Rocko's Guitar

A story about parental incarceration for children. A read-along for caregivers and parents.

Rocko’s Guitar

A Story About Parental Incarceration

Finding a silver lining when a

parent goes to prison or jail

αΩ∞

Extant-One Publishing, Inc.

& Avon Hart-Johnson Publications, LLC

Rocko’s Guitar

A Story About Parental Incarceration

Finding a silver lining when a

parent goes to prison or jail

Dr. Geoffrey A. Johnson

Rocko’s Guitar | Finding a Silver Lining When a Parent Goes to Prison

This edition is published by DC Project Connect in arrangement with Extant-One Publishing, Inc. and Geoffrey A. Johnson

9103 Woodmore Centre Drive, Lanham, MD 20706, USA

www.dcprojectconnect.com | www.mystoryandme.com

Internal Layout & Printed by

Miki Gilmore. | https://www.mikigilmore.com/

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is distributed with

the understanding that the author and publishers are not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services.

If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author and publisher.

Printed & Published in the United States of America. | First Paperback Edition/eBook Edition

Illustrations by Miki Gilmore voiceover by Monique Davis

Cover by Miki Gilmore

1. Study Aids/Self Help

2. Family & Relationships/ Parental Incarceration/Grief and Loss/Coping

Rocko’s Guitar

My Dad began calling me “Rocko” when I was three years

old. He noticed that I would bounce to the music and

pretend to play the guitar while he practiced songs for his

band’s performances.

Dad said I was playing an air guitar. He promised to teach

me how to play the guitar as soon as my fingers became

strong enough to grip the guitar strings.

Mom recognized my love of music, and she let me listen to

Dad practice on most Friday nights. I loved these magical

times with Dad. I had the best time ever!

Dad’s band was well- known in my neighborhood. Everyone

seemed to know him.

Besides playing in the band, Dad tried to find work. He said

the money he earned helped out with food and rent. My Mom

sometimes complained about money. I didn’t understand her

concerns. Dad made me feel like the luckiest kid in the world!

I was so excited on my sixth birthday. When I came home

from school, Dad surprised me and gave me the best gift ever,

an Electronic Guitar. Mom said something about the cost of

the guitar, but Dad seemed to not hear her.

I was so happy! Dad said if I practiced every day, I could be a

great guitar player.

I wanted to be just like Dad.

One weekend, everything changed! I hugged Dad before he

went out to play with his band. I usually fell asleep before Dad

came home, but I would see him the following morning during

breakfast.

As usual, when I woke up, I anticipated eating with Dad, but,

strangely, I didn’t smell breakfast.

I ran into the kitchen to see Dad, but he wasn’t there. I

searched the bedroom; he wasn’t there. I went into the music

room, too, but there was no sign of my father. I looked in

every room, but I couldn’t find Dad.

I heard Mom’s footsteps. As I ran to greet her, she seemed

sad. I asked Mom where Dad was, but she didn’t answer.

Instead, she reached out to me and held me for a long while. I

thought I felt tears dropping on my head as she held me.

Mom said she had some exciting news to tell me. She whispered,

“Remember how your Dad was always looking for a job; well, he

found a job playing with a band overseas.” She said, “Dad will be

gone for a while, but this is an exciting time for him.”

Even after Mom shared this information, I couldn’t understand

how Dad could just leave me?

What about our Friday- night practice sessions?

What about my guitar lessons? How could he just go overseas!

This wasn’t exciting news! I wasn’t happy about Dad’s new job!

I want my Dad back!

I went to my room and sat on my bed. I was trying to make sense

of Mom’s words. I wondered whether this was my fault. Did I do

something to make Dad leave? Should I have done better in

school? I felt sad and alone.

I went back to the “music” room where Dad and I practiced

guitar. The room now felt big and empty.

Days later, Mom found a second job. She told me we needed

extra money.

Mom seemed concerned about how I would feel with Dad being

away. She also seemed to be uncomfortable answering my

questions about Dad’s whereabouts.

Mom began asking me to do more chores around the house.

I never washed dishes or swept the floor when Dad was around!!!

