I know how you feel trust me. My daughter went in last week. I am praying, doing yoga and taking care if myself since i can't stand how down I've been. Hang in there take care of yourself so you can enjoy your granddaughter and be a solid support for your son. May God bless your family.

I know how sad you must be. Concentrate now on getting yourself and them through this. Keep in touch in every way with him, and let him know how you will be watching over his daughter too.

Send pictures of things that happen, send letters, news articles he would be interested in. Keep busy, and keep him busy. Mine's been in almost 3 years. It's hard, but you will make it.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. My husband was also sentenced to 3 years in a state prison. We have a 10 year old daughter and a 14 year old son. It hasn't been easy but talking on the phone, sending letters and cards, and visiting as much as we are able to has helped. Keep your son informed about what is going on in his daughter's life. Communication is the key! His daughter is old enough to be told the truth about her dad. Explain to her that if she ever needs to talk, you will be there for her. Tell her that it is important for her to let her feelings out. Make sure you tell her that her dad is not a bad person, he just made a bad choice, no matter what anyone else says! God be with you and your family. We are all here for you...keep in touch.

I'm sorry for your pain, my husband is serving 15 years and has done 7 already. Since he has been incarcerated 2 of our grandchildren have been born and they have a wonderful bond with thier papa. I also find that cards and phone calls help, we go and visit him as often as possible too. We have 3 grandkids altogether but none of then know where he really is they are all to young yet they think he travels for his job and can't ome home, I dread the day we have to tell them the truth. My son, thier dad also just got sentenced to a 3 month term and we are going to tell them the same thing. I hope 3 months goes by really fast because he doesn't want anyone to visit and see him. Life sure isn't easy, but I thank god for this group everybody here is helping me keep my sanity. It will help you too someone is always here to help and nobody judges!

As one Mom to another, I am so, so sorry that you have to go through this. Are you close enough that you will be able to visit him? If he has a drug addiction, prison, as harsh as it is, may save his life. With any luck, he will get into a program and get clean. My son recently admitted to a hidden alcohol issue that contributed to the actions that landed him in prison. I am praying that he works the program that is being offered him and that it will make the difference.

There's one issue to think about, children can be very cruel so if a child tells her friends that her father is in prison, she could be made fun of and that can do a lot of damage for a lifetime. It's a difficult situation and I usually opt for the truth, but not always in all situations.

I am so sorry you are feeling this.. we have ALL been there and there is nothing like it.. I hope he is one of the ones that gets this and it does not ruin him.. My husband is in a program that seems to be doing a lot of good.. I don't think I thought that it could happen but it really does work if they let it.. I am sorry your Grand daughter has to go through this but he has a chance to come home and show her that people really can grow from their mistakes and we all make them! It has been hard on my kids but honesty is the key, they see him working hard and making the changes he needs to have a better life..Please know you are not alone and we all know this sad, alone, hopeless feeling.. There is hope I promise, you have to look hard for it at first but it has come back in my life and I am feeling better about my future than before he went in.. not so much financially but just the foundation of a more honest look at the real problem..hang in there and reach out anytime!

I am sorry that you are going through this. I hope that your call with your granddaughter are going ok. Know that we are here to support you.

My granddaughter was 8 mos old when her daddy, my son went to prison. It's all she knows. That daddy had to be someplace for awhile because he made a mistake.

She is a little trooper. She is used to the prison life. She now goes to see my fiance in prison. She walks slowly through the metal detector, taking her shoes and jacket off first and handing it to them. She knows the routine. She waves at the guards, I especially crack up when she is walking down the path from the check in building to the visit building, and looks up at the guard tower and waves at the men. They have commented that they see her, and actually watch for her, because she is so cute. She isn't intimidated at all. The place is not scary, we sit at tables, he can hold her, we play games, she colors pictures, and it is just someplace she goes to see my fiance who she calls grandpa, for awhile. She is excited to have daddy home and very anxious for " grandpa" to come home next fall.

They handle it how we teach them to. We didn't make it a big deal. We just taught her that this unfortunately happened, and for now, it's how we have to see him.

He sends her cards, makes her craft things like, he made her a yarn cross stitched ID with her name on it, and her picture on it, similar to his. She's so fascinated with it.

As long as the kids are not told it is a terrible thing that they did to be in there, they are told that they just made a mistake, and sometimes those mistakes land you in jail, maybe it will be a good lesson and deterrent for her. We have made it clear, it doesn't mean they are bad people.

Iam sorry that your going though this. Please feel free to talk to us whenever you feel like we will try and help if we can.