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Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents Final Series By Davis81 - Research Intern To conclude the incarcerated parent’s series, I would say I had experienced a lot when my mom was in prison. It was all a learning lesson. When I share my story, people always say, “you don’t look like what you been through,” which is honestly true. I tend not to open up and share my journey because I grew to not just want to share it with anyone. I typically share with people I am close to. I am glad that I could share bits and pieces of my life growing up while my mother was incarcerated with the world because I know I am not the only one out there who has experienced this. I want to leave the children who have some parents in prison with some advice: Do not let your parent’s actions define your future – Just because they are your parent does not mean you are a reflection of them. Everyone is entitled to their own actions, and your life is your own. Strive to be the best you can be – D…

Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents Views of People By Davis81 - Research Intern Think about a time you experienced something tragic, and afterward, you started looking at the people and things around you differently? I am pretty sure we all have. I’ve experienced that when my mom went to prison. I didn’t negatively look at people but more so in a way like “people go through things, and they get through things.” When I was younger, I used to look at people who got into trouble and think they could never get their lives back on track because of the simple fact that they have a record. Society has played a part in that viewpoint for me because they make it seem like your life is over once you get into trouble with the law. Well, I’ve seen firsthand that that statement is not valid. My mom has since come home and wholly done a 360. She did everything she had to do to get herself back on her feet. When she came home, she got a job, lived with some family for a couple of mont…

Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents What it Was Like By Davis81 - Research Intern When thinking about all the emotions and things I’ve experienced while my mom was in prison, I wish there were some things I could have changed when going through what I went through. So, pretty much I blamed myself for my mom going to prison. It sounds pretty weird, but it was something I struggled with. As a child, I constantly wanted to save everybody from everything, but when I found out my mom was sentenced, I felt defeated. I cried for hours; I did not know what would happen to my siblings and me. Still, to this day, I see that I am one of those people who wants to save everybody from everything they are going through. I know I can’t, but that is just me. I think that is why I know for a fact helping people is my calling. I want to help people better themselves, be better than they were the day before. I’ve watched my mom go through things that broke my heart, but she overcame every ad…

Fathers Behind Bars By Austin Y. - Research Intern Crime not only has an effect on the general public but also the families of the offender. When an offender is incarcerated for long periods of time, it is tearing that individual's family apart. Everyone does not grow up with a complete family, some have their fathers ripped away from them while they are forced to grow up with just one parent. That parent then has to pick up the slack and is forced to pick up more jobs to make up for the lack of income leaving the children unsupervised for long periods of time. When the children are unsupervised they tend to make poor decisions to get the attention they are not getting because the their parent isn’t able to be home as much due to working multiple jobs just to get by. This perpetuates the cycle of crime, a cycle that Fathers Behind Bars hopes to break. “There are 2.7 million children with a parent in prison or jail.” That statistic is mind blowing as that is a great deal of …

Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents What I Needed By Davis81 - Research Intern So this weeks blog entry has to deal with the listing of what children who have incarcerated parents may need.  Especially while dealing with something of this nature which could mess with your mental health and emotional health. I personally struggled with things regarding my mental and emotional health. When my mom went to prison and I moved with my father and step-mother I wasn’t really interested in doing things. I wanted to sit in the house all day and just keep to myself. My dad wanted me to get outside and make friends in the neighborhood since I was new in the area but I did not have any interest because I was still processing the fact that my mom was gone. I didn’t know when she would be coming back, and I was split from my brother and two sisters Personally, I think there were some things that I needed to know/ needed when my mom left but I did not know them. So…. Here they are: …

Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents The Beginning By Davis81 - Research Intern Can you imagine being ten years old going from the life you knew to a new life without one of your parents? I can vividly remember walking from the bus stop with my younger sister and cousins to get home and see that my mother wasn't home… How awkward was it for something to just change up without any warning? That was the first experience that I could recall that made a significant impact on my life. I had to readjust in a different city, make new friends, and learn to be without my mother and siblings at ten years old. Some people may think that was an early age, but she’ll be alright, but the truth is some days I was okay, and other days I wouldn't be. When I found out my mom was going to prison, it hurt me to the core because my provider wasn't going to be there anymore. I eventually then moved in with my Aunt, but she could not take care of my mom’s four children, my teenage Aunt, and h…