by Shannon W
Member since:
November 11, 2006

What to Do for Your Kids Before You Go to Prison

October 20, 2007 08:31 PM EDT
views: 75 | comments: 29

If you're lucky enough to know when you're going to prison (as opposed to being arrested on the spot and not being allowed home first) and have kids, then it is important to prepare them for the time you'll be away from them. Often when a parent is arrested, the kids aren't taken care of the way they should be emotionally. Taking the extra effort to do even one of the items on this list, could mean the world to them.

 

What To Do For Your Kids Before You Go To Prison # 1: Make a tape of yourself

If you don't have a video camera, then ask all of your friends and family if they have one. If you're going to Prison for an extended period of time, I think that making a video of yourself would be a wonderful thing to do for your child. If you have a younger child, you could record yourself reading several children's books and then whenever they wanted a bedtime story from you, all they have to do is put in the video. This could help with the pain of not being able to see their parent. You could also make a video tape for any birthdays or holidays that you'll miss.

 

 I wrote this article for Associated Content, so please click this link to read the rest of the suggestions. This could also work if a parent were dying and wanted to do something for their child once they were gone from this earth. Hopefully neither situation is one that we'll go through but just in case....

 

If you have an AC account, feel free to comment on the article at AC and I will gladly check out your work.

 

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Comments: 29

Midnite Writer -- Kim Oct 20, 2007, 8:34pm EDT
Very sad to even have to think about it, but I suppose if you're doing a suspended sentence or something it would help to prepare. Good luck!
Karen M. Oct 20, 2007, 8:48pm EDT
I will head there now. Thanks for sharing it...
Teresa W. Oct 20, 2007, 8:52pm EDT
A very handy article!!
Denise B. Oct 20, 2007, 9:01pm EDT
sad, but a good thing to do just in case....
Stephanie S. Oct 20, 2007, 9:02pm EDT
I hope no one ever needs the advice in your article.

I don't comment on AC (no time, don't get much out of it), but here's my link:

www.associatedcontent.com/user/57067/stephanie_a_smith.html
lynn a. Oct 20, 2007, 9:10pm EDT
Good information. I've only known one person to go to jail and no children involved, but I will remember this, just in case.
Mary M. Oct 20, 2007, 9:14pm EDT
Wow, not something I hope anyone in my family ever has to deal with.
Amanda T. Oct 20, 2007, 9:48pm EDT
Good information. Thanks for sharing however I hope & pray that I will never did it!
Halo R. Oct 20, 2007, 9:51pm EDT
wow thanks you so much for sharing i have a friend who is trying to make her understand and be ok that there daddy is going to jail for a while i'm going to show her this so again thank you
elizabeth e. Oct 20, 2007, 9:56pm EDT
Good info....something I never think about it.
Nancy S. Oct 20, 2007, 10:18pm EDT
Good suggestions. I've heard of doing that before you die but never thought of the prison thing.
Dena A. Oct 20, 2007, 10:22pm EDT
I have no intentions of going to prison! However you never know what could be around the corner .. something could happen 'false arrest' or what not. I know a few people in prison. They did not have time to prepare but its was their fault too .. they sent themselves there. Their kids are older.
Robin"Buffy's Stunt Double" D. Oct 20, 2007, 10:37pm EDT
Good article. I think that we sometimes forget that many of the people filling the jails are parents.
Marianne R. Oct 20, 2007, 11:26pm EDT
Clicked the AC link for you!
Lune Wolfsong Oct 21, 2007, 1:06am EDT
Hope no one needs this, but sadly, sometimes...

clicked through to AC.
Steph-in-NE ..... Oct 21, 2007, 1:26am EDT
i am sorry,,, I dont have to plan that far,, I dont do anything against the law,,
and as for death,, husband and our family have our plans
Shannon W Oct 21, 2007, 1:58am EDT
I don't have to plan that far either. I don't plan on going to jail but sadly it's something that a lot of people who do go to jail, don't think about. The kids usually always get overlooked. :(
Frances Virginia M. Oct 21, 2007, 6:28am EDT
Your article is very informative for either the person going to prison or the person who has a short time to live. Neither are happy subjects but these things do need to be planned for, maybe not prison since not everyone goes to prison but we cannot escape death and it is someting which will happen to all of us. As you said, the kids do often get overlooked.
Dee - Nature Babe! Oct 21, 2007, 8:12am EDT
great ideas. Don't have he account mentioned but know some of what it is about.

Thank you!
Cheryl R. Oct 21, 2007, 10:01am EDT
Sadly, neither situation is one that a parent plans normally. As you suggested some parents don't have the opportunity to see their children after they are arrested. In the case of parental death, it can often come unexpectedly. It might be a good idea to employ some of your suggestions for all parents.
Bhawana 'Gather Proud Mom' Oct 21, 2007, 11:24am EDT
Good Shannon...
Victoria H. Oct 21, 2007, 3:45pm EDT
Nice tips, but hopefully I'll never need to use them. I hope I never go to prison for anything!! These are things I would do if I ever get cancer and am going to die. I'll want my kids to remember me and know how much I love them. I clicked through to your link too, Shannon. Isn't that how that AC place works?
Connie C. Oct 21, 2007, 7:11pm EDT
I sure do hope that I never need this advice. :) I am going to your link now.
Alainia~ Tha one n only~ a. Oct 21, 2007, 7:21pm EDT
This is thoughtful for those who are in that situation!
donna h. Oct 21, 2007, 7:45pm EDT
good info
Jerri H. Oct 21, 2007, 10:24pm EDT
This would be good for any occasion that will have a parent or loved one leaving for an extended period of time.
brenda c. Oct 22, 2007, 3:38pm EDT
this could be very helpful to many families.
Heidianna "Coriander" T. Oct 27, 2007, 7:51pm EDT
I think this is something that people rarely think about when bad things happen, so thanks for the article!

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