When Mother's Day Means a Trip to Prison | Op-Docs

Today, Op-Docs brings you Elizabeth Lo’s “Mother’s Day,” which follows some children in California on an annual overnight bus program that brings them to visit their incarcerated parents. The film cuts straight to the emotional core of a huge topic, as did Lo’s previous Op-Doc, the acclaimed “Hotel 22,” which tells the story of a very different kind of bus trip.

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[Lucijaaaaa]

my heart broke in half when he said: im kinda used to being hurt

[elris]

“so it’s like...i’m sorta kinda used to the feel of getting hurt” .. wow i teared up. seeing that boy in the glasses cry too hurt. you can see how affected he is about the situation. this is saddening :(

[baylovesoldbooks]

"I'm getting used to the feel of getting hurt." - said by a child

[yasarrella]

Y’all are so focused on the mother but the kids are the ones who’s hurting here. Did you not here that little boy towards the end saying his mom was in jail once before so he is used to it. And his dad left when he was 3 died when he was 9 and he seems to be no older than 12. Saying he is used to feeling sad. That’s sad man. Children don’t need to be in these types of situations

[morriswilburn]

The parent gets the sentence, but the child does the time.

[SPDcru]

Not so much about the mothers, or their crimes, or whether they deserve to be there or not.
It's about the children who suffer on the outside.

[carlastevens]

My mother was in prison in my early years of life...my dad took us to see her and she came home and never went back. Thank God for a different outcome

[LayingInAMeadow]

"My mom has been to jail before my dad left me when I was 3 and died when I was 9 so I'm kind of getting used to the feeling of being hurt."
I'm so sad for these children.

[urielrodriguez]

Those purple shirts reference a program called Get On The Bus, which is sponsored by several churches. The main purpose of the program is with the help of volunteers, children and young adults who cannot afford or don’t have the transportation to see the families that are incarcerated.

I’ve been in the program, the support is amazing and so are the amount of blessings provided by total strangers. It’s hard having someone in your life daily, and then having to live without them. Prisons are a tough place to be, and they don’t always send prisoners nearby their family.
Thanks for reading this.

[JS-vpwg]

It’s heartbreaking hearing a child say he’s getting used to the feeling of being hurt

[catieq]

Keep your negative comments to yourself. These kids are innocent and you don’t know why someone is incarcerated. This is such a heartbreaking reality for so many.

[ms.moniquebrown]

As a teacher, my heart broke in crumbled when he said, "I'm sort of getting used to the feeling of being hurt." I wish more teachers watched this documentary and understood their students. I wish more student teachers and trainee administrators watched this documentary before entering a school building, more less entering a classroom.

[CHEYDUHbuzz]

“Im getting used to the feel of getting hurt” no child should feel that way 😭 it broke my heart hearing him talk

[sandranoisewater]

My wish, is the Moms, get out and stay out. So their children, have them home.

[avevee]

Everyone forgets that prison inmates are people too. They just made some bad choices. That doesn’t negate their humanity or the fact that they have emotions and lives.

[katherinehinz]

Those kids seem so sweet. I am glad that the state was willing to put some money torwards a program like this. Hopefully there mothers end up rehabilitated and go able to back to number one job which is to be a mom.

[disiluzhund]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I cried and I cried some more. The heartbroken children. I know no greater pain than this.... to be separated as a child from the woman who loved you first.

[Savannah-yiyv]

I cried so much watching this. I feel so bad for those little kids. It made me realize how much I take advantage of my parents.

[maluespitia]

This broke my heart. I could never make a decision that would separate me from my children but I cant judge anyone. I know some people have a difficult life and difficult choices. God bless all these women and children.

[curlyyasmin]

The kids are so loving towards their mothers. More so than children who see their moms everyday