Annonynmity

So here's a situation that I share here because I am not sure I handled it very well. In fact I'm sure I could have handled it differently and want to fix it. There are steps I can take but since I can't always trust my instincts, I lay them out here.

A woman attended our Stepsisters meeting and was clearly new. I recognized her as a teacher from the middle school. Once she settled in I approached her and welcomed her to the meeting and told her who I was. (right there I'm wondering if I should have just kept my big mouth shut regarding my recognizing her and identifying my children.) She asked about my children whom she had taught. So we briefly discussed them and then I welcomed her again and took my seat. I saw her heave a big sigh of what I hoped was relief so I approached her again and asked if it was her first meeting. (and here I'm thinking I should have assured her that she was safe even though I had recognized her). She said it was her third and as we were talking another member of the group arrived with her daughter whom she regularly brings. This rattled the teacher and she told me she wasn't expecting children and that she didn't think she should stay for her own sake and the child's sake. I told her I wasn't sure this girl even attended her school so we asked the mother who replied that she did and the teacher then realized that she may very well have this girl as a student next year. She wanted to leave though we encouraged her to stay and she felt that she didn't want to put the young girl in the position of having to protect her annonynmity even though her mother said she has been raised in AA and understands the principles. Another woman told her she should do whatever she felt most comfortable doing. The teacher chose to leave and I tried to think of another meeting she could go to but it was all too rushed. She was shook up and actually I was too. And here I think that I should have left with her to go to another meeting. Or at least walked outside with her to talk or given her my number. Instead I took my seat feeling uncomfortable. The mother of the girl said boy did she have something to talk to her sponser about now.

I am hoping that I will see her tonight or tomorrow night. The woman who directed her to the meeting goes to both. If that is the case then I will know she is continuing to seek help and it will be okay. However, I can't help but feel if I don't see her that perhaps we scared her away. And then in that case I may have harmed another alcoholic. So, if I don't see her I could talk to the woman who directed her to the meeting to see if she knows her personally or just met her at another meeting. What that would do I don't know since I don't particularly trust this woman as she is in and out and seems to resist the program. In other words she doesn't have what I want and not sure I want to pass that on to a newcomer. Since I know this teacher I could call her myself. Either through information if she's listed or through the school. But I don't want to overstep my boundries. Or I could just pray for her but I just can't help but feel that I need to right a wrong. I just don't want to make it worse. I'll start with the praying.