The 4th Tradition doesn't trump all of the others

I got sober when my daughter was 4 years old.  I had to bring her to meetings with me.

One of my favorite meetings was a closed women's meeting. The Group conscience allowed me to bring my daughter. So FOR ME It was perfect! However, after I had been attending this meeting, with my daughter for well over a year, my sponsor found out it was a closed meeting and asked me why I was attending with my daughter. I told her because it was my favorite meeting and they allow me to.

She reminded me that it isn't all about me anymore. And the reason for a closed meeting is for those who need one. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all of our Traditions. Just because I don't need my anonymity protected, didn't mean there aren't others out there who do. I had a choice to go to any meeting, as we have a lot of open meetings here that I could bring her with me to.  She explained to me that a closed meeting however, is for someone who might need to protect their anonymity.  Maybe a school teacher, politician, counselor, pediatrician... in fact, a couple years later one of the women who attended closed meetings became the principal at my daughters school! :)

My daughter is 11 years old today. She understands anonymity 100% and would never break someone's anonymity intentionally or by mistake. However, I don't have the right to make someone feel uncomfortable by bringing my child to a close to meeting.

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