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by mrsjones5 63 Replies latest jw friends

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  144001

  Bummer about your relationship with your parents, Josie. My dad was as extreme of a JW as they get. He was elder, presiding overseer, and frequent speaker at district and circuit assemblies. In my early teens, I rebelled so bad that my parents couldn't believe. They (and others) thought I was heading down the road to prison. So when I got my act together, completed my education, etc., they dropped all bad feelings relating to my failure to get baprized and/or stay with the religion.

  We have had a great relationship for decades. Dad is gone now but there are never any issues relating to the religion in my family any more. Mom comes over for Christmas Eve dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, and throughout the year. She sits in my house, which is lavishly decorated for the holidays. She doesn't complain or make those disgusted faces she made decades ago.

  I guess what I'm saying is that parents, like cats or dogs, must be trained at an early age. Your parents are too set in their ways to change who they are at this time. I'm lucky that my rebellion and abusive behavior from decades ago made them appreciate and be happy with me as the person I am, instead of the person they wanted me to be.
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  144001

  Ms. Jones, with great respect and sympathy - what in the hell was that turkey doing in their freezer in the first place?

  James, I think it was spying on the frozen chicken on the shelf below.
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  mrsjones5

  "Your parents are too set in their ways to change who they are at this time."

  Totally agree. For years I thought how they act was somehow my fault and maybe when I grew up and didn't become the slut-druggie-baby mama they thought I would be then they would change how they treated me. I had hoped that when my kids came along they would perhaps soften but that didn't happen either. My siblings also have had their run-ins with my parents for similar reasons. We've all escaped dubland and turned out ok but not in our parents eyes. I don't think any amount of training on my part or my siblings would have had a hope in changing my parents. So all of us have about as much contact with my parents that we can stand (for me its not that much, my brother wishes it was less than it is now). My sister is fortunate that she lives out of state. I wish I still did.
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  FlyingHighNow

  My parents are both dead. My kids however are not. And both of them are just about as wacky as your parents. My son is especially so when he is drinking.
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  mrsjones5

  I guess wackiness is a multi-generational thing, huh?
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  FlyingHighNow

  Yes. And my kids aren't JW's. They were raised in it long enough for it to do major damage, though.
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  Billy the Ex-Bethelite

  Look on the bright side MrsJones. At least I don't feel quite as bad about my parents when I hear about yours.

  You are a saint to put up with them.
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  mrsjones5

  LoL, that made me laugh Billy.
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  FlyingHighNow

  I wish I had a cool daughter like Josie. I'd be your ma, Josie, but I make a better aunt.
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  mrsjones5

  A cool aunt or slightly older sister, either is good with me.