I figured I'd share this story with you people, and it's ongoing. When I was 19 years old, I had a girlfriend. She was extremely helpful, encouraging me to stand up to the elders who were coming to talk to me about my meeting attendance, and my lack of field service reports. Needless to say, I told them I was no longer interested. I remember being told that I was going to be toast at armageddon, and the other elder looked as if he was going to cry. My girlfriend was very supportive. But that's not the point.
When I started visiting her often, and sleeping over at her place, my father (non-JW) started getting angry with me, and tried to stop me from visiting her. He came up with a curfew for me - be in at 8:30 weekdays, and midnight on weekends - and here I am on the verge of turning 20 and paying rent at home. This of course drove me further away, and had really started to get the best of me. My girlfriend's father asked if I would like to move in, and I accepted. Why pay rent with no freedom, when I could live somewhere else and pay rent with freedom!
My father was incredibly offended that I would rather live with a "welfare bum" than live at home. I tried picking up my guitar amp from my house one day, and my father wouldn't let me take it. He told me "Who paid for that amp?" I know damn well I did, and I told him. He refused to accept my answer, and continued to tell me how he paid for it. Eventually, I was able to take it. Another problem was with the drum set I owned. I didn't have room for it when I moved out, so I left it behind. My dad called me up telling me to get it out of the house. I called a friend and asked if he could hold onto it for me. He picked it up, and I never saw the drum set again.
Me and my dad ended up not talking for about a year and a half. I was fed up with all the crap. He had told me that someone at work knew my girlfriend, and told him how much of a bitch she was. He told me that I was no longer inheriting the house when he passed on. I also discovered he was getting printouts of my bank account, and using them to rub in the fact that since I left home I had no money. He had also told that I would no longer be able to buy myself a vehicle - but I did.
Fast foreward 4 years. We began communicating again, my girlfriend left me, I had moved 2 times. I was living with a friend when he screwed me around. My parents lived just across the street, so as a last resort to get out of the bad situation I was in, I asked if I could temporarily move in. They allowed me.
I have been there for a little over a year, working on saving money to buy a house, as well as pay off some of my debts. In this time, I met my a girl, and we are now engaged with wedding plans in the making. We plan on moving in together soon. My dad is turning back into a nervous wreck. He has now told me that I won't be able to buy a house. He's trying to tell me where to live (again), and is telling me how I should have my wedding. Ever since the engagement, he's been complaining about his stomach hurting, and has had problems wetting the bed.
My mother (JW) is extremely exited about the wedding, and is doing the food for it. However, she's a bit worried about the situation with my dad. She is worried that my dad will not drive her with the food to the reception. She's also wondering if my dad is going to the wedding, and she's worried that he'll try stopping her from going. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if my dad dies of a heart attack before the wedding (he smokes and is in his late 50s)
I have to say that I really don't need this shit happening. I have no choice but to deal with it. I know I need support with this whole situation. There's a lot more to the situation, but it would take a long time to type it all out. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.