The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Hey Friends in Alanon! I need some input on my mom being at all the Alanon meetings I go to. I cannot feel free to share my issues when my mom is right there. Once a month I am able to go to a meeting outside our area 60 miles away and I don't drive! I am not sure what to do to share my ESH with someone except on this Forum. So, what do I do?
Is it something you can speak with your mom about? Would she be willing to go to another meeting? I can understand having a hard time with her there. I am an alateen sponser but when my daughter decided that she wanted to attend, I stepped down. I sat in on a couple of meetings but I was way uncomfortable, probably even more than she was! My ex MIL also has showed up to meetings that I attend. Thankfully, she isn't a very consistent person, so, she never stuck around. Or, if none of those options work, and you feel a real connection with someone in the meeting, you could get their phone number and call them, or ask them out to a "meeting after the meeting".
Ask some of the other members to give you rides to their meetings. Offer gas money. I'm also with serendipity. Talk to mom. It's time for you to be on your own meetings.
Well, if distance is a problem how about phone calls? I am in a rural area and we have lot storms. So different Alanoners and I call each other. Also, how about a sponsor? I call mine once a week. We talk about everything and I can get it off my chest. I even go to open AA meetings.
I had the same problem with having my daughter attend my meetings with me. I found that as I began to share she opened up more to me about her feelings having an alcoholic Dad. It was a real healing for us both and helped tremendously with our recovery.
Take Care,
Claudia
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A person's a person no matter how small --Dr Suess
