The 12 Steps to Self-Parenting for Adult Children If you are the child of an alcoholic or an adult child who has experienced a traumatic childhood, you can give yourself a second chance for intimacy, fulfillment and joy by Self-Parenting. 12 Steps To Self-Parenting, based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, will guide you to nurture your Inner Child so that it may grow into healthy self-acceptance.