Results: "Some babies are born into their families. Some are adopted. This is the story of how one baby found his family in the New York City subway."

November is National Adoption Month, a month devoted to highlighting the joys of adoption, and celebrating those who decide to add to their families by adopting. In 1995, President Clinton made November National Adoption Month, and we've been celebrating it ever since. The month's events culminate with National Adoption Day on the Saturday before the U.S. Thanksgiving when many families decide to finalize their adoptions at their local courthouses. Have you adopted a child or were you a child who was adopted?

"Some babies are born into their families. Some are adopted. This is the story of how one baby found his family in the New York City subway," begins Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio. Told from Mercurio's first-person perspective, it shows his then-partner (now husband) Danny, finding an abandoned baby in a corner of the subway station in 2000. Although initially the baby was placed in foster care, eventually Peter and Danny are asked by the judge in charge of the case if they would like to take the baby in. At first the two men hesitated, but decided this was meant to be. Holding the infant just felt right to them. They raised, and adopted the child, and have never regretted their decision. Do you remember hearing about the story of the "Subway Baby"?

Twelve years later, in 2012, a year after same-sex marriage became legal in New York, Danny and Peter decided to marry. Kevin, who was then a twelve year old, had the idea of asking the same judge who suggested the two take him in, to perform his dads' wedding, which she did. Twenty-one years later, Kevin is now in college. In a letter to their son, when he left for college, the men wrote "Our unexpected and unplanned ride together has been, and still is, incredibly enchanting. Simply magical. The best trip we've ever taken." Do you feel that fate sometimes is responsible for building a family?

The book mentioned in question two was published in 2020, a love project for both men to other families deciding to adopt, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. The picture book is actually for young readers, although it could be enjoyed by anyone. Do you know anyone who would like this book?