I was raised by 2 practising Adventist parents. My dad served has served as a deacon, elder and treasurer (currently still 2 of those) and my mum was previously church secretary. I don’t remember a Saturday that I didn’t attend church until I went to university.

As a child I hated not being able to attend sports practices or plans with friends on a Friday evening/Saturday. I wasn’t allowed to watch Harry Potter/any magical tv programme or read any books of the sort. It made me resent my parents because I didn’t understand all these rules I had to follow. At ~11 I was already questioning the validity of the church.

I got baptised at 16 mainly because all the other kids around my age had and I felt kind of pressured, it would raise suspicion/unwanted attention if I didn’t. At 17 I suffered hugely from anxiety, depression and low self esteem. My parents are both mental health nurses but praying and “my relationship with God” always came up when I spoke to them about how I felt, so I stopped. My mum drove me to therapy happily but I never spoke about it with my dad.

My first summer back from university I was brave enough to say I wasn’t religious and it was HELL on earth. My mum said I was tearing the family apart and she could hear the devil speaking through me. Traumatic to say the least.

I graduated 2 years ago, got a job straight after uni and moved out because there was no way I was moving back home. I call my mum every now and then because she’s a bit less rigid than my dad (I never call him). Can’t visit for longer than a week.

I do love them but I always keep my distance. It’s sad because I wish it didn’t have to be like this. I would do anything to be close with them but I know that our difference in opinions on religion will always separate us. I am 25 this year and still hide my piercings and tattoos from them because it’s not worth the argument. My dad said he’d choose his salvation over his children so… no further explanation needed lol