My parenting as an ExJW is much more logical. It was hard to explain about Holidays and bday parties, not playing sports or going to college. When my 17y son asks why me and his dad didn't go to college, we tell him the JW's reasons why and he just looks at us like we are crazy.
I am more relaxed as a parent than my mom was. Sometimes, it's difficult to talk to your kid about birth control or drugs, etc, but I feel good in telling them the practical stuff and not the 'dub' stuff. Just say no doesn't work for a 17y old boy with raging hormones. And I'm proud to say that my boys are good, responsible, smart, athletic young men!!