I'm sorry that your daughter is in prison ~ especially for such a long sentence. That must be very difficult for you and your son to accept.

Did your daughter repeat the pattern that you'd been stuck in, or was it a completely different role? Were you ever verbally or emotionally abusive towards your children? What are the patterns that you see yourself repeating??

Is your son keeping up with his peers, or has he fallen behind? Does he ever look up to you and enjoy being with you, or is he past that wonderful phase? Do you work? Is your son involved in any sports teams or other extra-curricular activities? If not, I'd recommend looking into that avenue. Joining the Boys and Girls Club or YMCA can really help boost his self-esteem, sense of self-worth, and hope for his future! There are scholarship programs available to help those in need. Kind of a pain in the rump to stay on top of every 6 months or annually, but it is well-worth the effort. {My 2 girls and I are members of the YMCA, and I pay 50% of the normal cost for membership and camp for my daughters. It isn't cheap, but it's very important to me, so I find a way to squeeze it into my budget.}

Best wishes to you and your family. Take care of yourself and your son! Hopefully, you will some day be able to build a healthy relationship with your daughter as well.