How to build a relationship over the phone

Your husband is in prison. Suddenly, your primary way of communicating is no longer face to face, but over the phone. And not by text, snapchat, or Instagram messaging. Yikes! Talking on the phone together was probably not something you did often before he went to prison. Talking on the phone is now the most…

December 18, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family Prison

How to have a Great Christmas Visit with an Inmate

Christmas was the most difficult season for my family while Ron was in prison. On the outside, we missed him every day—but during Christmas we missed him even more. For those on the inside, the days are longer and harder than any other time of the year. Spending time together during visits to…

December 17, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

tyro blog how to communicate when youre angry

Family

How to Communicate when you are angry

Ever notice how hard it is to talk when you’re angry? It is easy to shut down and say nothing—and it is easy to yell. But talking calmly is the furthest thing from your mind in that moment. Anger has a way of robbing us of our self-control, dignity, and character if we are not…

December 14, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

cathy tijerina inexpensive christmas gifts in prison

Family

20 Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

Christmas is not about presents, it is about people When Ron went to prison, I realized that Christmas is not about presents, it is about people. My boys were grateful for the presents they received- but what they wanted most was to spend Christmas with their daddy. Some of the best gifts we have received…

December 13, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

7 Shocking Ways to Communicate Better

Communication is King when your husband is in prison. Without strong communication skills, you will struggle in every area of your marriage while he is away. Chances are, you will not make it out of prison together unless you learn to communicate better. Many couples struggle with understanding each other when they live together. It…

December 12, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Leadership Prison

10 Tips to getting a Job with a Felony

You might have heard that you won’t be able to get a job if you have a felony. Ridiculous! Of course you can find a job with felony! Your path to employment will be a little different than others, but there are many, many, many jobs available to you. You just have to know what…

December 11, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Great gift ideas on a budget

I so wish I could stop the commercialism in Christmas. The pressure of trying to find the elusive “perfect gift” creates so much stress. If only that gift wasn’t so expensive, or I had more money, things would be so much easier. I used to go crazy trying to save money for Christmas presents – and…

December 10, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Naughty or Nice?

Reputation is everything. Your reputation precedes you and either opens or closes doors for you. It is not fair, but people make judgement calls about you based on what they have heard about you. As the wife of a prisoner, then you have a lot to overcome. You have already been labeled as second-rate by…

December 6, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family Prison

Christmas Presents when Dad is in prison

Making Holidays special for all After barely getting through the first Christmas with Ron in prison, I promised myself that my sons would have a lot of presents from then on. The next several years, I found myself looking for ways to get as many gifts as I could for my sons. I needed to…

December 5, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family Prison

Telling Your Employer Your Husband is in Prison

“Should I tell my boss that my husband is in prison?” This is one of the most common questions I get. One of the biggest fears a wife of a prisoner is that the news of their husband’s incarceration will cause them to lose their job. For some, it is a very real danger. Some…

December 4, 20180Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com