"............. i expect grownups to be able to keep my identity confidential, but how can I expect a 5 or even a 10 year old to do so? I'd sure hate to be somewhere with my mom or work partner (we work in the community) and have a fellow member's children run up and say "Hey, Miss KJ, I know you...you go to NA or AA with my Mommy........'
say what???????????????????????????????????????????
when i started making meetings regurally
one of the first things that inspired me was the awesomeness of children at meetings
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
just by being there
they get to pick up the benefits of the program
not by the big book, steps, service, phone calls, carrying the message, etc
but
by thru our sharing and by the example of sober people
a group of us sitting their sharing our strenght, hope and experiences
in an organized, serene setting, etc
double wow
there was someone with time in the program with a child
i knew he / she had avout 8 years sober
and
i asked the child's age
he / she said 4
the first thing i said is
"he / she never saw you drunk"
can you imagine that?
so
i always loved kids
albeit, looking back
i may have been a bit frivilous
i would go but 6, 7 gifts for the kids each month
and
send them to the moms
on valentines day
i would send the expensive, exquisite small valentine's day hearts,(russell stover, $1.09)
lol
to others, guys included
because "i love AA"
someone shared how they were going to asia to adopt a child
say what?
i bought a beautiful, expensive,
ok, 20 bucks
outfit and gift wrapped it for the parents
imagine coming into the program
and
literally sharing your recovery
and
changing a child's life also
so
i don't get into
kids are loud, distracting, etc
gee, if i don't get a chance to share at a meeting because mom has to change a diaper
well, there's another meeting, my sponsor, the meeting after the meeting, etc
in my meighborhood, we did start a child friendly meeting years ago
with a playroom
terrific
one freinds has been bringing his sons there,
i've seen them grow, and change
and
yeah, they play in a organized, serene setting
very quietly,and there are never any toys to put back
the kids have learned to do that
i can give example after example of the positive effect of bringing kids to meetings
if anything on me
i always buy my niece a christmas gift,
sometines there's a 'sing a song' or fairy tale videoon sale
as in $1.00
i but it for the candy store guy up the block cause he's got 2 kids, etc
but, but, but
a 5 year old breaking my anonymity???
if i was in a store
and
someone's 5 year old came over to say
"hi, frank, aren't you the guy at the AA meeting"
i would smile
say "thanks for sharing"
and
ask the mom if i could buy him an ice cream
and
guess what?
been there, done that
best
frankie