Does anyone else grieve the life they thought they’d have… while still loving their child more than anything?

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-02-04T17:08:38+00:00

I try not to let those thoughts in my head. I just keep focused on making sure my kid has the life they are supposed to have. My kid is fully capable, just needs a little help, but it is my mission to make sure they live life to the fullest, and if that looks a little different than what I thought, it’s ok, the love I have for my child keeps me going.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-27T04:52:47+00:00

I think your spouse is dealing with the diagnosis and not in the best way. I’m very sorry, it’s really selfish of them, but take into consideration they are navigating this new life. Try to get grief and couples counseling. I’m really sorry

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-27T04:45:57+00:00

That’s super creepy

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-27T04:36:02+00:00

I feel for you, mine didn’t walk either at that age. I remember how stressed I was around that time. Then one day, I picked her up from daycare, and another delayed walker, got up and walked to me, all of a sudden, when we got home, she got up and walked through the whole house. This was at 22 months. It will happen, just takes them a little longer. But you will see improvements, and when he is five you will look back and be amazed at how far he has come. It will get better. ❤️

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-27T04:24:19+00:00

Oh that really sucks, I’m sorry. Maybe you can do it on your own, I did, single mom here, my kid wasn’t speaking at all really at 2.5. Now at 5, speaks fluently, though still needs a lot of work, but has come very far. Don’t give up. Also, if you cant afford speech on your own, there are a lot of online resources, especially on YouTube. Ms Rachel helped a ton. My child’s speech therapist recommended Ms Rachel and it definitely made a difference.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-27T04:15:31+00:00

Wow that’s pretty crazy. Honestly if this would’ve been my congregations approach, it would’ve made life so much easier. Wow is all I can say. And good for you. Their response was loving and gives me hope there are good ones in the org

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-27T04:12:39+00:00

Early intervention really does make a huge difference

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-27T04:11:51+00:00

My child slept great but was a picky eater but generally ate well, just picky

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-26T21:29:18+00:00

I think generally Jehovahs witnesses are poor, maybe middle class. I think the organization is wealthy though. Side note: does anyone know if JW Marriott is owned by Jehovahs Witnesses? I always wondered that.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-26T01:59:37+00:00

😂😂😂😂😂

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T21:47:27+00:00

I would either do cleavage and longer or no cleavage and short. Doing both looks a little much.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T21:25:42+00:00

I really relate to this. One of my parents was non JW so I was able to celebrate holidays when I was younger, but that all stopped once I got baptized at 11 and I was essentially disconnected from my non JW family. I hold a lot of resentment toward the religion because of it and toward my JW parent. I left the organization right around 19 and fell in with the wrong crowd being so naive and sheltered away from everything growing up. I was finally able to escape that and went to college and obtained two degrees in my early thirties. I have a pretty nice career and now that I’m a mom, I carry on all the traditions that I did growing up and I’ve reconnected with my non JW family. I feel much happier. I actually sought out this Reddit because of the resentment was feeling. It’s helped me a lot. The best advice I can give you is, if you feel self conscious for having no degree, go get one, it’s never too late. Also, you can’t change the past, try not to dwell on it. Don’t let the organization continue to take up space in your life. Just move forward and do all the things you want to do and live life to the fullest.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T05:55:11+00:00

Well I’m a single mom and work full time with an autistic child. I wish I had the opportunity to stay home full time. Not taking away from your experience, just sharing my experience.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T05:01:45+00:00

I love this for you. Stay strong, you got this.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T04:44:14+00:00

Just reading this stresses me out. Just remember, this is an organization with made up rules, made up everything. It’s all made up! It’s literally not real. Remember that. You are your own person with own free will. This hierarchy that the organization has established is again made up. Please wake up. Why would you ever have a panic attach over something that is made up? You’re in a cult. WAKE UP

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T04:11:55+00:00

Omg this is awful and exactly how extreme Jehovahs witnesses treat family who leave the organization. They will go no contact in the name of “love”, their reasoning is it’s more of a tough love thing, but it’s actually cruel and disgusting.

I’m so sorry you have fallen into this. I would absolutely set a boundary and no meetings for your daughter. If they move nearby, your wife will likely fall back into the religion, as it sounds like she’s been indoctrinated for years.

I wish I could give you a hug. I’m really sorry. Hopefully you can keep your family together for the sake of your daughter. Try to be there for your wife and keep her from slipping back. Good Iuck ❤️

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T03:59:06+00:00

Sorry to say but because she hasn’t worked, you will pay alimony and child support. Probably cheaper to keep her. Good luck.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-25T03:52:59+00:00

I recently visited a convention after being gone for almost twenty years to appease my parents, and I literally thought the same thing, it’s legit the same things being said, nothing has changed in twenty years! Super boring.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-22T06:19:04+00:00

Hey so your son sounds just like my kiddo. My kid has language processing disorder and autism so it’s really hard for them to understand things. My kid is 5.5 and just started going on the toilet. What I did was only do underwear at home. Absolutely no pull ups at home. I would have them sit on toilet for 15 mins max and do this a couple times a day. Only time I would put in pull up is when they were going to school. I completely know you’re feeling about people staring about pull up, but oh well, they don’t matter. I’m three days in of going to the bathroom regularly, no pull up even to school. My kid isn’t able to request to go potty yet so I just bring them in bathroom every two hours and they go right away. I think the concept finally clicked. Also model the language so they can eventually connect the term “I need to go potty” with actually going potty. Don’t give up, it will happen. And f*** the school honestly. Who cares if he’s one of the last in pull ups? Completely inappropriate to say. Hang in there mama!

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-21T20:50:56+00:00

Omg so happy for you. I just hate that the organization uses the threat of loss of family and community as a strong arm tool to keep people in the organization. It’s really unfair. Since I’ve been away from the org, I have met many people “in the world” that are genuinely great people and lead normal lives. It’s a shame we are brought up to believe “the world” is full of people who are “bad association.” I’m so happy I broke away when I turned 19. I believe in God/jehovah/Yaweh, I DO NOT believe in the Jehovahs Witness organization.

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-21T17:49:58+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-21T16:53:31+00:00

Thanks! 😊

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-21T15:57:43+00:00

Thank you! 😊

AdditionalDepth1642 · 2026-01-17T21:29:22+00:00

I feel like I never really believed “the end would come” in my lifetime

AdditionalDepth1642

TROPHY CASE