Today my hubby, Danno, and I made a journey up north so Danny could visit Troy. In prison. It was the most difficult decision (and journey) I have ever made as a parent. Danny came to me approximately 2 years ago, when Troy sent him a birthday card. He was almost livid. His comment to me was something like this "Why does he think it's ok he calls me son, or send me a birthday card? Why NOW? How come I wasn't good enough to be his son when I was 6, or 10? Why am I only good enough when he goes to jail?I don't understand. What's wrong with me when he isn't in jail"
I had to look into that face, a face who lights up a room with one smile, and say "I don't have the answers you need. Unfortunately, the only person who has them is Troy. Those are questions you have to ask him. I'm sorry I can't give you the answers you need." Danny's response was "Then let's go. I want to talk to him. I want to see his face." So, we applied for a visitor's pass to take Danno to see him.
Danny was denied.
So, this past February we applied again. He was denied for the second time.
I had to apply for an appeal to the warden for Danny to be approved. Troy had completed the classes for Danny to visit by then. Danny was approved in March.
So, today I watched my son climb into our van and anxiously ride for 3.5 hours to seek the answers he so desparately needed. The only thing is, he didn't ask them. This time. He said "I want to get to know him, before I ask him why." My heart broke today as I sat and watched a grown man, and a tenderhearted boy try to forge a relationship. A relationship that should have been forged long ago. I was young, so was he. We created a child, and unfortunately it is he who paid the price. Not me. Not Troy. Danny. As I sat there and watched them learn to communicate, I felt a range of emotions. I felt guilty, angry, and hopeful.
GUILTY, because I don't think I have ever seen my son happier. Angry for the circumstances I put him in. No, I didn't deny Troy visitation. He was the one who chose not to have contact, but being young I made decisons that impacted his life. Would I do it all over again, absolutely. Have you met my son? He is splendidly awesome. :) Hopeful, because I see a man who is wiser, and I believe just as hopeful.
2 comments:
woot. Life looks so easy when we are young. Unfortunately denying our kids their birth parent isn't a good one. Let them decide, they know deep down the true person they see sitting before them. Kids are so smart and resilient. THey know.....we just have to let them get to that conclusion on their own. You know what, it is worth letting them. This way the message is much louder and oh so much clearer. Too bad we as parents don't know it sooner rather than later.
I know. I know Danny knows I am not the one who kept troy from him. Troy made the choice for no contact. I did have one rule and that was: he needed to be clean if he was visiting or calling. He couldn't be high. This time, Danny is the one making an effort, we'll see if Troy reciprocates. I'll do whatever Danny needs me to do until he says "ok mom. Enough."
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