My bro's lack of discipline from my parents
I listened to it with my mom, and I forgot I said some things that may have hurt her feelings.
Last month, Karissa Mooney, a podcast host for Justice Conversations, reached out to me on LinkedIn after she saw my Prison Journalism Project column about Why I Send Care Packages to My Brother.
She wanted to find out more about this topic and what it’s like to deal with an incarcerated loved one. I opened up about my brother, my parents, Stories About My Bro, and of course my memoir.
Listening to the podcast with my mom and dad
Ironically, I listened to the podcast with my parents on a 3-hour drive to visit my brother. While listening in the car, I forgot that there was a discussion about my mom and how I disagreed with how she raised my brother. I said her parenting skills lacked discipline (my dad, too). They didn’t know how to deal with my brother.
When I think about it now, I don’t even think the fiercest Korean tiger mom would’ve been able to handle him.
I told Karissa, “After my brother went to prison, I think my mom probably felt like she had failed as a mother.”
When this part of the conversation came up, I looked over at my mom while I was driving. I couldn’t tell if she was squinting from the sun or if she was about to cry. I asked if she was okay, and she said she was fine.
What I left out of the conversation was that I didn’t think she failed as a mother. My mom is (and was) a wonderful, caring, and strong mom. She did her best, and I hope she doesn’t hold on to the guilt.
I hope you listen to the conversation I had with Karissa. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
And in case you missed it, here’s the last piece I wrote about phone calls from prison.