I was at a meeting tonight where a nosey person pop off and told someone that there child wasn't aloud at the close aa meeting instead of letting the chair handle it. I have always been told the desire to stop drinking. Anyway it got little wild and im just bum out
Good Wednesday Morning and a Big Welcome to the MIP Board, mitch1972!
I am sorry that you feel a bit discouraged because of what happened at your AA meeting. I really don't know about children being at closed meetings. My opinion is that if the child is a baby or very young, and the parents left if they started being disruptive, crying, etc., I wouldn't have any problems with that. If someone has trouble finding or being able to find a babysitter and if they really need a meeting that particular day, I would rather see them bring their child than miss it. People may not be as inclined to share as much if there are others besides alcoholics in the room and there are those who seek out closed meetings and may have a problem with anyone, no matter what age they are, in the meetings besides other alcoholics. For me, I would only attend open meetings if I had children. But I would really try and find a babysitter. I have been to meetings where people bring their children and I have sat through almost entire meetings listening to crying babies and kids running around the room throughout the meeting, which has made it very difficult to hear what is being said and focus on the meeting, and the chair said nothing.
I agree with you that the chair should have been the one to discuss this with that person and in a way not to embarrass him or her.
-- Edited by betterthanyesterday52 on Wednesday 19th of February 2014 07:23:36 AM
Let's face it, not all of us who have children have the option of having someone care for our child during meeting times ... that means those of us who are in desperate need of a meeting, open OR closed, have a choice ... bring the kid or kids to the meeting, or go without a meeting ... this is 'LIFE OR DEATH' here folks ... yes, we will have less than desirable meetings sometimes ... it's time we think of the person with the child rather than our own comfort ...
For God's sake, look at the child ... would we not rather a person bring their child than to stay at home and drink ???, thereby putting that child in extreme danger and cruelty ???
This is where 'Patience and Tolerance' should be our thinking ... and not our own selfish comfort ...
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
hmmmm.... I had an inkling of that, Pappy, but not quite enough. I am going to have to do more self-analysis and the next time there is a crying baby or unruly child, I need to have more patience and tolerance and be grateful that they are safe in a meeting, rather than in a hospital from wounds inflicted on them by a drunk parent. Excellent response post and I needed to hear that!
Ha! And timely for me, as I just posted that I was that "crying baby" in one of the meetings.
My answer to this question is a resounding no. Love and tolerance is our code.I have attended a good number of meetings over the years where mothers were faced with the choice of bringing their children, or missing a meeting altogether. While it didn't bother me in the least, of course there have always been a few in the room who didn't like it. Oh well... There is always something that somebody doesn't like about nearly every meeting.
One large meeting that I attend began to see a growing number of young mothers bringing little children. We were glad for this, so the group chipped in and hired a babysitter (a grandmotherly type) who took them downstairs to a Sunday school room, which allowed the moms to focus more on the meeting, and not have to pay attention to their kids throughout the meeting. The kids were happy because they could play freely. The moms were happy because they could listen. And, we were happy because everybody was happy. The group didn't notice the small cost, either. There are always ways to solve problems if we use the Principles of this Program.
One large meeting that I attend began to see a growing number of young mothers bringing little children. We were glad for this, so the group chipped in and hired a babysitter (a grandmotherly type) who took them downstairs to a Sunday school room, which allowed the moms to focus more on the meeting, and not have to pay attention to their kids throughout the meeting.
A big no here. I recently went off on a man who disrupted a meeting with two newcomers in it, making a big deal about children there. I was sitting right next to them, yes, they made a little noise, being very young kids, I just let it roll. The message to the newcomers was not being interrupted, until this person started going off on their parent about them. He disrupted the meeting far more than the kids did. And he was not sitting any where near them. These two woman, are trying to stay sober, they don't have the luxury of having a babysitter, or family to place the children with while in a meeting and I support their efforts to recover. The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. I support a parent doing whatever they need to do to gain another day of sobriety.
John
in one of the meetings. 
