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.
I read a lot of the postings on here daily and I post as well. I'm a child of an alcoholic and married to someone who is not alcoholic but has alcoholic behaviors. I attend Face to Face meetings when I can.
Last night I attended a meeting and there was a speaker. A girl from Alateen. She was originally born in the Ukraine and taken from her alcoholic parents at a young age. She and her sisters were split up and she was adopted out to an American family involved in Al-Anon. Al-Anon and Alateen have saved her life. It was an amazing and moving story. I wish I had found Alateen when I was a kid.
Just a thought - for those of you that have kids you might want to consider Alateen for them. They allow as young as 8 yrs old in the program.
Yes, alateen is a wonderful program. Where I live the youngest the pre teen groups will take is 10. So nice to hear the groups in your area welcomes the younger ones.
Two years ago I was able to attend an Alateen meeting at Area Assembly. The children amazed me in how they dealt with what they are forced to go through. They had complete acceptance. I didn't hear a single pity party, but my heart went out for all of them. One 16 year old girl said for the last two years she had the responsibility of taking care of her two younger sisters, doing the cooking and cleaning, grocery shopping, making sure everyone's homework was done including her own, and mentioned she didn't know who her Daddy was.................
I remember thinking after the meeting that sometimes my problems are nothing more than a hurt finger, while others problems, including the teens at that meeting could be compared to having my arm cut off.
Wow, RLC, that is an amazing story. In February we have the annual state Alanon/Alateen Conference. I was able to attend last year and hear a 12 year old tell her story from the podium with grace and ease before hundreds of people. She had tremendous courage and it was so awesome to see the younger ones to get this program at an early age. So inspirational.
there used to be alateen in liverpool in the uk where I live however there are no groups at the moment. I heard two al ateen girls share at a convention one who had been in recovery for 18 months and one for just five months. I was amazed at the level of recovery the girl had who had been attending for 18 months. I do not wish my parents were alcoholics but I would have loved to learn this philosophy for life early on. At the moment our group is trying to start an alateen meeting. You have to have been attending al anon for 3 years I think to be a alateen sponsor. I would love this but at mo I am struggling with too much responsibility hopefully I can help in the future. I have told schools that a group is being developed so children who need it can be told.
I can see how egative my daughter is due to living with the disease she has isms and she is 15 I would love it if she got into programme but that is up to HP .
I wish we had Alateen close to home. My 13 year old could use it and she has books, but not the same. I could have used it growing up also. Nice post and share!
-- Edited by Breakingfree on Thursday 17th of November 2011 01:34:30 PM
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Sending you love and support on your journey always! BreakingFree
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
" Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."
"Serenity is when your body and mind are in the same place."
