She was only around five when she last attended. It was just when I began the "for real" investigation about the JW and Watchtower, previously believing the public face. I would agree to go with my husband so his Mother could show off her grandchild. She even attended a half day two different times at a convention, at her father's request when she was 3 and 4.
For some reason my usually now reserved young-teen daughter decided to ask about the religion her father was born into, but does not currently practice. I am careful in how I describe. I am not painting a picture of bad people, but a dangerous organization. I do not mince words when they are needed, such as high control, the BITE method, and cult. I explained one of my biggest fears is loss of freedom, and the shunning that is practiced.
I explained there are more than just religious organization that fit this model. I gave her "Twisted Scriptures" to read when she was younger, explaining how her PE teacher is related to the woman who wrote the book.
Interestingly she recalled for me how she felt when attending the memorial. With great interest I listened as she relayed how she felt as soon as the service began , she felt like running out if there. She remembered how very odd it was that her Dad kept telling her, over and over, not to touch the bread and wine. ( She attends a Catholic Church and Catholic School) She remembers how exceedingly boring it all was. (That is something when a Catholic has mass sometimes over an hour and she isn't calling that exceedingly boring.)
She also remember some feelings about the convention time when she was there, and they were not good feelings, but strange and wanting to get out of there.
So even way back then as a small child she could feel the inappropriateness and negative vibe from the JW service.
She asked if her dad was going to ever get baptized. I told her I can't know anything for sure, but I really don't think so at this point, though during that time he was planning to. She asked if I told him he couldn't. I told her no, but he does know how I feel about it, so in a way, maybe it did. I told her if he is depressed because of not pursuing it, that I will have to just live with baptism and not interfere. I made sure she knows that to hold someone else hostage emotionally is not fair or loving, no matter how good intentioned it is.
My stress level went down a good bit knowing she has a grasp on the situation, and knowing the education I have been providing her these past few years about the dangers of high control groups has paid off. WHEW.