Staying Connected
How do you keep mothers in prison feeling connected to their newborns? This is a puzzle we've been working to solve for the past year. Visitation in prison has been shut down for a year (although in-person visitation was always the least likely form of contact between parents and children due to the difficulties associated with travel and the strict conditions put on visitation).
Mothers love to call home and get updates, but those contacts are fleeting and expensive. Video visits are even more expensive, and mothers report that these visits often leave them feeling sad, disconnected, and frustrated because their infants are too young to respond.
Motherhood Beyond Bars have developed creative tools to keep bonds strong between mothers and infants for the past year, recognizing that almost all the infants we support cannot yet talk to their mothers directly and cannot write or draw.
We know that mothers love receiving pictures of their newborns and updates about their development. So many changes in the first year of life, and mothers worry that they miss out on all the important milestones. So last year, through a partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, we asked for some help. And we got it! We were thrilled to be included in the 2020 Extra Wish Catalog, and the gifts we received allowed us to purchase at-home printers, baby books, and hand and footprint kits for our caregiver families.
This week we sent out another package to our newest infant. We believe sending pictures to mom in prison, and updating her on her child's development and milestones is a powerful way to keep her connected. Having a printer at home removes a significant burden and expense from caregivers.
The baby books we purchased are perfect for caregiver families. The creators, Lovely Sprouts, are a small family business, and they've taken special care to make sure ALL families will feel comfortable using these baby books. Each time we place an order, they throw a few extras in because they believe in our mission.
We cannot replicate the experience of being present for all of life's firsts. But we believe the simple act of kindness, a picture of a sleeping newborn or capturing a first smile on film, can make a significant difference. And we're grateful to all the supporters at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta who made this extra wish possible.
