March 12

March 12 – AM          Page 127-128, The Family Afterward, Chapter 9

As each member of a resentful family begins to see his shortcomings and admits them to the others, he lays a basis for helpful discussion.  These family talks will be constructive if they can be carried on without heated argument, self-pity, self-justification or resentful criticism.  Little by little, mother and children will see they ask too much, and father will see he gives too little.  Giving, rather than getting, will become the guiding principle.

March 12 – PM          Page 33-34, More About Alcoholism, Chapter 3

To be gravely affected, one does not necessarily have to drink a long time nor take the quantities some of us have.  This is particularly true of women.  Potential female alcoholics often turn into the real thing and are gone beyond recall in a few years.  Certain drinkers, who would be greatly insulted if called alcoholics, are astonished at their inability to stop.  We, who are familiar with the symptoms, see large numbers of potential alcoholics among young people everywhere.  But try and get them to see it!*

* True when this book was first published.  But a 1996 U.S. / Canada membership survey showed about one-fifth of A.A.’s were 30 and under.