Okay, let’s dive right into the interesting title of this article, "How To Keep Romance Alive After Incarceration", because some of you may be thinking that it sounds far-fetched on the surface or had to think about it twice. At first glance, the thought of mentioning how to keep the romance alive after someone is locked up may sound awkward in the least. Some folks may be thinking, ‘How in the heck are two people going to keep the romance alive when one of them is locked up?’
After all, when one generally thinks of romance, it’s easy for romantic dates to the movies, candlelight dinners, walking and holding hands in the park, hugs, and kisses under a moonlit sky, flowers and rose petals leading to the bedroom, and the whispering of sweet nothings in an ear can easily come to mind. It can be difficult to feel like romance or romantic gestures and jail or prison go hand in hand. However, there are couples who were romantic or had a close romantic bond before one of them went to jail or prison and their feelings haven’t instantly stopped or gone away.
Now, I realize that
romance may be the last thing on a couple’s mind when a partner goes to jail or
prison. Emotions can be running amok and stress levels can be off the charts if
anyone involved does not have adequate coping skills, resources, and support to
deal with the situation.
However, at some point,
it may become relevant if one or both partners decide that they are going to
stay together throughout the ordeal and keep the romance as an option to do it. If
romance isn’t or doesn’t become an issue, then it may be because a couple is
normally romantic or has a different type of relationship that works for them.
Obviously, if you are
not or never have been involved in a romantic relationship with someone who is
or has been incarcerated, then this article may not be your cup of tea.
However, there are many couples who deal or have dealt with this topic so they
can relate, and this article may be helpful for them and others.
Sometimes, the topic of
staying together or keeping romance alive isn’t even discussed at all by
partners and they go with the flow and play things by ear. Or, one partner may
exit stage left after one of them is locked up and the relationship dissolves
or is on and off again. However, if the couple stays together throughout the
incarceration of one of them, then there are some ways to keep the romance
alive or create a romance between them.
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines romance in many ways. In the context of this article, romance is defined as a love affair or story or an emotional attraction or aura belonging to an especially heroic era, adventure, or activity.
If you notice, the word
SEX does not come up at all in the definitions of romance. However, sex
(especially great sex) can positively enhance the emotional bond of a healthy
romantic relationship.
Although physical
distance and a lack of physical intimacy that a couple faces when one of them
is incarcerated, they can recall positive experiences and memories that they
had prior to the incarceration in their minds…without sex. Never discount the
power of the imagination.
According to Psychology
Today (2014), research suggests that the male attitude toward love is actually
more romantic. In relationships where a man who is romantic is involved, his
attitude toward romance may be possible if/when he becomes incarcerated unless
it changes or goes way.
A couple dealing with
incarceration can come to fall in love with each other from the positive experiences
and memories they have of each other long before any sex is introduced into a
relationship. Romance can help to create lasting positive impressions and
unforgettable pleasurable experiences and memories without sex.
Irrespective of factors
such as the amount of time the incarcerated must serve, the topic of fidelity
and infidelity, abstinence, and physical distance, a couple can be and maintain a heated romance with each other while one of them is incarcerated. The depth of
feelings or romance may depend on the type of relationship that the couple had
prior to incarceration or created and developed during the incarceration.
A couple dealing with
incarceration is encouraged to build an EMOTIONAL CONNECTION AND BOND first and
foremost. An emotional connection and bond can enhance romance and vice/versa.
It may take a solid commitment and work to create, build, and/or keep an
emotional bond and connection that may supersede the couple’s need for focusing
on the lack of (regular) sex and physical intimacy that they experience when
one of them is incarcerated.
If the couple’s
relationship was on shaky ground before a partner became incarcerated, then it
can be an opportunity to create an emotional connection and bond and become
romantically closer. If the relationship was based primarily on sex when one
partner gets locked up, then the couple and may want to consider finding
ways to sustain the relationship and romance without sex.
A couple can view the
incarceration of one partner as a way to take the time to really get to know
each other without the distance and lack of physical intimacy being factors. If
a solid romantic relationship and friendship minus sex can be established,
maintained, and grown, then it can make a relationship that much stronger.
