Over the weekend, I watched the reunions of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and "Love and Hip Hop," and a touchy discussion was spoken about. On both reality shows, there are mothers with husbands who have been incarcerated. Phaedra, who stars on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," initially chose not to let her sons visit their father while he is in prison. However, Yandy, who stars on "Love and Hip Hop," allows her sons and daughter to visit their father. So, the big question arises: if you were put into this situation, would you allow your children to visit their father in prison?
Yandy is a firm believer in her vows. Unlike others, she has chosen to stay committed to him as wife and much more. Although her husband is in jail, she feels that he has the right to be a father. She knows that as a mother there are certain things that she cannot teach her sons. She is a firm believer that a daughter needs her father just as much as a son does. In other words, just because their father is incarcerated does not mean he does not have the right to stop being a father.
Last season of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," reality stars Phaedra Parks received the news that her husband would be sentenced to prison for eight years. Immediately, the tabloids began asking her the big question: was she going to take the kids to see their father for visitation? Unlike Yandy, Phaedra's beliefs were different at that time. She believes that the decisions her husband made are his consequences far as visitations from the children. Also, on the reunion she stated that prisons were no place for a child to be. All of what Mrs. Parks said was understandable. As a parent, she was doing what she felt was the best for both the children and her.
Although I am not a mother or wife, I completely understand both women's viewpoint. Both only want to do what is best for their children at the end of the day. However, I feel that I agree with Yandy's perspective more than Phaedra's. Regardless of both of their husbands wrong-doings, they are still fathers. I strongly believe that a father's relationship with his kids has a huge affect on the child's life, especially males.
Both of these men are black males incarcerated and, as we know, the prison system has its way with black males. I believe if I were put into this situation, I would allow my children to see their father. Being a black male in our society today is a high risk. If allowing my son to see his father for visitations can help him stay down the right path, then I am all for it.
