I follow a woman with an orange Coach bag into a church basement, take a seat flanked by empty chairs, and stare at my clenched hands. It’s my first AA meeting. When introductions come around, the words surprise me: Hi, I'm Liz, and I'm an alcoholic. During the discussion, a woman says she's grateful to be a sober mom today. Something about those two words cracks me open. I sob through my share, snot and tears. Strangers hand me tissues, pat my back. Outside, there’s a crescent moon. Nothing has changed. Everything feels different. Sober mom. Sober mom. Sober mom.
Elizabeth Jannuzzi writes about loss, motherhood, and recovery. Her debut memoir, Sober Mom, published July 2026 from She Writes Press. “Sober Mom” is the winner of our HOPE contest, part of our 2026 Micromemoir Marathon.