Becoming Mom, Twice Over: Ariana's Journey Through RIVF and Foster-to-Adopt

<p>Ariana dreamed of being a mom since she was a little girl — and as a queer woman, she always knew that path might not be simple. In this episode, we talk with Ariana about the two very different roads she&#39;s walked to build her family.</p><p>Ariana&#39;s journey began when she partnered with a woman who also wanted to be a parent. Her partner didn&#39;t want to carry a pregnancy, but she did want a genetic connection to the child, which led them to reciprocal IVF (RIVF). It&#39;s a beautiful option, but not an inexpensive one — Ariana walks us through the months of research it took to find a fertility clinic whose payment plan let them delay payments until after their son was born.</p><p>After their son arrived, Ariana&#39;s relationship broke down — but she knew her family-building journey wasn&#39;t finished. She felt called to adopt a child who needed a home, and set out on an entirely different path: working with child protective services, completing the required courses, home studies, and casework to apply through the umbrella foster-to-adopt program.</p><p>Five months ago, a two-month-old baby boy was placed in Ariana&#39;s care. Now, as they wait for the courts to complete their due diligence, Ariana is holding onto hope that by the end of his first year, she&#39;ll be able to call herself his mother — formally and legally.</p><p>This is a story about persistence, about the many forms family can take, and about what it means to keep showing up for the dream you&#39;ve had since childhood.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li>Growing up queer and dreaming of motherhood</li><li>Choosing reciprocal IVF (RIVF) as a path to parenthood</li><li>Navigating the cost and logistics of fertility treatment</li><li>Finding a clinic with a payment plan built for real families</li><li>Life after a relationship ends but the dream doesn&#39;t</li><li>Foster-to-adopt: the courses, casework, and waiting</li><li>Hoping for a legal, forever &quot;mom&quot; title within the first year</li></ul><p><strong>Resources mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li>Fertility clinic: <a href="https://www.cnyfertility.com/"><u>CNY Fertility</u></a><u> </u><a href="https://www.cnyfertility.com/">https://www.cnyfertility.com</a></li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Ariana:</strong> Follow her family&#39;s story on TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@a_dennis21"><u>@a_dennis21</u></a></p><p><br></p>