It may or may not be
challenging for a couple to focus on building or strengthening a romantic
relationship when one of them is incarcerated. However, they are encouraged to
not view the lack of sexual contact as torture or being deprived. A couple can
look at not focusing on the lack of sex as an opportunity to really get to know
each other and build an emotional connection and bond that is romantic,
exciting, mysterious, and fun. And, the lack of sex would probably only be an
issue for couples who had sex prior to incarceration.
The distance and lack of
physical intimacy or sex can serve to create, challenge, and strengthen the
relationship to different or better levels. These factors can allow a couple to
get more in tune with each other emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise while
allowing the relationship and romance a chance to blossom and flourish.
Sex or even great chandelier-swinging
sex does not guarantee a meaningful, romantic, solid, intimate, and successful
relationship. However, things like communication (listening, seeking to
understand, empathizing), mutual respect, and trust can help to create and
foster a better relationship between a couple who is dealing with one of them
being incarcerated.
It is not suggested that
a couple risk having physical sex in between the vending machines, during what
they think are “private” moments, or give each other hand or foot jobs beneath
the visiting room table in a false belief that these acts are romantic or will
bring them emotionally closer to each other. That is a surefire way to get
banned or worse if they get caught and it’s not worth the risk. Many prison or
jail visiting rooms are equipped with cameras and facility personnel who
observes and oversees visits.
Ways To Keep Romance Alive After Your Partner Is Locked Up
We came up
with a spectacular list of things that couples can do to create and keep the romance alive when
one of them is incarcerated during visits and/or when they are away from each
other:
1. Partners can wear
their partner’s favorite color or favorite blouse or shirt on a visit (keeping
in mind the facility dress code guidelines for the incarcerated and visitors).
2. The non-incarcerated partner can wear a light scent of perfume or cologne (that the partner likes).
3. The couple can take a
facility photo together as a keepsake and memory when they’re away from each
other.
4. A couple can hold
hands, kiss, hug, make frequent eye contact, smile at each other, and stare
into each other’s eyes during visits.
5. A couple can laugh,
grin, and joke with each other during visits to make each other feel
good.
6. A couple can flirt
with each other and reminisce about memorable times they had together.
7. They can also plan
romantic events, trips, and/or getaways that they can do together upon any release of the
incarcerated.
8. A couple can verbally
and non-verbally communicate with and listen to each other by leaning in toward
each other and sharing positive thoughts about each other.
9. A couple can
compliment each other’s positive attributes that they admire about each other.
10. They can appropriately stroke each
other’s face, hair, and arms during visits.
11. A couple can
discreetly share their romantic (or naughty) fantasies of each other during
visits or in letters or correspondence.
12. A couple can write
romantic letters and poems to each other and send romantic greeting cards,
artwork, and drawings when they’re away from each other.
13. A romantic marriage
proposal can be made on bended knee (if allowed) or they can plan to get married in jail or
prison and exchange romantic vows and gestures if they feel they’re ready for
that step.
14. A couple can romantically
renew their marriage vows by creating special vows that they can verbally
recite to each other (Be sure to check facility guidelines to see what is or
isn’t allowable).
15. A couple can
remember to say “I love you” to each other before, during, and after visits, on
the phone, and in letters and correspondence.
Conclusion
Basically, a couple can do just about everything they did before one of them became incarcerated. However, they may not to be able to do things like physically go to places together outside of the visiting room and have privacy (unless they’re married and have conjugal visits in states that honor conjugal visits).
There may be more
romantic gestures that you may come up with on this topic and you are free to
ponder those gestures, particularly if you are in a romantic relationship with
someone who’s incarcerated or unfortunately find yourself in this situation one
day. Ultimately, a couple can decide if and how the romance will or won’t play a
part in their relationship when one of them is incarcerated.
Did you enjoy this post? We'd be grateful if you would help us spread it by emailing it to a friend or sharing it on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you!
For more information
about prisoner relationships and the criminal justice system, click on the link
below:
(Disclaimer: Affiliate Advertising. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)
The Ladies Who Love Prisoners: Secrets Exposed! (Paperback) by Mike Enemigo