Onthewayout wrote: I am also confident that this time of year allows the elders and M.S.'s an excuse to ditch non-JW family that weekend.
Leaving their wives and kids home, alone, with no family - worldly or witness. And no fun or even reasonable excuse to explain away the isolation to their friends and classmates.
Nice that the elders and MS's have something to do with each other while the kids rack up yet another crappy, lonely weekend while all their schoolmates are showered with love and presents from parents and extended family.
Bit of a sore point for me while growing up. As the only witness kids in our town/school district (and me as the eldest of my siblings), we had to take a stand for Jehovah on a daily basis and endure the humiliation that goes along with being so different than the other kids. It was either not saluting the flag, not standing for the national anthem, not participating in holidays, no birthday cake, no commentating on political issues - or, worse, getting permission to write or speak to the class about *why* we are not participating and giving that 'witness for Jehovah' to all who asked a reason. UGGHHH! And yet, when our parents were confronted with an opportunity 'witness for Jehovah' by declining a birthday party or some such invite, they *rarely* gave a witness but rather either dodged the invite with a 'maybe' or used a wimpy 'kids need me' excuse.
And we rarely got that special attention. It was just an excuse.
So could we use such evasive measures at school? Nope. Had to take the stand and give a bold witness.
I want my childhood back. Can I have a 'do-over', please?
-Aude.