I grew up as a witness. ; Forced into it actually by my mother. ; I was originally baptised Catholic and spent a lot of time with my Catholic Grandma. ; I hated the whole JW thing. ; Never accepted any of it. ; Just went to every damn meeting with mom and abstained from any life affirming childhood experience because I was a well behaved kid.
<P>Here's the problem: ; Now that I am a grown-up, the holidays are a nightmare for me. ; I simply can not enjoy them. ; I have to approach them from an adult point of view but with a child-like longing for something I have missed. ; It doesn't help that I spend some of the holiday with my boyfriend's family where his parents still treat him like a child and shower him with expensive gifts. ; I give gifts as well but my need for them, both from an economical standpoint as well as an emotional one, is still great. ; I know it's not about the gifts but I feel that I have missed out on some shared cultural experience that leaves me feeling like only part of a person. ; It is hell on the self-esteem. ; This year, I am turning down the Christmas morning at his house and will preserve my dignity at home with my 6 year old daughter. ; She will have the Christmas experience as best as I can construct it. ; </P>
<P>Now, for all of the current JW's out there, please hold your comments. ; I go to a nice Presbyterian church now and am very happy to have all my spiritual needs met especially wrt to Christmas. ; I would like to hear from the grown up children of JW's who also missed out. ; Is this a normal feeling? ; How do you deal with it? ; </P>
patches