At our meeting tonight it was announced that no
children were allowed at the meetings. Our new
leader/area captain found this out last Saturday at an
officers workshop(which I attended also). The
previous leaders let people bring their children to
the meeting. So when she brought this up we had 7
people walk out and say they were not coming back.
One of them was our weight recorder. Does anyone have
any ideas on how to handle this. It is not the
leader's fault, she is stating the rules. It is the
past leaders fault for not enforcing it. Any ideas
would be greatly appreciated.

Midian

I don't know what can be done.It is not the first time people have gotten offended because of that rule.The rule has been around for ever as far as I know. I am a mother and grandmother but I think it is a good rule.TOPS meetings are for you.And no matter how perfect a persons children are, it does distract you.The rule was not made to insult anyone.It is just the way it is.Do children go to weight watchers???I don't know.I did go to OA years ago and there were no children.Maybe if people thought of their meeting as a business meeting it would help.Normally children are not at business meetiings.Wish I could be more help but it is a problem that has been around for a long time.

Hey! I know alot of about the child rule! I have a 20 mo old and a 8 month old. Our meetings say no children also but at one point everyone was bringing their children. But now they have reenforced the rule. They did tell me I could still bring my son (the youngest one) b/c he was only a couple months at the time and just sat in the carrier. Well now he is crawling and I don't bring him anymore. I think that once they get active and don't sleep while we are there, that they don't need to come. That is why I weigh in and leave because my son goes to work with me. The weigh ins are 5 blocks down the road and my house is 15-20 minutes down the road. So I am not going to drop him off. There is another girl that goes who has a 2 week old so they are letting the baby come. I guess it just depends on the chapter.

Some chapters hire people to watch the children during the meetings. I can't tell you much more than that. But I do know that the rules state no children. Sorry for not much help >........... Penny

I have been looking for a website for TOPS but, have had no luck. Does anyone know where I would find one.

First of all, I want to let everyone know I am back. I don't have time to go into depth with a report yet, but I will, so please bear with me. I feel I must respond to this 'children' situation though.......

Midian, Yes, as everyone else said, children are not suppose to be at the meetings {TOPS.org rule}, and as a mother myself, I appreciate the time away with other adults. BUT, there could be another way and you would have to check with your states coordinator. If those 7 people that walked out, and do not want to come back, have the desire to start their own chapter there is the possibility of writing into their by-laws that children would be allowed in this new chapter. To me, it would be chaotic and the babysitter route at the meeting would seem to be a better option. Weight loss is important to us that need to conquer this, so checking into whether you can start a chapter that allows children is a good possiblity. Ask your coordinator if it's OK. Your chapter's leader or past leader knows who this is. GOOD LUCK!

This shows why consistancy is very important and rules really do need to be followed so that situations like this do not occur. Those moms would have known when they visited the chapter what the requirements were before they joined. The then leader did not do them a favor. What a shame!

Michelle, the website is www.tops.org. Let us know what you think.

TOPS HUGS,
Summer

It was our state cooridnator that reititerated the rule at the officer workshop. She said no children because of liability. If the child gets hurt at the meeting the chapter and leader are the ones sued, not tops, inc.

Sad thing about it is the weight recorder did not come back. A couple of them came weighed in and left. Then of course the problem was addressed again throughout this last meeting. Hopefully this will die down and get back to be motivational. I do not want to have to look for another group. I agree about children not being at the meetings. I have two preschoolers and I would never take them to the meeting with me. It is my night out away from the children.



Midian

Thank you for the link to the site.
On the subject of kids. I had the same problem when I joined weight watchters. I have 3 kids and I am a military spouse who can not afford a babysitter. It is diffcult to attend a meeting with kids but some people like myself struggling with a huge amount of weight to loose need a meeting where I can feel free to bring my kids.
THanks again,
Michelle

Hi all,
I just wanted to add my 2 cents to this thread! While I am fortunate to have a husband who is more than willing to watch our son while I attend my TOPS meeting, not everyone is in that position. I think that TOPS would attract more members if they had *some* meetings that accept children. Not every mom can afford to hire a sitter, or has a husband able to help out. I've heard quite a few women mention to me that they had to join WW because that program does have child-friendly meetings, and I think it's too bad because those same women might get more out of TOPS (I know I did).
Julie
172/158/150