Notice to new members intending to register - from January 9th 2012

paperpanda · #1 07-10-2012, 11:27 PM

My brother has been in prison for over a year now. Before he went into prison we really didn't have much of a relationship, he is 16 years older than me. I usually write him every few months, but I just talk about superficial things, like what classes I'm taking or new recipes I've tried out. I would like to have more meaningful conversations with him, but I don't know where to start and he usually writes really short letters back to me. I am a very introverted person, so it is hard for me to express my feelings in writing, but I don't want him to think that I don't care about him. My brothers and my youngest sister already don't write him because they can't forgive him.

forEvEr99 · #2 07-11-2012, 10:20 AM

So tell him that. But also that you want to have a better relationship with him. And go from there. Ask him about what he hopes to do when he gets out. What he does to pass time. Tell him a good book to read and read it too. Like a little mini book club.

if you don't have anything in common with him then make a common ground. It could even just be poems or short stories. Or ask him about favorite songs and print the lyrics for him and ask him why he likes those songs and if you do and why. It will come easy after a while but first you just have to make a hole and wiggle your way through it. Good luck and keep me posted!

He is my only and forEvEr

LisasTX · #3 07-11-2012, 02:26 PM

Those are the same type of things that I write to my LO and he enjoys reading them. I tell him everything I do that day, and he says that it’s like reading a book, so maybe he doesn’t mind reading superficial things. You should ask, and ask him what he's been doing so maybe he will have more to write. If you don’t know him ask him about things he did when he was your age.

photoholic808 · #4 07-12-2012, 10:14 AM

It will start to be a little more natural once you get in the grove.. What you are doing is great talk about your day .. what you like to do ask him questions.. print off quotes funny stories.. send him pictures.. Just say what ever is on your mind.. ask him about your parents.. or stories he members about you when you were little.. Good Luck.. and it does get easier

**sidewalker** · #5 07-14-2012, 06:57 AM

Mail is very important to inmates. They all look forward to mail!
Cards are great too. Even what we might think of as boring, is better than not getting a letter at all, or even a postcard!

I'd tell him just like you did here. Tell him you love him. Ask him questions like.....
do you have a job in prison? Do you like it, is it better than not working?
What to they serve you to eat in there.
That type of thing. If your able to and his facility allows it, maybe ask him if you can send a book (done usually thru a vendor) or a subscription to a magazine, or newspaper.
Crosswords, puzzles, or word games of sorts can be a good thing to send as well.

just a few things off the top of my head