Originally Posted by
Lily1918 
Does alateen do the 12 steps like alanon? how closely do the youth meetings resemble the adult ones?
It comes straight from Alanon Conference Approved Literature (sorry for the "Corporate" response, but that is how they do things to keep them clean).
The kids are in charge of their own meeting(s) as part of what is considered "empowerment." The Alanon Sponsor is usually supposed to kick back and stay out of the kids' way. And the kids tend to be razor sharp about this stuff. About like Lulu observed. After all, they too are riding the roller coaster with no seat belts. They do not want to fly off, either.
Generally the meetings seem to start with reading of the Steps and Traditions -- same as ours. From there the kids have their topics and go with them.
Somehow for the kids, the entire experience is different from Alanon (which they seem to view as mind numbing boring). I always see the kids come out from Alateen laughing, joyful and smiling.
Hardest thing for us is that Mrs. Hammer is so ego involved (views herself as the cause of the kids being in Alateen -- and rightly so) that she does not want them there and will manipulate for them to not attend. Double strange part, is that the kids learn so much good to apply in life (just like we do in Alanon) it is really more of a blessing than a curse.
All things work together for good . . . .
