(no subject)

[princessdreamer]

i went to visit a friend in jail last night. jail was surprisingly like it is on tv (the visiting part at least). we had to wait around for an hour before we could get in, so of course i spent that time watching the other people in the waiting room. there were so many kids there. it amazed me. i wondered what it would be like to be 5 or 7 or 12 and have to go to jail twice a week to visit your mom or dad. i wondered what it would be like to be a toddler and have that as part of your routine the whole time you had been alive, to have never known that parent as part of your everyday life, to know that parent through a piece of super plastic-glass and a phone, to never feel that parent's touch or kiss or hug. it seemed so normal to all of them. and please, don't get me wrong, i'm not judging at all. it just made me more resolute in wanting the job i applied for this summer to help kids whose moms are in jail so they can visit their moms and go to a camp with other kids who are in the same situation so they can have a type of play/support group.
it was an interesting experience.
it is always very humbling and fascinating to me to be reminded how different everyone in this world's lives are.