Voices Unlocked Ep. 7 | Navigating Life as a Parent with an Ex-Partner in Prison

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com

In episode seven of Voices Unlocked, hosts Lorna and Liv welcome their first guest, Lindsay, a parent whose children have been involved with Time Matters for four years since their dad was imprisoned. Lindsay shares how she found out through friends rather than any official contact, her initial anger, and the difficulty of answering the children’s questions without information. She explains deciding to be honest after seeing how lying can cause resentment, and describes how an initial lie about the army upset her son. The conversation highlights gaps in communication from prisons and probation, the impact of media exposure on children, and the “hidden sentence” families feel. Lindsay credits Time Matters and additional school and counselling support with helping her children thrive, discusses her son’s ADHD and need for positive outlets, and notes that home leave and release transitions can be especially challenging. The episode ends with gratitude and encouragement to seek support without shame.

00:00 Disclaimer
00:34 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:27 Four Years In
02:16 Finding Out He Was Arrested
05:59 Telling the Kids
09:36 No Official Support
13:47 Media and Online Exposure
16:29 Hidden Sentence Impact
17:32 Discovering Time Matters
21:07 Why Time Matters Helps
23:49 Trauma ADHD and Dopamine
25:25 Positive snowball effect
26:49 Park encounter wins
29:00 Boys being vulnerable
31:13 Family for life
32:38 Home leave struggles
35:13 Release rollercoaster
37:25 Advice and ditch shame
40:34 Kids speaking openly
44:42 Gratitude and wrap-up