Tips For Single Moms

I was so shocked that I had become a single mom! It wasn’t supposed to be this way; I was not supposed to be left alone to raise my boys as a single parent. This left me bewildered, scared, and overwhelmed. Not to mention completely unprepared for this job. I adored my sons and wanted…

November 3, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Gift Ideas for Inmates

One of the simplest ways to let someone know you care about them is to get them a gift. Gifts are wonderful for holidays, birthdays, special occasions, or just to lift someone’s spirits during a difficult time. When someone is in prison, sending a gift becomes complicated and confusing. People often ask questions like, “What…

October 16, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

No More Goodbyes

When Daddy goes to prison, everything changes And nothing will ever be the same again. This is especially true for children who lived with their father before prison. Suddenly, every encounter they have with Daddy (prison visits, phone calls, or letters) includes an emotional goodbye. Goodbyes are hard. They remind us we are parting, each…

October 10, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

What Do I Do Now?

I sat staring at the small stain in the carpet where Ron had dropped a Sharpie just days before. It now seemed like a different world already. It was a world where Ron lived with us and we had “normal” problems - like dropped markers, spilled milk, bills to pay, and boys to raise. I…

October 6, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Why Should I Stay?

The question of staying or leaving a man who is in prison is one I hear often And one I had to wrestle with when Ron went to prison. The pain of the separation, the social prejudice, and the painful memories of trust betrayed all make a compelling case to leave. And yet, you are…

September 12, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

Do I Deserve Better

I never felt so alone or insignificant as I did when Ron went to prison. Most of my family and friends had abandoned me. The future looked dark, bleak, and cruel. It seemed to be calling me into a life defined by social isolation, poverty, and hopelessness. I was overwhelmed! I was drowning in responsibilities—taking…

August 25, 20170Comments

Bycatherine@theridgeproject.com

Family

How to Support Someone

How to support someone Recently my wife, my daughter, her friend, and I had the great pleasure of taking a pontoon boat out on the lake for the very first time ever. With no instructions, no person to tell me how to navigate, back up, go forward, or how fast to go on a turn,…

August 17, 20170Comments

Byron@theridgeproject.com