Single Parents

Where to Start:

• Check out the following Creating a Family radio shows:
  • March 17, 2010: Single Parenthood by Choice
  • October 15, 2008: What to Think About Before Becoming a Single Parent
• Major adoption sending country charts: 25 factors to consider before choosing a country (including information on each country's attitude toward single parent adoption).

Resources:

• The University of Oregon's Adoption History Project has an excellent overview of the history of single parent adoption.
• Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman's Guide by Mikki Morrissette  I loved the spirit of this book.  Without glossing over the hard parts, Morrissette celebrates motherhood and the choice to parent without a partner. This book covers families formed by adoption, by using a known sperm donor, and using an unknown donor.  The only thing I would change about this book is the name.  It is equally applicable to women or men who choose single parenthood.  I interviewed the author on the Creating a Family show on Oct. 15, 2008. 
• Single Mothers by Choice—National organization of Single Mothers, Inc. Forums and quarterly publication. Not specific to adoption.
• Choosing Single Motherhood is a website full of resources and support for single mothers by choice.
• Parents Without Partners, Inc.—Not specific to adoption.
• Single Parents Adopting Children Everywhere (SPACE)
• Single-adopt-china. Yahoo group at www.groups.yahoo.com.
• The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys by Gina Panettieri & Philip S Hall. 
• Grants for Single Moms provides a variety of resources for single mothers, including a section on grants and information to help you become a single mom through domestic adoption or foster care.
• Choice of Choice 2010: Profiles - A compilation series of the best stories, tips and insight from ChoiceMoms.org

• Support from City to City. The Single Mothers by Choice organization offers local group networks in many cities.  
• Solo Mums by Choice Australia has online and in person support for Australian single moms regardless if they pursue parenting through pregnancy or adoption.
• Yahoo has a group for everything, including Choice Moms-women who choose single parenthood.  This is a great place to hang out when you are considering this option, and an even better place to find like-minded moms after you become a Choice Mom.
• Choicemoms.org is a great website where choice moms can find information and support.  Hands down the best resource out there for single women choosing to become moms.
• Single minded Women is a great site for all aspects of being a single woman, including a section on single motherhood. This site provides support and information for single moms regardless if they are single by choice or by accident, and regardless whether they became moms through adoption or donor insemination.
• Single Mom.com—Information and forum geared to support women who choose to become single moms either through birth or adoption.