Mothering from a Cell

For many women, prison doesn’t stop motherhood—it just complicates it.
From behind bars, mothers struggle to stay connected to their children while navigating shame, loss, and a broken system that often ignores their parental identity. At The Nija Foundation, we believe that no mother should be forgotten, and no child should be left emotionally orphaned.
This post explores the emotional toll of mothering while incarcerated, the power of maintaining family bonds, and why society must recognize that healing mothers helps heal generations. We share real stories, the importance of visitation, and how we’re working to bring love and humanity back into these fractured family dynamics.