Best Facebook Parenting Stories

Serrina Slay Finds Her Daughter a Prom Date Through Facebook

Because she lives with a nonverbal form of autism, teenager Rachael Slay missed out on many of the joys of childhood. When it came time for Rachael's school prom, her mom, Serrina, was determined to give her a night to remember.

Serrina posted a message on her town newspaper's Facebook page that she was searching for an appropriate date on her daughter's behalf, and the results far surpassed her expectations.

In addition to a young man contacting Serrina about escorting her daughter to the dance, town residents volunteered to help fund Rachael's dress, limo, and everything in between.

"I've found through Facebook that all of our stories, but somehow all the same," Serrina said of her use of the site as a support network. "I've been a parent to an autistic child for 19 years. Before Facebook, I felt so alone."

Source: Facebook user Serrina J Slay

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A Same-Sex Couple Becomes a Family of Three

Brad Benton and his partner, Brad Letson, began their quest to adopt a child in January 2009. After nine months without any leads, Benton, who has a background in marketing, was inspired by a segment on a morning show about a couple who had adoption success via Facebook.

The couple placed an ad on the site to target female connections between the ages of 18 and 35, and the very next morning, they discovered an email from an expectant woman named Sesa Juliana expressing interest. The trio continued to correspond, and before the arrival of baby Kyle, traveled to New Mexico, where it was legal for same-sex couples to adopt.

Since their son's arrival, the two Brads have continued to utilize Facebook to connect with and inspire other same-sex couples who are considering adoption. Their Facebook group, My 2 Brads, chronicles the family's adventures, and they've recently begun the search to adopt a second child.

Source: Facebook user Brad Benton

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Families Created Through a Fertility Center's Facebook Presence

Back in 2011, Andrea Rivas began undergoing fertility treatments at Shady Grove Fertility Center, and after a failed cycle, turned to the facility's Facebook page in search of support. What she found was that — and so much more.

After making an online connection with Sandi Palmisano, who had also had a failed IVF cycle, the two women (and their husbands) decided to meet in person. The four became fast friends, and when Andrea finally became a mother (to twins!), she didn't hesitate to ask Sandi and her husband, Philip, to be the baby's godparents.

After more failed fertility treatments for the Palmisanos, Andrea (while 30 weeks pregnant with her own babies), told Sandi that she would be willing to serve as their surrogate. Andrea and her husband Marc's twins are now 19 months old, and she's expecting the second set in about five months. Pretty powerful stuff!

Source: Facebook user Andrea Rivas

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Glasses For Noah

When 4-year-old Noah fought his new glasses and told his mom that he was afraid of being laughed at, she took to the social network to rally support for her son. "Let's show Noah how awesome glasses really are by posting some pictures for him to see you in your glasses!" she wrote on her page's About section.

Since October, the page Glasses for Noah has received thousands of submissions of complete strangers proudly sporting their favorite frames. It's also gotten more than 90,000 likes!

"Noah is doing so great with wearing his glasses now — and it's all because of YOU!" his mom wrote on Jan. 9. It's hard not to want to support the cause when you see this guy's smile!

Source: Facebook user Glasses for Noah

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A Special Needs Teen's Dreams Come True

Seventeen-year-old Karrie Brown had long been a fan of clothing retailer Wet Seal and dreamt of modeling for them one day. When her mom, Sue, posted photos on the teen wearing Wet Seal on her Facebook page, she garnered attention from the brand just one day later. They told her that if Karrie could get 10,000 likes on her page that week, they'd fly her to California for a professional photo shoot, a new wardrobe, and a trip to Disneyland.

Since then, Karrie has met with a modeling agency and become an example of strength for those with Down syndrome and other challenges.

Source: Facebook user Karrie Brown — Modeling the Future

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The Couple Who Found Their Baby on Facebook

Chicago couple Molly and John Connolly utilized the social networking site to connect with mom-to-be Valerie, who would eventually become their baby boy's birth mother.

When the couple decided that they were going to begin the adoption process, they created an open Facebook page called John and Molly Looking to Adopt and asked friends and family to join. In addition to feeling the support and love of a network of some 150 people, their page came up through Valerie's Google search: "Looking to adopt." In December 2009, Valerie gave birth and introduced the newborn child to his parents, Molly and John.

Source: John & Molly

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