Yeah, it sucked. I really hated it.
Yes, there were some good things…like I was raised with morals and so on…
But then there were the ‘no’s:
No dances
No friends who were not JWs (= no friends)
No sports
No clubs
No drama
No boys
No parties
No music that I liked
No choice in what I believed
No big hoop earrings and no straight skirts (1986)
No after school activities
No rides home from school from non-JWs (=no rides)
No concerts
No Prom
No Grad Night
No ‘going out with friends’
No phone calls over 15 minutes ( I swear!)
No two-piece swim suits (and now those days are gone forever, damn it!!!)
Even all-JW parties or get-togethers were suspect!
I can sum it up: NO FUN!!! Anything that was fun for a teenager to do I was not allowed to do it. I am not kidding.
And now, my two cents:
I moved out as soon as I turned 18, and let my story be a warning to young JWs looking to escape: I went crazy with freedom and got myself into trouble that still affects my life, 15 years later. I made terrible choices over and over with relationships and parties. I am lucky to be alive. I never graduated from college. I was not ready to be on my own. I ended up working my fingers to the bone to support myself, and then every free second off work I spent at a party. Now I still work my fingers to the bone, and there aint no parties. But I am working hard to better my life, for myself and my kids.
To any teen who is planning to leave the JWs and move out the second they turn 18:
As much as you may want to bolt out the door, take you time. Plan things out. Try to go to college first, if you can. Be ready to work really hard to turn your life out. Try not to burn your bridges. Understand that you are not all grown up when you turn 18. Understand that your parents love you. Understand that we all need help in life and make sure you have some support. And when you do leave home and go out on your own, consider getting professional help to work through issues around being raised a JW.
Do what you need to do, but BE SMART.
If you were raised like I was, then you have not learned some things about relationships and the world, and you are at a disadvantage out there. Take you time and be careful.
If I could go back in time and be 18 again, I think I still would still leave home, but I would be much more careful and smart. And I wouldn't go to so many parties.
Peace,
LisaBObeesa
See below for LisaBobeesa’s Diary from when she was 16 years old and really feeling sorry for herself. (I’m getting over that now.) J
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/15901/192771/post.ashx#192771
