Families of SOs Community Group
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Good luck and keep coming back here. We are all here to help each other and having people going through the same thing as you is such a big help.
Neither of you are alone! Remember that!
Everyone important to me knew about my status when I was on the registry. I held nothing back because I felt if one thing drove them away, they were not that important. I am so much more than the plea deal and subsequent registration.
You will have to decide for yourself what to do. Just like him, it is a decision you will have to live with. He should have never let it happen the way it did.
At the same time I feel like he is no different than before and that he wouldn't hurt anyone, that he needs me through this process because is about to come to an end on November. I dont fully know whats gonna happen after that cuz it will b 10 years, is his picture not gonna b on the registry anymore, is he gonna b able to go away? Is he gonna b able to stay around chdren? There are so many things that bother me and I dont know how everything is gonna turn out...
Alik76 I think u are definitely right about me finding counsuling I think that would b the best option.
Coolrich001 I also know he should've not wait all this time but yes I know he was afraid I would walk away, but three years is too long.
Thank u again to all
When I told my parents I expected similar reaction, when the rest of the family found out, I expected something, still no reaction, just acceptance.
I have a couple of rhetorical questions to ask you that you should only answer to yourself... no matter how curious the rest of us here are...
What bothers you the most, the fact that he didn't disclose this information to you before you dated him or the fact that you found out he was a "SEX OFFENDER" those words even get a rise in blood pressure from me and I have been an advocate for over 9 years and know the differences between the different kinds of offenders. This reaction could be what is causing your anxiety about the whole situation. What if you had googled him and found out that he had done time for fraud or embezzling? What about armed robbery? Would you get the same pit in your stomach, twitch in your brain that says "ICKY it's a _____" like you do when you hear or see the words "SEX OFFENDER"?
I am not going to tell you what to do... but if you liked him, saw a future with him BEFORE you googled him, what, other than a label like "NIGGER", makes you doubt your feelings and future now other than what your family thinks?
I had those same fears that you did and the reactions I got when I told people shocked me... I was expecting disgust, dismay, etc... what I got were intelligent questions, genuine interest and acceptance, even from co-workers. I was FLOORED. Maybe it is where I live, a rural Wisconsin area in the central part of the state. Maybe it is because they knew me first and know of my own integrity and know that I wouldn't choose some moron or someone that is a horrible person... I don't know... But I do know that when I knew I saw a future with him, and he saw one with me, nothing was going to stop me, period.
The only person that has to live with the choices I make is, ME. Yeah they can affect the lives of others, but they choose to let it bother them, not you choose to let it bother them, they have the choice to walk away too. Because I am the only one that has to live with my own choices, then I see no reason to consider anyone else (other than children,cause they have no free will yet) when making life decisions like this. If you love him, that's what matters, cause when you are married it will be the two of you as a team.
Never leave an opportunity wasted and have no regrets... If you do the first the second will take care of itself.
You said he completed treatment, that lowers his risk to reoffend. He did this as a child, that lowers his risk to reoffend. He has the support of his family, that lowers his chance to reoffend. His crime was intra-familial and opposite sex, both if those lower his chance to reoffend. The fact that you didn't know he was a registered sex offender means that he is probably at least doing okay for himself, has a job keeps in decent shape, has a solid living situation, those are all factors in lowering recidivism. The last thing to look at is how much time has lapsed since the crime occurred, it sounds like it has been awhile, and since then he has been offense free, that is another factor in lowering his chance to reoffend.
The statistics will show you he has the lowest chance of all sex offenders to recidivate. I would think this may be helpful for your family to know, and it would be best brought up by you to show them you have done your research.
I do not know where I would be without my wife, she is the most amazing person. Yes it will be harder being with someone on the registry but I can attest it has brought us closer than I think it would've otherwise. If that makes sense.