,celebrations,conventions and gone all the time"WERE STILL GONE!!!! I also PRAY THE CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO MAKE MEETINGS.......