I did not go to school the day after Dad left. I missed him so

much. I couldn’t get Dad out of my thoughts. I was so lonely.

When I went back to school, I actually disrupted the class.

My teacher simply asked how I was doing. I called her

question, Stupid! I was miserable!

My teacher told Mom about my behavior. She recommended

that I attend an after-school program at the recreation

center.

While I was attending the after-school program, one of the

janitors at the recreation center saw me and asked me what

my name was. When I replied, “‘Rocko,’” the biggest smile came

across the man’s face, almost as though he found something

valuable.

He said, “So, you are Rocko.” The man then explained that he

played in a band with my father. Finding someone who knew

Dad, I wanted to hug this stranger, but I quickly paused, and

I asked him why didn’t he go overseas with Dad?

The man said, “What? Go overseas with him? Your father is

‘doing time’! “

I was trying to understand his comment about “doing time.”

I asked myself, what does this mean? I couldn’t think of an answer, so I

asked him, “What does that mean?”

The man looked at me and recognized that he may have said something

wrong. He ignored my question, and instead, he told me his name was

“Mr. Buddy.”

Mr. Buddy said my Dad talked about me all the time. He also knew about

my recent birthday present. Mr. Buddy then asked whether I still

practiced guitar every day?

I didn’t answer him. I was becoming both confused and angry.

I needed to understand what “doing time” meant. I had to talk with

Mom.

Out of respect, I said goodbye to Mr. Buddy and hurried home to talk

about this “time” stuff with Mom.

Mom was very tired when she arrived home, but I told her about the

janitor, and what he said about Dad.

Mom looked stunned and then worried. She then said we needed to have

a heart-to-heart talk.

Mom explained that “doing time” meant spending time in jail or prison.

She said Dad made some bad decisions and was now in “grown-up time

out,” in a place called a prison.

Mom’s words didn’t completely make sense to me, but it sounded to me

like Dad had gotten into trouble.

Mom apologized and said she felt bad telling me that Dad was

“overseas.” Mom said she couldn’t think of the right words to explain

things to me.

Mom said Dad still loved me dearly and his actions were not my fault.

Mom then told me that we could talk about Dad as often as I needed.

Mom also said that she wouldn’t leave me.

I had a whole lot of questions that I wanted to ask Mom, but the

conversation seemed to stress her out. She also seemed to be sad all

the time.

I figured it out: Mom also missed Dad.

I decided that I would be available in case she wanted to talk to me

about Dad or other things.

The next day, I went to school, but before leaving to go to the after-

school program, I apologized to my teacher for calling her question

“stupid.” I told her that she was a great teacher and I was learning a lot

from her.

My teacher said children and adults have good and bad days. She said

that I must have been having a bad day after missing school. My

teacher encouraged me to work hard in class.

I then ran over to the recreation center.

Just before I entered the recreation center, Dad’s friend, Mr. Buddy,

rushed toward me. He said, “About yesterday…”

I interrupted Mr. Buddy and told him I didn’t want to talk about Dad

“doing time.”. I told him that Mom told me Dad had made some mistakes

and he was going to be in “grown-up time out” for a while.

Mr. Buddy looked at me for a moment and then recalled what Dad told

him about my love of music and my air guitar.

Mr. Buddy said, if my Mom agreed, he would teach me how to play guitar.

Mr. Buddy said my Dad would be proud of me.

I thanked Mr. Buddy!

I got really excited about learning to play the guitar again!

I couldn’t wait to tell Mom!

That evening, the phone rang, and a woman’s voice asked if I would

accept a call from some “correctional” place. Moments later, I heard

Dad’s voice…. Dad said he loved me, and I said that I loved him, too. He

said he was really sorry that he was not with me.

I felt better after hearing Dad’s voice. I really missed him… so much.

After my conversation with Dad, I grabbed my guitar and began to

practice. I also thought about Dad being in “grown-up time out;” he had

made mistakes, just like I did sometimes.

Mom said I could write Dad notes and draw pictures for him so he would

know how I was doing.

