After reading the responses to Amazing1914's recent post, I decided this would be a great thread to start. Please share some of your memories!
When my mother first became a JW, I was very sporatic with meeting attendance. My father (the unbeliever) would get me to go to the meeting about every 2nd or 3rd Sunday. I begged to stay home, but my father believed in god, and thought that going to "church" was good for me. He never put a foot into any Kingdom Hall, so I can't blame him since he had no clue what happens there.
I don't remember many of the beatings at the KH. I think I've blocked most of those out. I do remember one at an assembly when I was hauled downstairs where the bathrooms were. I was thoroughly embarassed with all the people going back and forth.
Beatings at home were nasty. I'd get at least one a day whether it was for something I did or not. I recall New Years Day 1987 when I was beaten because my mother was mad at something else. That was the day when I knew something was wrong. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, but I knew something wasn't right.
Anyway, up until I was five, I had holidays and Xmas. I remember my first JW party. I was in the same Kindergarden class as a kid named David. My mother took me to his house where there were other JW kids. It wasn't a birthday party but there was a cake of Noah's ark.
One of the other parties I attended was a barbeque at some rich JW's house. I tried making friends with all the kids who were on three wheeler bikes. I asked for a turn and was told I would get one. I patiently waited for my turn to take one of these bikes out for a spin. It looked like fun as there was a path all the way around the huge house. When we were getting ready to leave, my turn came. I thought that was unfair.
I'll never forget when I was 12, my father was getting dressed on a Thursday night. He told me "I should go to a meeting at least once." Shivers went down my spine. I knew my life was changing, and it scared me. After that point, I figured I should try to make an effort to be a good JW. Me and my father both studied with an elder. My mother was commended for bringing her entire family into the JW religion.
As for friends in the KH, I had trouble making them despite making lots of attempts. I'd invite a bunch of JW kids over to watch movies which I rented with my own money, provide snacks (again my money) and we seemed to have a good time. It was only after my attempts that I'd hear about another "get together" in which every kid from the KH was invited.... except for me.
It was only after the elder I was studying with pushed me into becoming an unbaptized publisher that I noticed something was wrong. I was becoming a salesman. I had no interest in being a salesman, as I was interested in fixing stuff. I was being pushed in the wrong direction.
After that, I was being pushed into getting baptized around the age of 16. I simply responded that I will get baptized when I'm ready. Also around this time, my father threatened to kick me out of the house if I didn't follow the JW religion. I went up to my room and broke down crying. It all didn't seem right.
At the age of 17, I started getting depressed. I was having trouble dealing with my mother's abuse over the years. I figured I'd give the JWs one more shot and tried to take comfort in an elder about it. He ended up taking sides with my mother because she was more spiritual than me. From then on, I worked on my exit.
In the summer of that same year, I brought my worldly girlfriend home while my parents were out and engaged in sexual activities. I was nervous and did a lousy performance. I was shit scared resulting from the JW indoctration.
Around this time, the study with the elder fizzled out temporarily, and my mother thought it would be good if I studied with someone closer to my age. I was now 18 years old and wanted OUT. I rebelled heavily against the guy who was studying with me. I was filled with anger, and his shenanigans didn't help. He forced me to sit with him at the KH. He told me to throw out all my Led Zeppelin CDs. I got even by driving to the KH while he was waiting outside my house to pick me up for the meeting.
Needless to say, the study fizzled out, my dad quit going, and I only attended one day of the Convention that summer. I attended my final meeting the next month, where I gave my last talk in the TMS. I got shitfaced at my cousin's place the next day.
Being a youth in the JW religion sucked ass. I had no friends, and I was looked upon as the "weird guy". I couldn't fit in at the KH, and I couldn't fit in at school where I was beat up (daily in grade 7). I made the choice to live a double life so I could be accepted somewhere - in THE WORLD. I have many fond memories of High School when I was living a double life, but none as a JW.