Families of Prisoners Support Group
This community is dedicated to families that have been disrupted by prison. Having a loved one incarcerated or having been incarcerated comes with its own unique challenges that require support and understanding. Join the group to find others who know what you're going through, and to seek advice or share your experience.
I am trying to figure out how to support my husband at this time. His 21 year old son is facing federal prison. He has a history of selling drugs and has been arrested many times since he was 16. He has never faced any consequences up until this point. We have only been married for 3 years so I had no hand in raising his kids. They live 4 hours away so I've never gotten close or been emotionally involved. My husband is devastated and depressed and I'm trying to be supportive, but I see this as something the kid did intentionally and never thought he would get caught. Anyone else out there can offer me advice?
On some level, your husband probably feels the same way you do. I'm sure he understands that this is a choice his son made and that consequences are what they are.
But the fact is, this is his child. His child that he raised and loves and still feels responsible for even though he's grown. So with the situation, his child is still going away. As a parent, there is an unconditional love for your children regardless of the things they do or the choices they make.
The best way you can support your husband is to try to understand that his child is going away and there's nothing he can do about it. Just listen to what he has to say about it and try to put yourself in his shoes. Try to imagine that this is your child. Think about how you would feel and how you would want someone to approach the situation.