14-Year Old Reunites with Mother Thanks to Parenting With Purpose Driving Program.

Incarcerated parents and their children face many obstacles in trying to maintain their relationships while the parent is in prison.  At Parenting With Purpose we believe that transportation shouldn't be one of them.

This month we are pleased to introduce you to Jalani, a pretty typical 14-year old boy in most regards.  He has an unabashed enthusiasm for spending time with his mom.  For the past five years, Jalani's mother has been serving time at MCF-SHK, and until recently, Jalani had not means of gettig to the prison to visit her.  Now that his mother has joined the PWP parenting class, the pair has had the opportunity to visit regularly courtesy of the PWP volunteer driving program.  As you can see from the photo, their relationship is flourishing.

With the busy holiday season and happy memories of animated family get-togethers still fresh in our minds this month, our hearts and prayers go out to families who are separated.  May we all be as appreciative as Jalani and his mother of the time we spend with loved ones, and may many more parents and children find their way back to one another through the programs of PWP.

Mother and Son Reunited After 9 Years

 “Time,” it has been said, “is life’s most valuable commodity because once lost, it can never be gotten back.”  No one knows this better than parents who have missed out on precious moments in their children’s lives because of incarceration. 

This month, we are celebrating the reunion of Melissa, a long time participant in PWP programs, and her 17-year old son Dillon.  Since being released from prison several years ago, Melissa has had an uphill battle trying to rebuild her relationship with her son.  Through perseverance, family therapy, and prayer Melissa has worked hard to convince Dillon’s father to allow visitation, to earn Dillon’s forgiveness and trust, and to get reacquainted with her son.  The two recently celebrated Dillon’s birthday together, about which Melissa said, “I felt like a mom again.” 

Melissa’s story reminds us that while we can’t change the past, the future is what we make of it.  We hope that other parents who are struggling to connect with their children will be encouraged by Melissa’s success and will persevere.