I have a wonderful 13 year old son named Steven, who is just the joy of my life. For the past few months, he's been a penpal with an older 49 year-old gentleman named Walter who's currently encarcerated in the Alabama State Prison. I think my son got Walter's address off of one of those prison penpal websites.
He and Walter have become fast and dear friends, they write to each other all the time. In fact, the other day Steven told me that Walter wants him to visit him at the prison. I think this would be a great opportunity to meet his friend.
The only problem is that I can't drive Steven 60 miles to the prison. I have a demanding career at the Piggly-Wiggly and can't take the time off (I'm a single-mom). Steven told me that he could take the bus, but I'm just afraid that he's too young to ride all that time by himself on a bus.
I'm afraid he'll get lost, poor darlin-heart. Do y'all think that a 13 year old is old enough to ride the bus alone for 2+ hours?
2006-10-10 08:16:51 · 22 answers · asked by LaDeen 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
You my dear are strange.I would never allow any of mine to pen-pal with any adult.Kids should be friendly with kids. Adults the same. Now you have some people thinking that southerners have a problem with logic.If your son is looking for a father figure, take him to a church,or even a baseball game.Now it could be he thinks that men that are in prison make good fathers?Tell his FATHER what's going on and get his opinion.Anyway, he's too young to venture anywhere on a bus alone.....You should also let someone at the prison know that their prisoners are mailing minors.Then if a bunch of children disappear when he gets out, they will know where to start their search.
2006-10-10 08:49:16 · answer #1 · answered by Maw-Maw 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would be more concerned with why the 49 year old inmate wants to see a 13 year old boy. Do you know what the man is incarcerated for? I hope he's not a pedophile. Riding the bus is not the problem. The problem will be how will he get from the bus stop to the prison and will the prison even let him visit the inmate. I would hope that the answer is no. Your son is too young to be doing this at all, never mind doing it alone.
2016-03-28 03:56:32 · answer #2 · answered by Shane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Going on a bus at 13 alone is not that bad BUT him visiting a guy in prison IS NOT a good thing at all! What is the guy in prison for in the first place? I had a ex-husband who was in jail and got really mad when I brought my youngest son ( his step son) to see him. He said that was not a place for kids unless you want to teach him a lesson. I don't think your son going alone to visit an inmate he has never met before would be a good idea. There ARE child molesters in that place for crying out loud. Having a penpal is one thing but going there....well, hmm. Have you checked this guy out for yourself? The ride on the bus wouldn't be my greatest concern as the actual visit to a prison. Have YOU ever been in one? Going with someone older would be MUCH better! He doesn't need to go by himself. My opinion. Like everyone has said, they will not let him in the gate at his age AND I can't believe you would even consider this!
2006-10-10 08:48:33 · answer #3 · answered by GardenGirl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is very nice of your son to have developed a friendship with Walter, but as a parent myself I am a little concerned as to why your only concern is having to make the trip to allow the visit! I honestly think you need to explain to your son that while his intentions were honorable it is not a good idea to write, etc. with men in prison, especially now that this man has your home address!! Personally, I think you are in need of serious help and not the kind that we can offer to you here on Yahoo!
2006-10-10 08:30:36 · answer #4 · answered by mvngs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well maybe you should ask for a mental health day since piggly wiggly is obviously causing a mental breakdown. Take the day, go to the prison . Maybe you, Steven and Walter can all be one big dysfunctional family
2006-10-10 10:01:10 · answer #5 · answered by kim a 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am happy your friend has a hobby in writing this man. However, I am surprised that you would allow this especially at his age and under no circumstances should they ever meet.
Perhaps he should get a new hobby that involve real local kids his own age.
As a single mom you need to closely monitor his activities and especially this one... he could be a child molestor or something. Get him a part time job at Piggly-Wiggly.... will be much more rewarding and safe in the long run.
2006-10-10 08:38:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it would not be a good idea for him to go alone, also I think he will need someone over 18 to even get him in the jail. In a 7 day week you don't have off 1 day? It is great that your son has show compassion for the incarerated, but I think you sould as a mother work something out where you can go as well!
2006-10-10 08:24:07 · answer #7 · answered by Blondie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What type of mother are you to allow your 13 year old to communicate with a man in prison.
You sound like the same type of mom that would allow her child to visit Micheal Jackson and when he came home bleeding from the duty-hole you would only be concerned about the nice check that Micheal gave him.
Why are you concerned about Steven getting to the prison and back home I am sure when this nice pen-pal of his finishes passing him around the cell block one of the nice guards will bring him home!~
2006-10-10 08:24:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, first of all, that is way too young to ride a bus alone, second, why would you let your 13 year old go see a prisoner. Are you insane???? He's a bad guy if he's in prison.
2006-10-10 08:33:38 · answer #9 · answered by Kaleigh P 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes . he is old enough to ride the bus. But i dought that he would be alowed in to visit this man in prison. Bye the way do you know any thing about this man in prison. He could be a sex offender or worse. A 13 year old boy who wants to write to men is not normal. this is how gays get there start. You should tell him to wrte to female prisioners if he has to.
2006-10-10 08:26:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