I have no sympthay for them, they see it as an honor to be the wife of the CO. They have a nice apartment and a newer model car than most of the window washing dubs can afford.
DL76
Sympahty for Circuit and District Overeer's Poor Wives
by frankiespeakin 41 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
luna2
I guess I always looked at it from my point of view. I need privacy and solitude. I also hate going out to eat if I have to do it. I lived with my mother for a couple of months when we were getting ready to move out east together (we were waiting for her house to sell) and she wanted to go out to breakfast every peckin' morning. The boys and I got so we never wanted to see another restaurant. Sure the CO couple gets free meals, but they don't have a lot of choice of who they eat with. While it's nice that they get asked over for home cooked meals too, isn't that pretty much a crap shoot as to how good it's going to be?
They choose the life, sure, but looking at it from the outside, it seems less than desirable. I'd hate to always be on display, having people judge me, my manner, my clothes, how I work out in service. If there was a hell...for me, that would be it. I wonder how many come to hate it over time.
-
Gill
You remind me of a poor CO's wife from Yorkshire, about late thirties to forty years old.
She became 'unwell' all the time and was sent to a consultant at the hospital and admitted for some tests.
What the consultant told her when she was discharged from hospital was soon spread around like hot gossip to everyone.
He said, that she had wasted her life in a cult. Given up her chance to have children and her time to change her life was quickly running out. What was wrong with her was that she was starved of a natural life and should have had children, a home and a settled environment. She could take his advice or leave it but there was nothing physically wrong with her that he could find.
Everyone of course scoffed at this and was shocked that a doctor would say something like this to someone who had put Jehovah first he whole life.
Another sister our cong had a similar experience. She is still unmarried and in her fifties now. She has totally wasted her life, probably still a virgin despite being a very lovely woman and was told very much the same after having numerous tests at the hospital. The doctor wanted to know why she had never had a boyfriend, no sex, no children and put her 'physical' problems down to her very unnatural lifestyle.
There's some very clever doctors out there and some very foolish JWs. But though misled and foolish, as a lot of us have been in the past, I still feel sorry for those women who have lost their opportunities for happiness in life.
-
yesidid
I wonder how many come to hate it over time.
Quite a few.
As with everything else it varies;
Some love it. They enjoy the prestige and the glory. They think they’re somebody.
Some do it because they honestly believe they are serving God. Remember very few marry CO’s or DO’s. They have usually been pioneering for quite a few years before, and, like many other wives, just go where their husband goes and support him in whatever work he does.
They may like it or not depending on
1. Their personality.
2. Their health.
3. The particular circuit or district.Some absolutely loathe every minute of it.
As Luna said for some poor women who are not well or need their privacy, it’s hell on wheels.
It is true that they don’t have to prepare their own meals, but some women love cooking, and their own cooking would be better than some of the meals they are given.Another thing to think about is: less than 20% of the CO’s and DO’s have apartments supplied and about 70% have to sleep in a different house/bed every week.
Also it seems to me that it is harder for DO’s wives because it is more impersonal. CO’s stay in the same circuit for about 3 years. The women can form bonds and actually get to know other women. That is very important for female contentment. On the district work it is assemblies every two weeks and thousands of people. That’s not conducive to relationship building and a big strain for most women.
My 2 cents
-
DaCheech
They should pay income tax on all these bonuses
-
yesidid
They should pay income tax on all these bonuses
And which bonuses would they be?
-
DaCheech
Personal donations should be taxable (since it becomes income to these ones). Even charitable organizations to not give cash straight to the person?
-
greendawn
I personally don't have much sympathy for them because their husbands play a vital role in promoting the lies and oppressiveness of the WTS at a level higher than that of the elders.
-
frankiespeakin
It would be nice if some of these wives would post thier opinions, and not give too many details that would endanger them, but just enough to enlighten us about thier plight. I know that is alot to ask of any lurking CO or DO's wife but it sure would give us some understanding and may even get the GB worried, and make them a little more thoughtfull about the policies they make these neglected persons who have given up so much and have gotten so little in return from the Organization which claims to so loveing.
-
frankiespeakin
bttt