My kids are 5, 11 & 13. My youngest two I've banned from attending. My eldest, my daughter, goes along but isn't entirely immersed in the JW lifestyle. I still feel I have plenty of scope for influencing her.
What could I have done differently? Well, that's a hard one.
I couldn't bear the divide in my marriage any longer. My wife refused over a period of ten years to look into one single issue that I had investigated and found to be corrupt, untrue or morally wrong. Not one thing. I found that very difficult to accept. I always thought that she might have a 'lighbulb moment' over matters like disfellowshipping or blood as she is devoted to her children. I always held a bit of hope that she would perhaps mentally leave the religion one day. I was wrong.
As a married couple we were miles apart. Completely divided by our world view and the future goals we wanted for our children. How can one proceed in a marriage like that?
To my wife's own admission, even on a text message yesterday, she 'couldn't have asked for a better husband.' I worked hard and supported my family in every way possible. I was a bloody good dad. My only regret is that I eventually found my wife's depression very difficult to handle. But in spite of that, for ten years, through all the division I tried to make it work.
I noticed that I posted this 8 months ago and similar posts in the past.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/284405/conflict-living-divided-home-finally-getting-me-8-years-later-advice-please
The writting has been on the wall for years, sadly. It's incredibly sad.
