What is your favorite CAL book about growing up with alcoholism, and why?
Please share your experiences by commenting on the topic below. The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest. Member sharing on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
This month we’re asking you to share on the question, “What is your favorite CAL book about growing up with alcoholism, and why?”
I am a Member of Al-Anon Mexico that lived, and is living, surrounded by alcoholism. My favorite Book from Al-Anon has been One day at a Time. When I have learned about a new concept or theory like Co-Dependence, Enabling or the Four M’s, I go to the Index and find information there. In the same manner, I learn topics from the index and continue researching until I understand in more detail. For example in my group in Mexico we were talking about trust and I went to the Indexes of my books and found about what Al-Anon has to say… Read more »
There wasn’t any active alcoholism in my childhood home, but there were lots of “isms”. I learned to live by rules like “don’t rock the boat,” “don’t want or need,” and “don’t talk about what’s really bothering you; someone’s feelings might get hurt.” I ended up believing that I was a mistake, that I should not have been born. I became a lonely and isolated adult with no sense of who I was or how to express myself to others. Early in my recovery, my sponsor recommended our daily reader, “Hope for Today”, and I’m so grateful she did. This… Read more »
The CAL that helps me is Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses. (B 29) The section titled Grieving for our Childhood offers insights and even solutions to the unique problems of growing up with alcoholism. This chapter helped me to understand how to look back at my chaotic childhood without staring. I love the analogy it presents, of a driver’s need to occasionally glance into the rear view mirror in order to safely navigate the road. “The more we heal from our grief, the less we will need to stare at it.” I have learned to trace and accept the… Read more »
One of my favorites is Hope for Today. I’m always excited to read it at meetings because I can always relate to what is being said.
Hope for Today is probably the book I “go to” regarding my past. The readings are thought-provoking and helpful on a day-to-day basis. But when I am in a crisis I go to them all – Courage to Change, One Day at a Time, How Al-Anon Works. In 2018 I lost my daughter to the disease, no doubt the worst crisis I ever faced – and ended up reading From Survival to Recovery. It helped me in processing the “what the heck happened in my life” questions that came up.
As a former Alateen sponsor, I found the Courage to be Me book to be an excellent source about growing up in a home where alcohol was a problem. I loved how the teen members were able to share not only about problems but also the solutions. We have used the book in some Al-Anon meetings as well. Hope for Today also hits home on many pages.
My two favorite books are From Survival to Recovery (B-21) that I read few years ago and Hope for Today (B-27) that I read almost every day. I was raised in a home that one would qualify as not alcoholic. My father started to drink more heavily when he was in his early sixties. However, after coming to the program I discovered, through the many readings, that although my dad didn’t drink a lot that I remember of, he had many traits of an alcoholic. He was angry, dominant, impulsive, verbally abusive among other things, but he was also generous,… Read more »
“Hope For Today” is a daily reader that frequently touches on topics and feelings that relate to growing up around alcoholism. I bought this without knowing about that focus and I still find it a source of serenity as the tone of this book transcends categories. It is my go to favorite.
From Survival to Recovery is my hands down choice. I grew up in a horrendous alcoholic environment. I had a single mom who was a dysfunctional alcoholic drinking a quart of whiskey a day every single day. She was oblivious to the world around her, including me and my two younger sisters. We got by in pure survival mode, doing what we needed to do to take care of ourselves. I became the de facto parent as soon as I was old enough to take care of my younger sisters, at about age 9. I learned to get tough and… Read more »