Posts by TheListener

12

I had a melt down with my Father over my Mom and Sister not coming to my daughter's Birthday Party.

by adjusted knowledge in

last year my daughter had her first birthday and all my wife's family and friends were there.

my family didn't attend.

my mother and sister still believe in the jw teachings even though they are both considered inactive.

TheListener

It's not the gifts and attention that make holidays/birthdays special for long term childhood memories but I think it's the socializing with other kids both at the event and the before and after discussions. Not celebrating those milestones or holidays tends to separate witness kids from the majority of their classmates and that lack of social integration can have a negative affect later one.

I am sure not everyone is affected the same way or at all. All I knew with my kids was that life is tough enough without me adding additional stress into the mix.

12

I had a melt down with my Father over my Mom and Sister not coming to my daughter's Birthday Party.

by adjusted knowledge in

last year my daughter had her first birthday and all my wife's family and friends were there.

my family didn't attend.

my mother and sister still believe in the jw teachings even though they are both considered inactive.

TheListener

My kids didn't follow their mother. Thank God!

A lot of unbelieving husbands have to work their butts off to make sure their kids have as close to a regular childhood as possible all while arguing with their wife about religious doctrines.

Adjusted knowledge, I give you a lot of credit for looking out for your kids. I know the giantic effort it takes to not only have to do everything related to unapproved celebrations but also to deal with a spouse at the same time.

23

vent: Got into it this morning with my wife agian. younger son wants to go to a B-day, i said he could...she turned cult.

by goingthruthemotions in

yep, he told her that he wants to go a friends b-day...keep in mind it's not until december.

well anyway i told her i didn't mind if he did and i would take him.

yep, enter cult mode.....i hate this freaking cult.

TheListener

I really wish you the best of luck. I am so glad you are taking a stand and allowing your son to experience a birthday party. Hopefully he will go to many more and even have his own.

I did the same with my kids. You will be responsible for all planning, gift buying and wrapping and transportation. It's worth it! The bond you have with your son will grow stronger as you do these unapproved things and mom isn't around. my wife and I argued the first couple birthday parties but eventually she softened and although for the most part she has nothing to do with it she has given our kids a ride or two when I was sick. I even think there was time when she had to pick up the gift at the store for us for a bday party.

33

A new member

by Kurteousmaximus in

hi... i am new and after nearly 20 years after being disassociated at 15 i would like to make contact with others who have similar difficulties.

my mother was disfellowshipped shortly after my rebellion and had all ties with both her mother and brother cut and that remains the case.. just really hacked off with not being able to put things in the proper place in my life after all these years.

for the record i don't know if i believe in god but am searching for some peace as i seem to self destruct on a regular basis.. any ideas anyone?.

TheListener

Welcome Kurteous! Glad you joined and posted. This can be a great place to get support, advice and sometimes feedback we need but don't always want. I hope you have a good relationship with your mom, you said she was df'd but not if you two are close.

You asked for ideas. I say start by sorting out your feelings by reading threads about what is going on in some other's lives which may help give you some perspective and maybe even get a counselor (in the real world) to help with the self destruction you mentioned.

glad you posted and can't wait to hear more about your life and why you left at such a young age. God for you not wasting your entire life in the borg.

36

Super JW Cart

by M*A*S*H in

i have a confession to make.

a strange urge is building in my brain... each time i see a jw literature cart on the street it builds.

it is becoming a stronger and stronger thought in my mind.

TheListener

Whoever posted the idea of secretly putting other types of literature on the dub carts was the idea I liked. Anti-jw tracts on a jw cart would be funny.

5

Just me?

by stuffwotifink in

my family are no longer in the shadow of the watchtower.

(2nd generation born in, but only a small family)for that i have to offer my thanks to simon and everyone on this forum whose posts helped expose me to ttatt (i struggle to say quite how much it actually means to me, so i won't say more than, thank you).it all took a year or two, but i've read enough to know that i'm incredibly lucky and that it all happened for me in a very short time.although time turns to syrup when you have to wait.

"expectation postponed..." will the platitudinous catchphrase scriptures ever stop coming to mind?when i started to tell my family some of the things i'd been learning online, they looked at me with no little fear and trepidation.

TheListener

I shunned a close relative and best friend for years. I was a jackass. I've since reconnected and apologized a lot. They have acted more christian than the dubs I still know and forgave me. We've moved past it and our relationships are great.

94

What other Shenanigans can we expect to see in the next 2 years?

by John Aquila in

its been a little over 2 years since i left the watchtower.

in that time the magazines have been cut, the birth of jwtv, jw-org.

carts for preaching, removed district overseers, cut assemblies, demand all the money from the congregations, stop construction and layoff bethelites, change the format of the tmschool .

TheListener

I really can't see them getting rid of the preaching work. I agree Old Major that it's busy work for the publishers and the WTS needs them to be busy. Publishers that sit around and do nothing can get apathetic. Busy publishers are excited about the big A.

I see the WT/AW being consolidated and the WT study articles being added to the new CLAM meeting KM thingy. I also see them requesting the publishers to print their own monthly CLAM meeting thingy. But, I see some books and the consolidated magazine still being printed so they can control the quality - such as it is.

More video parts and 2 day regional conventions.

37

On the realization you will not "live forever"

by problemaddict 2 in

something struck me last week.

i have been dealing with what i can only describe as a fear of death.

i'm not old and not in bad health.

TheListener

My wife and I are in the situation now where our parents are older and not super healthy. I realize they will one day pass away and I will miss them but I do what I can now to see and speak with them regularly; even my in-laws. My wife shows no fear that they will die because the big A is coming and they will all live through it. She is completely unprepared for the death of her parents. When it happens, and it eventually will, I don't know if it will drag her deeper into the cult or maybe wake her up. The same goes for when she finally comes face to face with her own mortality as we age and get closer to a natural ending.

I really try to enjoy my life now and show my appreciation for those around me.

17

Operation "Change meeting infrra-weekly" is a smokescreen

by LaFrancia in

the operation "change midweek meeting" probably was a move to divert attention of the brotherhood from layoffs to betel and the ranks of special pioneers, a smokescreen for the pedophilia scandal !

!operation "change meeting infrra-weekly" is a smokescreen.

what do you think ?.

TheListener

I totally agree that everytime the WTS makes a change the rank and file think the end is coming immediately. I've seen myself that the a lot of the rank and file have stepped up their activity level in the last couple months. We'll see how long this lasts before they tire out and it all becomes mundane again.

I remember something similar when the separate bookstudy night meeting was cancelled. Everyone in my area thought that big A was going to happen immediately - or at least the nearest October :)

Dubs love October

21

Do they notice who no longer gives donations?

by onightdivine in

because i haven't put in a single dime for over a year now in the box at the kh.

the usual custom is to put money in there right after the meetings.

but heck, i already spend so much in car fuel just to attend - i don't care really if the gb starves and dies.. oops.. anyway, do the elders take note who's donating and who's not?.

TheListener

Walk to the box and pretend to put something in. Do it every time you attend a meeting. I wouldn't put an empty envelope in because that will alert them that something is up. Just pretend to have some folded up cash.