What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

192: Mayson's mom married a murderer

50 snips

Oct 4, 2024

Mayson's upbringing was shaped by weekly prison visits to her father, making her childhood starkly different from her peers. She shares her mother’s complicated love story with an inmate, revealing how hidden truths can reshape family dynamics. The conversation dives into themes of love, addiction, and the challenges of navigating homelessness. Mayson uncovers a dark family secret that leads to an emotional confrontation, revealing the complexities of trust and resilience amid chaos. The blend of humor and hardship highlights the importance of chosen families.

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ANECDOTE

A Lie and a Daughter

Mayson's parents met in a bar, bonding over recent divorces, and her father fabricated a story about wanting a daughter.
He admitted he was still married and had children when Mayson's mother revealed her pregnancy.

ANECDOTE

Meeting Behind Bars

Mayson's mother met her adoptive father, Steven, an inmate, through her brother who was also incarcerated.
They connected through phone calls and letters, marrying before Mayson's first birthday.

ANECDOTE

Prison as Normal

Mayson's childhood involved regular prison visits with her father, which she considered normal.
She found comfort in the routine despite unusual aspects like body searches.

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When you’re early in life, growing up, whatever you experience is what you consider to be normal.

For example, when I was a kid, our family would go to church every Sunday. We knew everyone there, I had lots of friends there, and there was always a big crowd of people. So naturally, I just kind of assumed that everyone, on Sunday mornings, would be in a church somewhere.

But it was kind of a disconnect when we’d be in the car on Sunday, and we might drive past a park or a boat marina, and I’d see people getting their boat ready to go out on the water. And I’d think, how does that work? Maybe they go to a different church that meets later, or something? I couldn’t put those pieces together, because what I thought was the norm wasn’t the norm for everyone.

My guest today, Mayson, also had a childhood that was different from many other kids. From the time she was a baby, she and her mother would go and visit her dad on weekends – in prison. And since that was all she had ever know, she assumed that’s what everyone did.

Her eyes were opened on her 12th birthday, and you’re about to hear that story.

And toward the end of our conversation, Mayson revealed something that she only just discovered as a result of coming on this podcast.

If you’d like to ask Mayson a question, or leave her a comment about her story, she’s in the WWTL podcast Facebook group (along with about 8000 other listeners, and many of the previous guests of the show) - WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/192

Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai.

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