I think I got out in time. There are some lingering Dub-thoughts but kids are resilient and mine's young enough and active enough in sports, clubs, etc. to adapt.
Did You Screw Up Your Kids Because Of Being A Witness?
by minimus 23 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
Think About It
I think I got out in time. There are some lingering Dub-thoughts but kids are resilient and mine's young enough and active enough in sports, clubs, etc. to adapt.
Mad Sweeney.......that's the exact situation my kids were in. I think your's will be fine. What helps more than anything is that our JW life & experience was never talked about. It was history and all the crazy WTS restrictions they were under were left behind.
Think About It
-
minimus
If an exjw sees a therapist about any type of issue, I would think it would be imperative to mention the JW past. Whether we realize it or not, it can really screw somebody up.
-
yknot
Mine no longer attend unless a friend is giving a TMS talk.
They are happy to go to church and sunday school with their dad....... ahh the loopholes of an unbelieving husband and his headship.
-
MsDucky
Just need to point this out. My kids (the twins) don't think that they're screwed up. They think that I am (apostate).
-
minimus
of course
-
Heaven
If an exjw sees a therapist about any type of issue, I would think it would be imperative to mention the JW past. Whether we realize it or not, it can really screw somebody up.
I agree, minimus. I probably should see a therapist but I have some huge trust issues that stop me from going (as well as from a lot of other things). I am still trying to sort things out on my own, especially with what is really truth and being judgmental. I am working on this quite a bit. I have found that an enormous weight is being lifted from my spirit and soul with the realization that judging is not win-win so there is no point to it. Same goes for hatred.
As for children, well, unfortunately, I did not have any. This was partly due to the indoctrination as a child of how bad the world is and that it would be better not to have them. I am too old now.
When I interact with my bro's kids (they're all adults now), I try to be open, honest, and kind. He did not raise them with any sort of religious indoctrination. They are wonderful people.
-
minimus
.....it's a long road,,,,,,
-
Scarred for life
No, but my parents screwed up me and my sister. The best thing I have ever done in my life is to raise my 3 children outside of the JWs. It was my mission in life to raise my children in a completely different way than I was raised. My sister, unfortunately, has never had children and has not had that therapeutic experience.
-
JeffT
Hard to tell, all kids think their parents screwed them up. My oldest is claiming that being raised a JW contributed to his drinking problem, but he just got out of treatment. Eventually he will do his fourth and fifth step and figure it out. Our daughter just graduated from college. It took her fifteen years, which she will happily tell you had nothing to do with JW's. She is abnormally well-adjusted and happy. Our youngest was three when we left and we hadn't been to very many meetings for a year. It must have been something else that screwed him up. He's studying environemental science and getting good grades. I don't know where he got that, it wasn't from me.