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How old are the children and what are the alternatives? I really think that there are many different scenarios and many different alternatives. Some are better than others.
Well, there are different kinds of AA meetings. Some are for women only, and a lot of children attend those with their mothers. Some are closed meetings, and are for alcoholics only, and so by definition children would be excluded from attending. It would depend a lot on the group and whether or not they find it distracting and/or are unable to open up if there's a child in the meeting.
I doubt the children themselves would be harmed by the discussions. Usually they bring along something to amuse themselves with, and don't really pay much attention what the adults are droning on about for an hour or so.
Last edited by FinsterRufus; 12-01-2010 at 10:20 AM..
Reason: left a word out
If a parent has an alcohol addiction and chooses to use AA to get sober, do you think it's ok if a child goes with the parent to meetings?
Why or why not?
I think this would be very situationally dependent. If you have a teen that wants the parent to get sober then there is an arguement for it. There is also an arguement against it (i.e. child becomes the parent).
For a toddler, I would say the general rule would be no. But, that again depends on the alternatives.
I have no idea what transpires at the meetings. If the parent goes through various debaucheries s/he did while under the influence it may hurt the child regardless of age.
On a side note, AA has been proven to be bogus. It works no better than quitting on your own. It was invented by a preacher trying to ram religion down people's throats when they're at their most vulnerable.
On a side note, AA has been proven to be bogus. It works no better than quitting on your own. It was invented by a preacher trying to ram religion down people's throats when they're at their most vulnerable.
I've written here before that I sat in on AA meetings for many months for something I worked on. People bare their souls in those meetings. (Five years later and some of their stories still haunt me. I heard stories about what people did under the influence that no child should hear.)
There is usually a person leading the meetings. I'd talk to that person(s) and ask about it.
And FWIW, I talked to alcoholics/substance abusers who swore by AA. While alcoholism is a life-long battle I met people who had absolutely changed their lives through AA.
If they don't have a sitter then why not. The parent is getting the help that they need which will ultimately benefit the entire family. I see nothing wrong with it.
Only in an absolute emergency when no childcare is available. It really isn't the place for kids to be.
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