<p>Sending prayers for you and your son.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to you fauxmaven. Reaching out is the best thing you can do to take care of yourself. I hope you find the real life support you need, but we’re here for you in the meantime.</p>
<p>Hugs to you!</p>
<p>I don’t know whether you are a person of faith, but Chuck Colson (of Watergate infamy) started an organization to support prisoners and their families. </p>
<p>[Resources</a> for Friends, Family, and Volunteers](<a href=“http://www.prisonfellowship.org/pf-resources/resources-friends-and-family]Resources”>http://www.prisonfellowship.org/pf-resources/resources-friends-and-family)</p>
<p>fauxmaven, my heart goes out to you, your son, and the rest of your family. I hope you are able to find some folks with similar experiences to provide support for each other.</p>
<p>Perhaps someone else has posted this link to prisontalk.com. I haven’t investigated, but it looks like a CC and has a community forum for parents whose children are incarcerated:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=75[/url]”>http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=75</a></p>
<p>You truly have my sympathy. My sons mercifully have never been in jail. I do know some that have, but I am not sure a referral would be useful. What part of New Jersey are you from?</p>
<p>I have nothing to offer but words of encouragement and hope that you’ll find the support system that will help you and your son through this difficult time. Thinking of you!</p>
<p>fauxmaven - I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this. I am sending my thoughts and prayers.</p>
<p>Faux maven, thinking of you. I think you are in New Jersey so I don’t know if you have any way of reading this right now but my prayers are with you.</p>
<p>fauxmaven - I echo the sentiment that anytime any of our children (adult or otherwise) is struggling, we parents struggle along with them. I certainly hope the upcoming struggles will be swift and as trauma-free as possible.</p>
<p>Faux maven. </p>
<p>Just a thought. Call a few local hospitals and or counseling centers and tell them what you are looking for. </p>
<p>Sometimes counselors will start a group if they see a need. The fact that you are looking for support certainly means that there are others also looking for the same support.</p>
<p>It doesn’t have to be group therapy. Just a facilitated group that can help.</p>
<p>I have no advice other than to look forward as others have stated. Focus on the future and positives.</p>
<p>Sending strength to you.</p>
<p>Heck – there are parts of the Southeastern US I don’t like to give my maiden name to people because of my two notorious cousins who stole cars, robbed stores, etc and did time. You know what? They are just delightful men today – married, kids, small business owners. </p>
<p>It’s a long journey and your boy is still very young with tons of opportunities for redemption ahead. Have faith. He’ll be okay.</p>
<p>Hi all-I lost power at my house, and may not have power for 2 more weeks! Today,Nov 1, is my birthday, so I am in NYC at my husband’s office which has power and is much warmer than my house. I have no hot water, which is such a drag!! We put in a tankless water heater, and this is the downside. I started the day at one of my favorite restaurants-RAYMOND’S in Montclair NJ. It was just my jail bound son and myself, extra special! Afterwards, he bought me a chocolate cupcake. We spent most of the day together, and I am so grateful foe every MINUTE we are together. I call up different neighbors and ask if I can come and take a hot shower! It may be 2 more weeks till this ends. The good news-my son’s next court date was postponed! I connected with a woman who also has a son going to prison. We are meeting on the 5th of Nov. Thanks to all for your continuing support! Perhaps PRISON could be the next MENOPAUSE to come out of the closet! Sometimes, I think I should wear a T-shirt that says MY SON IS A FELON IN THE NJ PRISON SYSTEM- kind of a rebuttal to, “My son is an honor student!” or " this is what a prison mom looks like!"</p>
<p>Glad you checked in. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!</p>
<p>OP–your son is a human being who deserves another chance. We all make mistakes, some of them big ones.</p>
<p>Happy Birthday!</p>
<p>Happy birthday Fauxmaven!</p>
<p>Happy Birthday, Fauxmaven!</p>
<p>I’m so sorry for your heartache. I like your t-shirt idea. Even better, get all of your friends to wear them and dare people to guess which one is the real prison mom. It would help to illustrate that nobody has the right to judge. Any parent can go through what you are going through right now.</p>
<p>I predict that you are all going to be fine in the end and especially your son. I’m good at predictions, by the way :)</p>
<p>fauxmaven, happy birthday! And more cyber hugs.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to you and your family, fauxmaven. And I hope your power is restored sooner than expected!</p>
<p>I love your t-shirt idea. You would probably find some kindred spirits if you wore one. There are so many people struggling with things in private–maybe we should have a t-shirt day for all of us, and we could put our issue on our chests or our car bumpers. We’d likely find out we aren’t as alone as we think.</p>
<p>I would need a really big t-shirt to list all of m issues!</p>
<p>Happy belated birthday, and ((((hugs))) to you.</p>