killingmesmalls

Hi All -
Glad I found this site. Coming to terms with a lot lately & this is the biggest. I have been wanting to go to meetings for a while, but have found excuses not to. I know it's not going to get better unless I take the steps and stick to it - played around with it long enough & know that it will never not be a problem.

I have young kids and wanted to know if any of you have heard of meetings that have any form of care for children? I know this is an off question & I feel so ashamed that it has come to this situation with my kids - but I honestly don't know what else to do. I don't want to look up ten years from now and still be on this path.

Thank you for any help.

hendershot

I don't know about your area, but ones around here, especially certain women's meetings, do have care for kids. Get the number for central services for AA in your area and ask the person who picks up if they know of any meetings that offer that. If they seem unsure, ask if they can give you the number of anyone who would know. Other than that, I would just do your best to make it out to meetings, meet people, and ask around. It wouldn't be rude to say when they ask for "AA Anouncements" to just introduce yourself, explain you are new, and have trouble making it to meetings because of care for the kids and if anyone knows of any meetings that offer care for children to please talk with you after the meeting. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Dee74

hi Killingmesmalls

I'm not in AA, but I wanted to welcome you to SR, and Newcomers, anyway

welcome
D

SomeCallMeTim

Some meetings do have a place for kids. Search the internet for local meetings. They usually have contact #'s to call. Glad to hear you've made the decision.

Taking5

Here is a link with all the Upland meetings:

Alcoholics Anonymous (A. A.) Meetings in Upland, California

Ask around, you'll find one with child care.

Tazman53

Welcome to SR killingmesmalls, first of all as already suggested call your local AA hotline and explain the situation. Here is another suggestion, in a lot of places there are Alanon & Alateen meetings that happen at the same time and in the same place as AA meetings. Most Alateen meetings welcome children of all ages.

I know that a lot of folks bring thier kids to meetings, most meetings are in churchs and the kids if very young sit with thier parents, if a little older there are places like the church kitchen where they are more then welcome to color or play the video games they bring.

We always try and help out any newcomer with the care of thier children in meetings.

AA works because it is one alcoholic helping another alcoholic and that includes helping take care of their kids during a meeting. I enjoy nothing more then seeing some crotchety Old Timer bouncing a little kid on thier knee acting a bit silly during a meeting to where mom or dad can get what they need out of a meeting.

justanothrdrunk

Definitely childcare available - at least in my area.

If there isn't, get together with some other parents in the program and get something going.

Wolfchild

Hello & welcome to our Sober Recovery community.

As long as your making excuses to not go to meetings,
you may not ever really feel comfortable attending them.
There may be some realistic concerns about finding the right meeting,
but they can become distorted by fear, the disease, and inexperience.
Why not just begin going to the meetings that are available in your area
and become willing to listen to those who have found a spiritual solution?

i hope and pray that you stay sober just for today.

Mark75

Kids are welcome at a lot of the meetings I go to. I've been to a couple where they had some child care... and even better... There is a Friday night speakers meeting in one room of the church, Alanon in another and Alateen in the third.... How cool is that???

Go too meetings and find a support group and reach out... you'll find help!!

Mark

Believe808

Here you can bring your children, many do and they sit and play with whatever they brought. Good luck.

killingmesmalls

Thank you all for the suggestions and welcomes - there are some meetings close & I will call to see about bringing the kids. This site really helps give you the extra push to make the first step. Thank you so much. I will keep you all posted.

aasharon90

See how awesome it is that
people step up to share their
own experiences, strengths
and hopes with any situation
you have. Even when it comes
to children.

Helping someone else make you
feel good inside. Make u feel
worthy. "Yep, there was a
member who had questions
on what to do about bringing
her kids to meetings and I was
able to share what I did when
i was in the same situation
years ago."

How cool is that?

19 yrs ago when i first came
into AA i went to many many
meetings after a 28 day
rehab stay. Because i was
told i would never stay sober
and was to be sent to a
halfway house, I refused
and made a deal that I would
attend a 6 week aftercare
program and make my meetings.

Well i went to any lengths
to stay sober and it did
include bringing my little
one with me to meetings.

In a way it was awesome
because it introduced
them to recovery in
case later on in life if
they should ever have
trouble with alcohol
or drugs then the seed
was already planted
within their mind.

I thank God that both
of my kids saw first hand
thru me what alcoholism
is all about.

We are the best teachers
for our kids and they didnt
have to find it out on the
streets.

Both of my kids have graduated
from college and are 2 awesome
kids, blessed from Above.