I knew then that even though Dad was not with me, I had my teacher,

Mr. Buddy, and the best Mom ever to help me. I also had my guitar to

remind me of all the good times that Dad and I shared.

The End

Stories as Intervention

Stories have been used historically to help children and adults find meaning of certain experiences. Rocko’s Guitar, is designed to assist

parents who care for children with an incarcerated parent to have tools to help them understand they are not isolated or alone. Rocko and

other little ones may need to understand their plight and process emotions, family dynamics during difficult times like parental incarceration.

Children who are affected by the traumatizing experience of parental incarceration may not be able to articulate their feelings associated

with separation and loss. In their minds, they may have lost a parent and so much more. They may not be fully equipped developmentally to

express their feelings. The activities designed as companion resources for this book can be used to help children externalize their feelings.

These resources can be used to help children give voice through nonverbal activities such as drawing, engaging in a scavenger hunt, and

using other creative activities offered in the companion resources link on our website: https://mystoryandme.com Remember to always

consult with a helping professional if you think that your child is in need of psychiatric or mental-health support.

We hope that when parents use this book to read and discuss with their children, it may lead to young kids learning to see life events as they

are and not a problem that they have created themselves. We hope that they then can begin to make meaning of their lives and develop

resilience.

Respectfully,

Dr. Geoffrey Johnson, Co-Principle Researcher and author of Rocko’s Guitar; Dr. Avon Hart-Johnson, Principle Researcher, and author of

Baby Star Finds Happy; & Dr. Renata Hedrington-Jones, Co-Principle Researcher and author of The Big Dinner. The Storybook Research

Project Team (shown left to right, respectively)

Rocko & Likeminded Children

At the age of six, children begin to understand the differences between themselves and others. In this

regard, they begin to compare and contrast lessons and experiences in their home with those of their

peers at school and community. They grasp the feedback provided by teachers and recognize the grades

and value attached to performing school assignments.

Psychology Today (12-19-2009) provided the following comments about six-year-olds:

• This is time of remarkable change in social and cognitive skills. The six-year-old seeks more

independence, both intellectually and emotionally.

• The six-year-old craves affection from parents and teachers.

• As with every age, structure is important to facilitate adaption.

• Watching your child perform is critical to their self-esteem, as they need a meaningful audience for

their newly acquired skills.

Further, John Bowlby’s theory on attachment suggests that children come into the world programmed to

form attachments with others. Bowlby believed that attachment behaviors are instinctive and will be

activated by conditions that appear to threaten the achievement of proximity, such as separation,

insecurity, and fear.

While the mother-child bond is generally thought to be the guiding force in a child’s development,

fathers also play vital roles in a child’s confidence and emotional well-being. At six, a child’s self-image,

and in particular boys, may be shaped by fathers and male figures in his environment. As such, the

feedback received from fathers will be internalized and used as sounding board for direction.

About the Author

Dr. Johnson served as an evaluator, auditor, and criminal investigator with several agencies

and departments of the federal government. He received numerous awards for saving U.S.

taxpayers millions of dollars; identified fraud in government operations; employee and

contract misconduct that resulted in disbarments, suspensions, dismissals and

imprisonments; and investigated sexual assaults, homicides, and financial crimes and

referred matters of concern to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After retiring from the federal government Dr. Johnson and his spouse (Dr. Avon Hart-

Johnson) combined energies and co-founded a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization called DC

Project Connect (DCPC). This non-profit organization provides individual and group support

for families and children of incarcerated men and women. DCPC also responds to

constituent questions about the criminal justice system and reentry processes. DCPC

advocates for criminal justice reforms both locally and internationally. An important

component of work involves research and dissemination of data to promote the uplift of

persons adversely affected by incarceration. In this regard, we partner with individuals and

groups who seek social justice reforms. DCPC’s pro bono programs and services have

touched the lives of individuals (and families) in and beyond the greater Washington DC

metropolitan area.

Dr. Johnson attended college (BA) and graduate school (MPA) at Syracuse University. He

began his doctoral studies at Howard University; in 2018 he was awarded a doctorate in

humane letters for contributions in scholarship and improving the quality of life for others.