Do Kids Hate Being JW`s?

by Englishman 95 Replies latest jw friends

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  waiting

  Hey Grunt,

  I've been busy at work but did not want to miss saying thanks for the above post. I've noticed that a seemingly disportionate amount of x-jw's work with social services. Perhaps wanting "to do" something beneficial?

  If you can, please share a little - I'd like to read about it. My kids came out of the jw experience with some harm, some good. In general, however, it seemed no better/worse than any other. However, they came out early, perhaps that makes the difference.

  Thanks again.

  waiting
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  Xandit

  How strange, the congregation I grew up in played softball almost every weekend, and usually fifteen or twenty people played tennis as well. Some of you people must be from Lower Slobovia.

  Edited by - Xandit on 12 February 2001 13:48:56
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  waiting

  hey xandit,

  Strange days indeed. I was 18-30 yrs old in Indiana. A congregation picnic once a year, 2 if fortunate. That was when they were WTBTS approved, however. Kids might have gotten together, not much was said in public. As much good togethers, as much drunken bouts where elders were called in. Just whispers were then heard.

  When I moved to SC, about 1985, picnics, etc., were seemingly done away with - just "family" get-togethers were allowed. Teenagers were to be very, very, very, well chaperoned. We've had one picnic within the last 10 years which included adults & kids. Fine time. Oh, and one last year that a person had to be specifically called to be invited and the sister calling made sure to specify that the elders had already been notified of all plans, games and that they had approved the get-together. Getting married is accomplished easier.

  There were kids gatherings when my kids grew up once in a while. Pretty nice group. As long as you fit in - you were specifically invited. If not - stay home. The stay-at-homes banded together sometimes, but then they were considered clicks. There aren't that many kids who are considered "good associates" in any one given congregation.

  waiting
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  Tanalyst

  Life was pure miserable. Not allowed to do anything unless Watchtower Bible & Tract Society was stamped on it. So that wiped everything out except door-to door work.Sometimes I would sneak into the laundry room and watch the washer & dryer go round & round.This was back in the 60's & 70's. No sports,clubs, in school.I wish that life on no one.
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  Simon

  I remember the constant talks about not socialising with worldly people and always wondered why they didn't do more for us within the cong. I can count on one hand the number of parties / get-togethers / outings that we had as a 'congregation', and still afford to loose a few fingers.
  The parties were OK if you fit in and got invited...
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  Xandit

  I feel real bad about what some of you have gone through. It just didn't happen to me. It's flat no one's business if you want to have a gathering and play softball or whatever,or have any kind of gathering. You also can't be 'required' to call people, etc. Elders that stick their nose into that kind of deal need to be told off. I'm not saying that no one ever tried that with me but my experience has been that they back off real quick if you tell them to butt out. Just to put a time frame on it, I'm talking about the 60s and 70s as my growing up period. Like i said, most of the time we did that stuff every weekend, and more than one congregation was involved, we'd switch the locations back and forth. We actually got pretty good with the softball, double plays even, people would come and watch,
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  peaceloveharmony

  i stated earlier that i hated being a jw kid. but to clarify a little here--my congregation was pretty good at throwing "get-togethers" for us kids and teenagers. we would also do softball in spring and summer and skating, skiing and sledding parties in winter. so when i was young--pre-teen and younger, i didn't mind too much being a jw kid. thankfully, the parents in my cong. knew that we (kids) would need to have this time with other kids in the cong. and they were good about inviting all the kids (age appropiate).
  as i moved into my teen years, i became less inclined to have fun at these get togethers. i wanted some freedom (read: no parents!) so that is when i started to lie to my parents so i could get out of the house. going to the library after school was my favorite one. i also had one jw girlfriend who was 2 years older then me and we would get into all sorts of trouble together. sneaking out to parties, smoking, drinking, making out with boys. was fun! but i always felt bad that i had to lie to my parents. and i hate lying.
  i tend to divide my jw childhood up into these two parts. before 13--life was ok as a jw kid. i hated field service and giving talks but didn't mind the association with other jw kids. after 13--that is when being a jw kid was hard. still hated field service and giving talks but also started to dislike the forced association with other jws when i felt i was capable enough to make my own friends. plus, like i said i hated lying but was too stubborn to not lie to mom and dad to get my way.
  it must have really sucked for those of you that had a congregation that didn't plan get togethers. what a way to grow up. i feel so bad for those of you that missed out completely on childhood. it's bad enough to be a jw kid but then to add to that no planned get togethers with other jws, i wonder what some people are thinking????

  love to you all
  harmony
• 

  Latte

  Tanalyst and Xandit,

  Perhaps articles like this one has a lot to answer for !!

  *** w52 5/15 320 Questions from Readers ***
  One final point of utmost importance, whether it is a shower or wedding or reception or just a friendly gathering of witnesses. Control the activities so that some edifying results. Silly games are for babyish people; mature Christians have advanced beyond them, left them behind. Sexually suggestive or passionate dancing to blaring jazz is not for Christians, though proper dancing and music cannot be condemned. When Jesus attended a wedding feast he used the occasion to glorify God, performing his first miracle, the turning of water into wine. (John 2:1-11) And we can be sure that he did not get in any line to kiss the bride either-so we leave such woman-exalting practices back in the creature-worshiping world, where they belong.
  (****note this bit!***)
  Instead of any such looseness of conduct or excessive use of food or drink,we should control activities and regulate entertainment into profitable channels, such as the singing of Kingdom songs, playing Scriptural quiz games, relating field experiences, and so forth. Not only will such things be a proper relaxation for us and get us better acquainted with one another, but they will be helpful to persons of good will that may be present and impress them favorably with Jehovah's people.

  ****End of quote***** (taken from 1952 WT)

  I remember scriptural quizzes, but NOT at weddings!!

  Latte
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  trevor

  Yes I think that most Jehovah's Witnesses do hate being kids.

  Trevor
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  claudia

  Kissing the bride is creature worship?!!! Yikes thats sick