can you take children to alanon meetings - Al-Anon Family Group

abba31 · Newbie

can you take children to alanon meetings

KennyFenderjazz · ~*Service Worker*~

In my experience this depends a lot on the meeting. some take them, some depend on whether they make a fuss, just depends. I'm in one meeting where one gal always brings her 2 year old. it's OK with everyone, and she keeps him relatively under control.

I would think it would be best to take them and ask at your first meeting how they handle it. if nothing else perhaps you can break out with someone. You will get lots of good literature even if you won't be able to participate in the meeting. People at Al Anon meetings generally really want to help because we have all been there, and usually something can get worked out.

You can also keep coming back here, getting ESH, and also we have two online meetings a day and a chatroom that is quite often occupied at non-meeting times. Click on the link in the upper left of this page. It's a good alternative for those who can't get out much. some of the people that run the meetings are out in the middle of nowhere, but have an internet connection and that is how they do Al Anon.

Kenny

abba31 · Newbie

Thank you so much for the help....is there also somewhere online that my son might be able to get some help too?

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

I have one meeting I go to sometimes and they have child care in another room. I would ask before just taking them with you. Look online for a Alateen meetings in your area. Great meetings for young people.

grateful2be · ~*Service Worker*~

My experience has been that groups in my area do not allow children in the rooms. There is child care provided at some places in our area so that Moms or Dads can attend meetings with other adults. As a member myself, I'm not comfortable with children in Al-Anon meetings. Children require attention which can distract the adults from the work of recovery we are there as adults to do. Sometimes there are things said in meetings that aren't for children's ears. Other children, depending on their ages and maturity levels, aren't ready for the anonymity that our groups require. I, too, would call ahead or look for a group that has childcare provided in the same building.

-- Edited by grateful2be on Thursday 22nd of May 2014 09:56:29 PM

Breakingfree · ~*Service Worker*~

There is al-ateen right here at MIP also,

familyteens.activeboard.com/forum.spark

I hope this helps.

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

I have come here around 13 years. The meetings around me they brought their kids. MY esh is it was not comfortable for me to open up with them there. Little kids soak up everything, they feel the atmosphere in the room. There are a lot of tears, maybe some anger in the venting. It was not so much me as I worried about the kids.

I agree ask the group for support on this. They may know how to set up another room close to have someone watch them. I would hate for you not to go becuz you cannot bring kids.

We have great meetings here.

Also maybe you and your oldest can take turns going to meetings. Find out if there is more than one a week. We all welcome new members very much. So believe me if they have ideas they will help!

glad to see you here, welcome! debilyn

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.