Aug. 4, 2016

Comment Response

From Prison Dad by Robert Pezzeca (author's profile)
This post is in reply to comments on:  Tragedy And Graduation, 2 Stories, 1 Of Rape, The Other Of Honor thumbnail
Tragedy And Graduation, 2 Stories, 1 Of Rape, The Other Of Honor
(June 18, 2016)

Transcription

Reply ID: e2wg

July 27, 2016, 5:30pm, watching puppy dog training video

Dear Cavak,

I just got your comments and I wanted to thank you for writing. You are right, my daughter Krista is too young in every aspect to be a mother. She just thinks that she will never be alone if she has a baby and her boyfriend won't leave her. My brother speaks to her and, for some reason, she sends me messages on Facebook. But I have no Internet access so I cannot read what she writes. She lives in Cleveland so she is pretty far away from me. I don't know anyone out there anymore. Just a couple of girls that I dated in the mid 1990s, but I couldn't find them if I tried.

I have to believe that she will not be made to suffer for my sins. I really messed up life, but I have to believe that she has my brains and not my stupidity. I have to believe this or I'll fall apart.

I have never seen the name "Cavak" before so I am unsure if you are a man or a woman. But I want to guess woman. Women are way more compassionate than men. If you have any ideas or suggestions, I'm all ears.

Being a father is not something I'm good at, but I will never give up on Krista. She will be 19 in October. She is my little girl so I'd never forgive myself if I gave up. She didn't ask for the shitty parents she was given.

Well, I thank you very much for you comments and I look forward to what you have to say. Take care, enjoy the heatwave. ): (Bad joke). God bless, ciao.

PS: Yes, we are getting puppy dogs in this prison so I am watching the video in hopes of being able to help train them one day. I am single cell status but, if they ever stop discriminating against us guys who are celled alone, then maybe I can get my own puppy to train for someone in the outside world who needs one. In the meantime, I have volunteered my time to help with anything dog related. I love being around those little energetic puppy dogs. Can't wait till they get here in Sept/Oct.

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Cavak Posted 8 years, 3 months ago. ✓ Mailed 8 years, 3 months ago   Favorite
Never been to Cleveland or been a parent, so I can't claim to know how to help. But there are two organizations that help young mothers in the area: Mom's First and YoungLives. There's always PlannedParenthood too.

Maybe you or your brother could write to them to ask for help?

Cleveland YoungLives:
Young Life Cleveland Yng Lives
PO Box 202654
Cleveland, OH 44120-8127

Mom's First (Bridjetta Levison-Steele, MomsFirst Supervisor):
MAY DUGAN CENTER
4115 Bridge Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113

You can write a letter to Watch D.O.G.S., an organization by fathers for fathers, for some real-life parenting tips.

WATCH D.O.G.S.
1600 West Sunset Ave., Suite B
Springdale, AR 72762

Best of luck!

Robert Pezzeca Posted 8 years, 3 months ago.   Favorite
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Cavak Posted 8 years, 2 months ago. ✓ Mailed 8 years, 2 months ago   Favorite
Some other organizations that might help you. I'm including the phone numbers too with the mailing addresses.

The National Center for Fathering is the same organization that hosts WATCH D.O.G.S., but I think they're more open to providing parenting tips.

National Center for Fathering
1600 West Sunset Ave., Ste B
Springdale, AR 72762
phone number: 1-800-593-DADS (3237)

The National Fatherhood Initiative is open to helping fathers in prison. Tell them your story and ask about their Corrections Fatherhood Programs:

National Fatherhood Initiative
12410 Milestone Center Drive, Suite 600
Germantown, MD 20876
phone number: 301-948-0599

Most organizations for parenting are local, aimed towards helping younger children, or require a fee (maybe). You could try reaching out to the Pennsylvania Prison Society and ask about their parenting program.

The Pennsylvania Prison Society
245 N. Broad St., Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19107
phone number: 215-564-4775

Best of luck!

Maggie Posted 8 years, 2 months ago. ✓ Mailed 8 years, 2 months ago   Favorite
With as much animosity my heart has for you as an individual, attacking or harassing a child for the sins of a father is flat out wrong. Believe me when I say out of everything you post, and the absolute indifference I have for any bad thing that happens to you... The mother in me is absolutely saddened by the situation your actions caused Krista to experience.

Everything ever published / posted/ commented on over the Internet is available to anyone with a minute of time, and a basic knowledge of a search engine. You already have given out Kristas full name, the date she turned 18, where she lives and more to the world.

That said though, no child should ever have to pay for what their father did. I hope that little girl grows up into a responsible woman and has a fantastic life in spite of the situation your actions caused her to have as a life. I'm pretty sure you directed the hateful people comment towards me (and guilty as charged, my heart is full of hate for your actions), but a child is off limits. Honestly, anyone but you is off limits, as others are not responsible for your actions, even if those actions have made their life worse.

Again, as a parent, I would suggest that you continue to try and reach out to your daughter. I'm dealing with a 17 year old that knows everything, but I hope that will eventually change. Persistence with your daughter might actually make her come around to reopen the lines of communication. You've said yourself many times about how rebellious you were as a teenager, possibly your situation might make her rethink her own life and move forward in a more positive aspect.

Robert Pezzeca Posted 8 years, 1 month ago.   Favorite
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Cavak Posted 8 years ago. ✓ Mailed 8 years ago   Favorite
I'm glad that you were able to reunite with your daughter in some way. Hope you two can reconnect and make up for lost time.

Us humans often have a knee-jerk reaction to the things or events we experience. No surprise really, since it's a part of our primitive survival instinct. But, as humans, we also have sections in our brain that are open to interpreting and reasoning. To learn from those "gut reactions", to act on them or suppress them.

I think there will be a day where the wrongly accused or those who have a true sense of virtue can be paroled fairly. Until then, I hope you stay true to your promise in this letter and never give up being a better person. Carve it into your soul if you must. It's a step in the long road ahead. I want to believe in that some day, no matter how long or short it takes.

Robert Pezzeca Posted 7 years, 12 months ago.   Favorite
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