Lockdown Survival Guide

[klo]

I do the letters in word and insert pictures and have just started typing letters "Dear Daddy" written in the way that I know my boys would talk about their day or at least what my two year old would say about the day.  I include tons of pictures of who is "writing" the letter too.  I just sent the first ones off today. 
A nice long book is good for lockdowns too.  My H read War and Peace which he liked as a story of redemption. 

[husbandlockedup]

I have a idea of keeping them busy... I did this myself. I went on a vacation & bought a really pretty post card which was a picture of a sunset over a lake & sand. Well I sent it off to him & had him write about if we were there together what would his ideal way of spending time there?? I think it's a great idea cause then it gets his mind away from being where ever he's at & away with me & happy! I hope this woks out for you!!!   msk   

[shawnssweetcheeks]

husbandlockedup that's a good idea, Everybody's ideas were good too. 

[RicosChica]

hello, does anyone have someone at Robinson? and know if they are on lockdown due to the flu ?
anything like that

[shawnssweetcheeks]

They lock down prisons for the flu?

[HisGirl]

Alll these ideas are great. I am hoping they will get there act together at Stateville. Now that they are finally off my Baby was finally supposed to get Gym, but didn't because Gym was closed. What's up with that? He is in the house with all the old guys that don't cause trouble. I wish that they would lock down only the house where the trouble started, but I guess lockdown makes the COs job easier.

Letters are a definite must. I know it can be discouraging to write letters that you know might take two weeks to get there, but I like to write something and date it each day like a diary and include love talk , encouraging words, scriptures. Also, there are some really nice cards to send and they make a big difference too. I try to not sound too stressed since I know he already is and I don't want to make it worse.

I love these ideas though and will try and use them in addition to what I already do.

Marie

[plantwhisperer]

What about the dictionary game - where someone picks a word no one knows, and the rest of the players make up a definition and they each chose which they think is the real one.  Or "The ministers cat", where you have to come up with an adjective beginning with A, then the next letter, and so on, (the minister's cat is a alley, black, calico, dumb cat, etc).  How about something like word whomp on pogo, where you take a word(say, steeple) scramble it, and form as many new words as you can (peel, tee steep, etc) as well as the root word.  I find word games to be good brain stimulation. - Plant

[jcruz1104]

I found a great website for crossword puzzles and other games, all pdf printable.
http://www.word-game-world.com/free-word-scramble-games.html

which is great my l/o loves doing crossword puzzles and took me forever to find decent ones.

[kdixon]

...just peeking...now that I know how to REPLY now will definitely be on here more often.  DOes anyone have a loved one in Hill Correctional Center?

[Forevermah]

...just peeking...now that I know how to REPLY now will definitely be on here more often.  DOes anyone have a loved one in Hill Correctional Center?

Just go the front page of IPT and do a search for HILL, there are many here who either have a LO there and had a LO at Hll and there is a lot of information, as you will see.

[vrijheid]

so I am a newbie... My son is in Lawrence and now they are on level one Lockdown.   What does that mean???  Can I send him letters?   Can they send letters out?   He was transferred there several weeks ago and I have not heard.  Why is it suggested to send pics printed on letter paper?  Can they receive separate pics and cards...  I guess I am straying off the topic here.   I would appreciate any feedback.   Also, how is Lawrence viewed as a facility?  Is it true that even with this heat they would only get 3 showers per week?  Are the cells shared?  Thank you all out there! 

[cinlu87]

To put it bluntly Lawrence SUCKS.  Yes they can receive and send mail during lockdown, they just never make it out of their cells, 24/7 isolated.  Cells are all 2 people unless one of them gets sent to SEG.  Yes only 3 showers per week and they are HOT showers!!  My hubby was telling my this winter the water was cold and now that it is summer the showers are HOT, like so hot that you can't stand in it.  They have no control over the temp, that is set by the CO's.   As a facility I think it is one of the worst. The food sucks, they are in their cells 23/7, except for days they have yard or gym, and the gym has no windows or fans.  I am assured that the POW's were treated better than our guys.   

They can receive pictures but I only believe 5 at a time.  So printing them on paper and then writing on the other side is always a great idea.  Then if there are any he wants to put in his photo album he can just tell you and you can send them.

I hope this helped a little.  I know it is a rude awakening as to how they are treated, but they all learn to cope.

[Sharona]

There's a site called Coops Jokes and on it they have this list section of funny lists etc. I've been copying 7 pasting some of these and sending them to my LO with my letters. Here is the link if anyone wants to do the same. Just click on the drop-down menu, there are loads:

http://www.coopsjokes.com/list/lstindex.html

[TheCatsMeow]

I am horrible at remembering which names go with which posts, so please forgive me...  Hopefully, those whose ideas I acknowledge will recognise themselves...

I never even considered sending my guy some of those colouring books (for adults) by Roger Burrows.  He likes to draw and make cards but I never gave thought to sending him books with cool geometric patterns to colour to pass the time during lockdown. 

As for puzzle books, I personally sent him a bunch of word search, Sudoku and crossword mags but for whatever reason, Menard's mailroom personnel wouldn't allow him to have them and threw them away.  But nothing I have sent to him through Amazon.com has ever been returned or refused, so I'm gonna send him a couple of Boggle puzzle books, Jumble Jumbo editions and a Burrows book, as well as one called "Kaleidascopia" (not sure if I spelled that right...?) by Kendall Bohn.  They're a bit more expensive, but worth it. 

Something I have been doing is collecting funny pictures, cartoons, jokes, short stories that I know he'll enjoy and anything else that might brighten his day and/or bring a smile to his face.  I feel badly that "all" I can do is stand by him, write him at least every other day (sometimes every day), send him reading material and puzzle books, jokes/cartoons/etc., and put money on his books every month...  Am I doing enough, or is there more I can do?   

[Sharona]

I feel badly that "all" I can do is stand by him, write him at least every other day (sometimes every day), send him reading material and puzzle books, jokes/cartoons/etc., and put money on his books every month...  Am I doing enough, or is there more I can do?   

Honey you do way more than I do and I've been told by my LO that I'm doing great. If you feel there is more you can do then I'm sure you would do it right? I bet if you asked your LO if you do enough he will come back with a big "YEAH!!" Even the smallest things are appreciated and the fact that you take the time to do the best you can is more than enough. Keep doing what you're doing and don't worry, you can only do so much and that's what you are doing already. 

[mgonzalez]

Do not feel bad thats how i felt at first but when you know you are there by him no matter what trust that he will acknowledge and be grateful for all things u do!!!! Pray alot and make sure u never stop writing or answering his calls if he can. Always show him u r there no matter what. We all wish we can do more but as they are limited we r too. As thecatsmeow said u r already!!!!! Put it in gods hand and walk with him..