[ladyjane4rent]

I have gone 2 nights sober at home. I am not really counting the ones I work at night because I don't because I don't have the chance to drink those days/nights.
I went to my first AA meeting last Sunday, it was strange for me. I felt very uncomfortable being the youngest there and everyone was double my age. Am I the only 24 yr old in AA? Does that seem weird to folks older than me? Does it look bad to be so young and already struggling with alcoholism? Anyway.. I didn't feel right because I don't like being around people I don't know and my social anxiety was at full flex that night. But I am going back this Sunday, no matter what.
This weekend is the biggest challenge so far.. we are staying at a hotel and for the very first time not drinking. I want to drink... I want to open a bottle of wine and have a few glasses while relaxing. That sounds delightful. But I am not going to and here is why:
1. Why break the sober streak when I am proud of myself just for the first few nights?
2. It is a king suite with my fiance and our 5 yr old daughter who will be sleeping right smack in between us in the bed, why burden her with stale alcohol on our breath in the morning? She may remember that when she gets older
3. Here is something I never thought of.. the empty beer bottles or etc, when she wakes up and sees them she may be able to recall this fine detail later on in life as well.
4. Could spend that money on yummy snacks instead... like cheesecake!

BadMe says "get the wine, even normal people enjoy a bottle of wine on vacation! Two glasses one nights wont do anything"
GoodMe says "you must learn to live without it!! Don't give in! You will regret for the next week if you drink"

I have been having a lot of those conversations lately, at least five times a day. So I am asking anyone and everyone with an idea of what normal people do on vacation at night after children are in bed. I have no idea...
Can't really watch TV, since it is right in front of the bed where she will be trying to sleep. Bored games don't sound like fun, but we have about 20 of them. Those are the only ideas I have come up with so far.
The hotel has a pool, sauna and fitness room.. we could take turns visiting those things but that will defeat the purpose of 'family vacation' and spending time together. Help! please!

[Leed]

Hi ~ I applaud you for going to AA. NO, 24 does NOT sound too young to go to meetings! We have TEENAGERS at our meetings who are full-fledged alcoholics! So you are NOT too young to have problems with alcohol. Alcoholism hits any age group. It's just that the group that you've joined doesn't seem to have any young people YET -- or they haven't had the guts to join YET. Don't worry -- they'll be coming soon. In time, you won't be the youngest.

Please don't drink this weekend. You WILL regret it, and even tho your daughter is very young, I can remember times when my parents (who were both alcoholics) were VERY drunk, and I was 5 years old. It continued until I left home at 18 -- and after that! My home life was not very pleasant, and YOU don't want your daughter to have memories like that.

While you're staying at the hotel, why not ask the front desk if they have anyone that they trust to watch your daughter for a couple of hours so that you and hubby can get away for a while. You'll still be in the building, right? Maybe you can just go swimming, or to the sauna, etc. Or maybe just take daughter with you to the pool and play for awhile. If she stays up later than usual, so what? She'll certainly sleep better if she's in the water for a bit. My kids always loved playing in the pool and they DID sleep like a log afterwards.

I wish you the very best. And good luck at your next meeting. Please don't feel "weird" at the meeting. You're all there for the same reason -- you're all struggling with the same thing. It doesn't matter what your ages are. You have the same disease. So make friends -- you'll need them. God bless & take care! Hugs, Lee

[ladyjane4rent]

Thank you
Even though we were drinking every night we never drank in front of our daughter. It s after bed time that is hardest for us because that is the only time we drink. Never brought her to friend's BBQs because they all drink in front of their kids and it makes us uncomfortable.
We are bringing her to this hotel just for her, a special weekend where she gets to enjoy doing what she loves: swim and play.
But after she goes to bed for the night and we sit down together to unwind.. there will be no bottles or glasses in our hands.. and it will be weird.
Still trying to think of things for us to do [quietly] in the room while she sleeps in bed.