Kids And Pets
 

If you are here, new, and have kids or pets, tell me how they inspire you, what you want to enjoy with them when you sober up, and the things you won't miss once you quit.

For me, I know I am not a mean drunk or anything, but I feel like I get lazy. I want to train my new show puppy! And be able to drive to shows...

I want to not go to bed at such an early hour, so I can spend more time with my son! I want him, a toddler, not to remember me with a beer can in hand. I want to be more fun!!! I drink to kill anxiety, so in a way I am more playful when I hae a few in me. But I want to get healthy so I can be fun sober. I don't want to be the drunk mom.

Oh, and I want to go back to Hitting the dog park every day!!!! And being thin like my Greyhounds!!!! And I want my son to have a mom he can be proud of. I woke up sober today and went to the park. What a great feeling. We had so much fun! I did fail after that, but a small fail, and I get back on the horse.

This is going to sound silly, but I have 5 pet chickens and they are the most hilarious pets EVER! I love to go outside when I come home from work and watch them come running up to me clucking, wanting their afternoon treat! I enjoy spending time with them and observing their antics. What I will NOT miss from my drinking days is not wanting to play with them or fix them special meals simply because I was too damn drunk to care. :-\

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<---------- I could squidge her 24/7! She got me through alot!

Zeee, so cute, what's her name? How old?

P, I had a chicken as a kid, trixie! I loved her!!!

Her name is Cookie... she is 3. She is my little angel with big ears and I love her dearly :) I was in hospital for a month a year ago (detox, liver disease, malnutrition.. blah blah)... I only cried once, it was because I missed her! She watching me now, haha!

My friend had chickens, they are great aren't they! Such characters!

there is my cats if i wasn't sober i wouldn't have the money to look after them
as all my money would go on booze and not them
also i think the cats can tell when am on something they usually stay away from me when am on something or have drank

Cookie is a super cutie. And yes, the drink will take all our money, and it sure sucks to think what we could have spent on our kids or pets! I would miss my dogs to death if I was gone a month!!!

I woke up sober this morning, and wasn't it great to make my son breakfast! And to play with the dogs. And not feel like puking. An inspiration for sure!!!

I want to be sober for my kids. I am a single parent with two boys, 16 & 13. They are amazing boys. I love spending time with them when I am sober and feeling good physically and mentally. I don't want them to have to see me drunk at night or have them tell me what I did that I can't remember. They deserve so much more. They hate it when I drink and I want them to be proud of me. Plus, I don't want to model this behavior any more. I feel guilty but I will make it up to them.

Yes you will! And they will remember and be so grateful.

Today my 15 year old dog, who is my best friend and heart dog I have had since I was a teen, now in my 30s, came and snuggled. Such a reminder that I don't want to waste his last days drunk!!! Whether sits two days it two years, I want to experience his time left with a clear head. My toddler son wants to play a game. Sober, I can do it. Teach him to build blocks. Count with him. Isnt it great?

I love chickens! They have great personalities!

I don't have kids but I have two furry children, my Rottweilers Bonnie and Blossom, both adopted. Bonnie was my very first spay surgery i ever did, in vet school. I love them with all my heart and I want to be sober for them, to give them the life they deserve. They've always gotten great care and lots of attention, but things like walks and hikes and playing in the river were definitely diminishing from being tired, drunk, hung over.... It's not fair to them. Yesterday we went for a good long walk and we all felt great about it. My new routine is work, home to walk dogs,mthen AA. I feel bad leaving them for the evening to go to a meeting, but their life will improve with me sober.
I also have a bunny (had two but had to put one to sleep last year:(). And I have a betta fish who has a nice big fish tank to live in. Gotta love the healing power of pets!

I agree! Pets are Great!!!! They inspire. Sunshine, do you have a good cheap flea suggestion? I work in a kennel. Comfortis is all that works down South on my dogs at home. Can't afford it for sixty kennel dogs. Frontline isn't working. Leas still bad. Ideas?

We got a kitten when I was three months sober.

My wish for her - never to have to see her Mom drunk

I have two dogs and the guilt I felt if I only gave them a short walk was immense. They were always by my side watching over me and giving me their unconditional lover no matter what.
Now we have beach walks nearly every day and never does a day go by with out at least a stroll in the fresh air.

I too am delighted to be walking again! The dogs need and love it.

Its raining here today. Cookie hates the rain. Its always a stress for her to decide whether its worth it... ie. the excitement of the walk verses the getting wet part. She normally runs out, does a big U-turn and runs back in... wiping herself dry on all the furniture!

This is my Shih Tzu....Pabu. He'd throw me out of the house if I picked up.

Cookie is so funny! My dogs hate rain too!

I M sober and snuggling with my teenaged dog. Playing with my son onmy iPad, silly games. A beautiful thing! Simple yet grand.

I love this thread! I'm snuggled in bed with my dogs, back from AA. SFMS-- I do know a cheap flea product but I'm not sure if it's in Canada only. For the life of me I cannot think of the name of it, and I swear I'm sober! Lol. I will get back to you tomorrow on that. I love greyhounds!

This is a great thread. My animals are my kids since I don't have children, and at 42...i don't believe it's in the cards. So, for me I have a chocolate lab, a yellow lab, beagles (a daddy and his little girl), and our cat. Long story on the cat. When it's not so late and I have time to type, I'll tell you all. It's heartbreaking, and at the same time, made cat lovers out of us dog people. He is a new one. The first one we had, we had to put down. But, again long story.

And dogs are a riot. We let ours out, and they will do anything to avoid the wet grass after they do their business. They walk the dirt path along the flower bed to come up the back deck. Our Lucy beagle actually tries to lift at least one foot when she "trots" through the yard to keep at least one foot dry.

Every morning, L'il Lucy and our yellow lab get bedtime with me when my hubby gets out of bed. Oh, and Mr Cheerio, the cat, too. I love it.

True definition of unconditional love is a pet. I do enjoy them more when sober...that is for sure.

Just some dog quotes, but it can apply to any pet:

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
- St. Roch

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
-Roger Caras

If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.
-Will Rogers

Thanks for an enlightening thread.

I couldn't agree more. I can't imagine life without my dogs. I've got two chocolate labs and I also foster rescue dogs too. Their lives are so much better since I got sober. I have the energy to walk them properly first thing in the morning as I'm not hitting the snooze button on the alarm 20 times.

My holidays no longer revolve round drinking so they come with me now, we're off walking for a week next week in Wales

Every day I am grateful that I got a second chance with my dogs

Thanks for the thread :You_Rock_

I have two dogs and since my kids are grown and gone those dogs are my kids and my life.:) Since getting sober I take much better care of them and it shows in their healthy happy dispositions.:)

I also feed and shelter the stray kitties at my house and have one stray who is very friendly to me, unlike the others. If I had the money I'd get him vetted and adopt him as a house cat...

Great. Stories!!! Our kids and pets make life worth living! So glad I will be all there to share their time now.

I have four kids and two kittens. All 6 of them are blast to be around and to watch. I couldn't imagine not being there for them and that is what would happen if I pick up again.

So true!!!!how old are your kids? Lots of fun.

My kids are 14, 9, 5, and 3. My kittens are 12 weeks old.

Aww, super cute

SFMS, the product I was trying to think of last night is called Defend. It's a permethrin. (not for kitties! Just dogs.) I don't know if it's available in the US. I'm sure there are similar products. I don't think they work as well as the more $ stuff but it may help. We are lucky up here in Western canada to not have a huge flea problem. I used to live on the east coast -- ticks, fleas, etc. ugh.