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12-Step Mama

Retired Columns

From “Life in the Sandwich” to “Special Needs Mama” to “Zen and the Art of Child Maintenance”—they’re all here for you to explore.

Time to Pass it On

On the first day of first grade, Daniel got dressed, tied his shoes, ate breakfast, and brushed his teeth without prompting — all the things I’d nagged him to get…

12-Step Mama | September 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 12: Awakened by a Child

I don’t know how you can be a mother and not feel spiritually awake. I can’t take credit for the creation, for the mother love that descends upon me, for…

12-Step Mama | August 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 11: Caught and Taught by Grace

It was almost the end of the school year when Daniel became the treasured child. Every day for a week he came in from school, dumped his backpack, and showed…

12-Step Mama | June 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 10: Mother’s Day Leftovers

It’s the morning after Mother’s Day and here I sit, chin in hands, reeling with an emotional hangover. I check my e-mail and pick my poison. Here’s one from my…

12-Step Mama | May 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 9: Making Good on the Promises

Becoming a mother taught me more about how deeply I’d harmed my own mother. With Mom facing dementia, the last few years especially have been my turn to host the…

12-Step Mama | April 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 8: Faith Without Works is Just a Prayer Without Legs

The A.A. program is one big amend, and step eight forces me to put my money where my mouth is. I said “I’m sorry” so often in my drinking days…

12-Step Mama | March 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 7: Unexpected Breaks

Daniel got “the besd pikshr” award for his drawing at school today. It’s a somewhat still life of a blue ATV crashing into the back of a truck. I think…

12-Step Mama | March 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 6: Getting Out of My Own Way

Today I’m more willing to give up my hobbling defects in order to show my son how to do the same. I’m ready to quit my anger when I see…

12-Step Mama | February 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 5: Taking the Fifth, Not Pleading It

Knowing that I will have to tell the truth about my warped thoughts, deeds, and feelings to another helps keep my behavior somewhat in check today — a cheap motive,…

12-Step Mama | January 2008 | By Anonymous


Step 4: Our Naughty and Nice Lists

We all know how to take inventory of our stuff: our books, our clothes, our pantries. Inventory of the self is similar, a check to see what we’ve got in…

12-Step Mama | December 2007 | By Anonymous


Step 3: Turning to God

I practiced Step Three on an issue other than alcohol when I said “yes” to pregnancy. It felt scary and surreal. When we chose Daniel, we were willing to give…

12-Step Mama | November 2007 | By Anonymous


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