It’s never too late to connect with your children and work towards building a strong and healthy relationship.
And that’s just what Dad in custody Jed* was determined to do with his teenage daughter, with whom he had only recently reconnected.
When Jed contacted our Parklea team to ask if he could participate in our Storytime program, they were happy to help.
Having taken part in Storytime four years ago with his youngest child, he knew well the difference it could make for a child missing a parent.
He told our team that he and his daughter had only recently rekindled their relationship, with her coming to live with him before he was incarcerated.
When the time came to create their recording, Jed was so grateful and even shed a few tears.
Our team explained that Storytime books are usually aimed towards younger children. However, they agreed that making a special recording for his teenage daughter was still of huge benefit.
Together, they organised a suitable book, and Jed wrote a beautiful message to record and send with it at our team’s suggestion.
When the time came to create their recording, Jed was so grateful and even shed a few tears.
Jed told our team that he’d never read to his daughter before and had missed her childhood, so it meant the world to him that he could do something now to show how much he loved her.
On the recording, he said, “Hey Sara*, I’m about to read you your first book! I know it’s a bit late, but I hope you like it.”
At the end of the story, he concluded, “We might be apart, but we still love each other, and I’ll come back when I get out of jail.”
Jed’s commitment to becoming a more active parent was also evident in his enthusiastic participation in another of our programs, Bringing Up Great Kids.
He recently graduated from this program with flying colours and is also doing supervised visits with his daughter through SHINE for Kids.
It’s terrific to see Jed making the most of all the programs available to help him and his daughter.
Together, we know that the future is looking brighter as this new relationship blossoms.
*Names changed to protect participants identities
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