Our legal expert explains what gay, lesbian, and single parents need to know when building their nontraditional families during the process of adopting.
“Adopting Teenagers From Foster Care”
“My boys were teens when I adopted them, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t need a mom. Even if I was only 25 at the time.”
“Loving My Mother — and Becoming One”
I was an adoring daughter, ready to be an adoring mom.
Providing Security in an Insecure World
No matter what their ages, our children need to be reassured about the future.
“Thanking My Adoption Support Network”
One mother says the thank you’s we sometimes forget to say.
“Where Will We Fit In?”
Selling my parents’ house makes me wonder where to put down roots for our family of two.
Post-Adoption Planning: What Single Parents Should Consider
I just adopted as a single parent. What should I do to protect the rights of myself and my child?
“Goodbye to Grandpa”
My daughter’s struggle to make sense of this loss is shadowed by her earliest one.
“Heart’s Desire”
My daughter—like my own mother—feels an almost primal pull toward the woman whose body she grew in.
“Losing Sleep”
As my daughter discovers the brave new world of sleepovers, she and I are both missing out on some shut-eye.
“My Daughter, My Best Friend”
Being a single parent to an only child means forsaking some friends—but gaining a best one.
“When I Grow Up”
My daughter’s daydreams about her future family may be a little offbeat. Works for me—as long as she always follows her heart.
“The View from Here”
As I see it now, my golden years are likely to be filled with pet doggies and boxed mac and cheese. And I can’t imagine anything better.
“Fantasies of Family”
Sometimes a household of two can feel a bit small.
“Seizing the Day”
I might never have decided to adopt had I foreseen what was to come in other areas of my life. But when I imagine life without my daughter, I know there was no other choice.
“Our Conversations About Adoption”
When the TV broke down, the questions came up—hard ones.
“Here and Now, If Not Always”
My hope, as a single foster mother, is to provide at least a temporary period of calm in a stormy childhood.
“Understanding My Family’s Circles”
My traditional childhood dreams gave way to an unexpected, soul-filling reality.
Single Parents: Balancing Work, Fun, and Family
How can single parents find the time to get everything done without feeling overwhelmed?
Answering The Daddy Question
When children ask about a “missing spouse,” how should single parents answer?