Letting Healthier Parenting Begin with Me
When I first joined Al‑Anon, the slogan “Let It Begin with Me” struck me. It felt like those particular words, in that particular order, were the essence of what brought me to my first meeting. One memory stands
I Found My Safe Space
I first set foot in Al‑Anon because of my mother’s drinking. My partner, who is in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), suggested Al‑Anon, and so did other outside help. At that point, I had been to some open A.A. meetings, and
The Right Time for Recovery
“When is the right time?” I was asked this question recently at a meeting by a young man who felt lost and confused about his spouse’s alcoholism and came to Al‑Anon as his last hope. This brought back memories
Why Digitize the Archives?
Our priority at the World Service Office (WSO) Archives is safeguarding Al-Anon’s physical artifacts and documents while making sure they remain accessible for use. A substantial portion of our physical collection has been integrated into our digital archival
2023 RECACSA
Last year, the World Service Office (WSO) participated in a meeting called RECACSA. Most of you may be wondering what that means. RECACSA stands for: R= ramas de servicio (branches of service) E= estructuras (structures) C= communicación (communication)
Discovering Our Collective Recovery through Archives
“You’re welcome to take pictures if you’d like,” the Human Resources Manager said as she guided me past the display cases in the lobby of Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. “Many members do.” Why in the world would
When I Let It
When I first started in Al‑Anon, I knew I needed help. I knew I needed to change myself to survive my relationship with my newly sober spouse. Now that he was working a program, I had become the
The Dinner-Party Test
I recently attended a dinner party with my husband, my recovering alcoholic son, and my son’s girlfriend. The host, not knowing about my son’s membership in Alcoholics Anonymous, asked my son what he was drinking. “Water will be fine,”
Understanding how alcoholism affects my son—and me
In 2017, I was 5’2” and weighed 117 pounds. My six-foot son weighed 116 pounds. The swirl of confusion and chaos in my head was ever-present, making it difficult to engage. Every boundary I set was crossed, and
Adhering to Policies without Policing
The introduction to the “Digest of Al‑Anon and Alateen Policies,” the second section of the 2022–2025 Al‑Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) v3, states, “The ‘Digest of Al‑Anon and Alateen Policies’ reflects policy statements that grew out of questions and experiences
WSC or WSO—What Is the Difference?
Ever heard the acronyms WSC or WSO and wondered what they mean and whether they are different? Well, you are probably not alone! Here’s the scoop. The World Service Conference (WSC) is Al‑Anon’s annual business meeting, which is
Obedience to the Unenforceable
The purpose of forming and registering an Al‑Anon group with the World Service Office (WSO) is to gather together for mutual aid and to offer help and hope to anyone affected by the family disease of alcoholism. We