UPDATE: "My friend (30s F) is adamant that I (30s F) leave my children (6M,4F) in the hands of childcare workers I barely know. I refused. But it might cost us the friendship."

Almost 2 months ago I made the post "My friend (30s F) is adamant that I (30s F) leave my children (6M,4F) in the hands of childcare workers I barely know. I refused. But it might cost us the friendship."

Not only did I end up not leaving my children in their care. Thank you to everybody who threw up those red flags. I left the church entirely and stopped going. One month ago, after the reveal of some family secrets, I vowed never to set foot in a church again. Two weeks ago, I left Christianity.

May not be the update I wanted to share but it is my reality now.

On the plus side I've been able to reconnect more closely with some family who had left the church earlier. I never shunned them and they never shunned me but I put a distance between us that has melted away now. Surprisingly they all embraced me back into their lives.

My atheist brother is marrying his atheist fiancee this summer and I am so happy for them. I feel a joy for them I couldn't have imagined feeling while I put unnecessary walls between us.

I don't think all Christians have these walls but for me I had to take a step back from the faith to reconnect with people. Maybe one day I could join a more open church.

TL;DR: Not only did I end up not leaving my children in their care. I left the church and later left Christianity.

Submitted May 06, 2019 at 02:28PM by 007895645361 http://bit.ly/2ZZXspU