A post from a reader

Tara, I recently read Dean's book, and was very touched by it. I was able to relate to it on a personal level. Unfortunately I have a 16 year old son that is walking Dean's path. I would very much like for my son to read Dean's book, but have only found it in electronic format. Where can I find it in paperback?
I did write Dean a letter of support. I just wanted to tell you that I am praying for strength for you, your family, and especially for Dean.
I accidentally stumbled onto this blog site and am so happy I did. When I wrote Dean my one question for him was how does your Mother deal with all this?
I just can not imagine that this injustice will not be overturned and you will once again have Dean home...FREE.
I did suggest to him that you write a book as well. I feel that there are so many mothers not knowing what to do and how to deal with a teen that has grouped himself in the wrong crowd. Please consider this.
warmest regards,
Cindy

  Thank you Cindy for your support.  Dean really appreciates the letters he receives from readers.  He so much wants his book to help others. It makes him feel useful on this planet.
I have thought of writing a book, but I fear I am not a writer.  I also do not have the time right now.  Maybe when I retire, I will be motivated.   As a mother who went through this terrible journey; I have been asked so many times , how I coped with it all.  My answer is that I just did.  I tried to solve each problem as it came along. I come from a place of love and branch out from there.  Dean had been the greatest, most honest, and caring kid for 12 years. When puberty hit, and he changed, I knew hormones were affecting his brain. (It runs in my husbands family)  I didn't know the degree it had affected him though. He kept so much inside.  I didn't see trouble until it was too late. I trusted him and his judgement for way too long. By the time I knew he was in over his head and it just wasn't teenage anxt, he got in trouble for that first crime in the book.  From then on, it was hard.  He was labeled a gang member then, when he wasn't one.  So in his juvenile wrong thinking mind, he thought :If I am labeled one, then I will be one.  Stupid. Of course, I did not know that he made that jump, but I tried to prevent it by sending him away to that school in Arkansas.
I kept up hope, that his good upbringing would shine through and he would snap out of his wrong thinking.   I didn't know that drugs had already made it worse.  He was mentally ill during his teen and early adult years.  When he became sober, he straightened out and now his brain health is much better.
 Advice for parents: 1) keep your kids in sports or some such activity. Do not let them drop out. They will have a core group of friends here that they go through highschool with.
     2) If you can put them in a private small school in junior high, do it. This is the period that you can lose them, especially boys.  Let them go to public highschool in the 10th grade and on.  Not before.
 3) Make sure that their father spends time alone with him, or a mother with a daughter. It's important to have that one on one time when they are teens.  Dean's dad stopped spending time with him then, because he claimed he was too busy with the business. Teen boys need their fathers more than their mothers.
4) Have them read Deans book in 9th grade.  (it speaks to them on their emotions) It has not been published in paperback yet. I hope that changes soon.  I am going to make some, and can send you one for your son. Just let me know where to send it.
5) Just keep on your toes, and keep loving them.(not enabling or spoiling)
6) Maybe have them do charity work with you.  It helps to focus on others and see the kind of misery out there. We are not alone in our confusion.  This helps them. 
  I wish you all the luck and strength with your son.  I will pray for him. 
           Tara

Four years of Freedom

Here it is, Autumn, and we still have not heard back yet on Dean's appeal.  There is a petiotion going on to get Dean pardoned, and once the political climate has eased, Dean might have a shot from Governor Brown.
 Dean feels happy that so many people have loved his book. He gets letters from readers who have been affected by it, and he responds to them.  Many prisoners have read it too, and tell hm that they relate to his story, and how honest he was with revealing himself.  This all makes his life bearable.  Can you imagine how maddening it is to be incarcerated every day for something that you never did?.
Some how, he pushes those negative emotions aside.   His faith that we all live in eternity and this life is just a blip in our soul life, keeps him strong.
  Thank you everyone for your support of my family in these sad times.