Confession #1: I have a son in prison.

My name is Bridget, and I have a son in prison.

Ernest Hemingway said, “Write hard and clear about what hurts.”

This hurts.

So, I’m writing.

As I get underway, it should be clear: This space is bound to be raw. At times, it may contain strong words. It will likely evoke conflict, both within and amongst readers.

No matter what happens here, I argue that this tiny voice matters. It has implications for all U.S. tax payers. It will be informative for those parenting and those supporting parents. It matters in discussion about education and policies therein. It has ramifications for law enforcement and sheds light on the structural disarray that current corrections departments subsist within.

Importantly, though, there are nearly 2 million incarcerated individuals in the U.S. and all of them were born to mothers. Some of us have even been good mothers by the standard definition. It matters to our daily lives, and to those American citizens who are currently incarcerated.

So, yes, I am making the difficult choice to share thought-provoking and informative insights from a unique POV. Am I biased? Yes. Does this biased perspective have important insights for us all? Also, I believe, yes.

Welcome to Black Sheep Mom.

Tune into the drama.

Think docu-series; think saga. Because it is. Unscripted. This is real life, unfolding in a manner that we never planned to experience let alone discuss with you. It is hard. It is humbling. It is also an opportunity to learn.

Some of this will be my journal entries over the years. Some will be unfolding events (trust me, there are stories). Other posts will be news and info relevant to our experiences.

In all of this, I will fight to remain witty, authentic, and bold.

Where and When?

I’m writing here, and I’m writing at https://substack.com/@blacksheepmom as well.

At this time, my goal is to post one time per week on Fridays. I might bring you personal experiences or funny-not-funny stories from my/our week. Other posts will illuminate how we got here. Some content might be a highlight of recent corrections matters (wow, what a mess), political decisions, or national justice-related news to consider. Maybe we can even discuss pardons (ah, hem). Would I pardon my son? Stay tuned.

How much?

To begin, all public posts on the website are free. Just as I wish my son was.

Paid subscriptions on Substack are available for those who want to engage deeper. Private pay posts are reserved for the nitty-gritty and for a community more interested in conversation.

It is also a way to support my son.

People often ask me what they can do or how they could help. Every paid subscription will fund my son’s commissary which buys him clothing and food as well as paper and stamps to write us. It also buys him books, as he has no access to TV nor the internet.

As you will come to learn, the cost to the families of inmates is unfathomable and at this time, he is not allowed to have a job in the DOC. Yep, not allowed.

Who are we?

For reference, I will not out my son by name, number, image, or specifics. He is doing time in a maximum security prison and drawing attention to him is not wise. I understand curiosity, and I know that I would full-on Google to learn more if I were you. Of course, you are free to do so. I can ask you only to be kind, with his (and his family’s) safety in mind.

What I can promise is 100% honesty. I will not excuse, sugar-coat, nor share untruth about him, me, or our experiences. I will speak of his crime and how we ended up here. I will also write of his redemptive factors and of our hopes for days to come.

See you Friday!

P.S., Please subscribe. Even just the free subscription! You’ll get a heads up for each new post. If you are living with the experience of having an incarcerated loved one, this is your space too. Please reach out and share what hurts, what works, and what you know. Maybe together we can find some peace.