Incarcerated Son

By Cora Fleeta Hill

These pages may not entertain you; however, one may feel empathy for the contents. People tend not to speak about their son being in jail. Life's hidden little secret.

Mothers and families do not feel comfortable sharing these hurtful stories and lawbreaking experiences. I definitely stepped completely out of my comfort zone to reveal the contents of my real-life journal. People will judge and criticize me. My incarcerated son has consumed my life totally. It has negative impacts on my health, friends, and family. Physically, as well as mentally, I feel all used up.

This book is a true-life journal for others to relate to. Perhaps headed down the path of destruction. Also for those who support incarcerated sons with letters, money on the books, phone calls, and visitations. There are two sides to this painful story--there is the struggle to get through day by day and the underlying issues. The reader can decide which one directly or indirectly impacts the life of the incarcerated son.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638811299

Book preview

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Incarcerated Son

Cora Fleeta Hill

Copyright © 2021 Cora Fleeta Hill

Edited by Amber Hill

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-63881-128-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63881-129-9 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Introduction

This book is dedicated to me, myself, for I represent the lamented mothers of sons who are and have been incarcerated.

With this decision to write also comes stomach pains, anxiety, and hurt—again of what might be revealed or true feelings unhidden upon removing the lid or pulling out from my ten-year diary, which until now has been locked up in a safe in my bedroom closet. (I must stop now because my thirteen-year-old daughter and two friends have come home.)

There is much discussion of what effects and affects incarcerated sons have on their mothers. Such things as he is on my heart, he is in my prayers, or he killed his mother, so to speak as worried her to death. These were heard of and also very personally experienced by me.

The context in this material is based upon the personal thoughts and point of view of the writer. The first years of my diary, which is shared as follows, reveals a true story of a mother’s constant struggle with her incarcerated son. It follows him from juvenile delinquency, boys’ school, county prison, halfway houses, state prison, and Federal prison to the present court system.

Background

TJ was born in May 1972 and was my firstborn son and family grandson. Greatly loved and embraced. He was a handsome child, and the preschool teachers adored him. They said he has such nice manners. His dad left us and cut off all the utilities (sad).

TJ was caught stealing action figures at the toy store. The store manager saw him stuffing the toys down his pants. He called for me to get him, and the police pulled up. TJ’s friend, Doug, was also stealing. His mother brought a belt and beat him all the way to the car. TJ got a discussion (fussed at) and asked, Why? He was only ten years old!

TJ began cutting classes in junior high school. I was going to the classes to copy his assignments from the teachers. I did not want him to fail.

TJ loved to play the drums in the high school marching band. He took private drum lessons. I was so proud of him until I attended the Memorial Day Parade, and TJ did not show up! Where was TJ? He had stolen my car…went joyriding with a friend—no license.

I got a referral from the school for family counseling. His sister, grandmother, and I went with TJ. This eventually led to TJ being placed temporarily in a boys’ school. Broke my heart! I fainted and passed completely out on the ground. Someone called the paramedics to revive me.

TJ’s grandmother and myself drove him to another high school out of our district every morning. I attended and waited in line at his parent-teacher conferences. It was finally my turn to ask about TJ’s progress in algebra class.

I introduced myself to my son’s teacher in first period. The teacher asked, "Who? I do not