A single gay man, Daniel Wood, is celebrating his first Christmas with his adopted son, Freddie, after a year-long journey through the adoption process. The experience has been transformative for Wood, who once doubted he would ever become a father.
As he prepared to decorate his Christmas tree, Wood reflected on how surreal it felt to have a son. Just a year ago, he was decorating with friends, but now he had only a short time to set up before Freddie woke from his nap. “My son,” he says, still amazed by the reality of his situation.
Wood, who has been openly gay since he was 23, always dreamed of becoming a father. However, he felt uncertain about his options as a single man. “Families with same-sex parents were unheard of where I grew up,” he explained. The desire to have children persisted, but doubts about how to achieve that as a single gay man lingered for years.
After a fulfilling life of travel and career success, everything changed in the summer of 2024. Following a renovation of his dream house, Wood hosted friends from Dubai who brought their young children. This experience reignited his long-held desire to start a family.
“I realized it was time to explore having children alone,” Wood stated. Despite nearing his 40th birthday, he began researching adoption, unsure if it was a path available to him. His concerns were alleviated when he contacted Adoption Matters in November 2024.
From the very first call, the organization supported Wood without hesitation. “They never questioned my suitability to adopt based on me being single, male, and gay,” he noted. The process involved extensive paperwork, including risk assessments and training to prepare him for parenting.
Wood’s journey included reading through hundreds of profiles of children available for adoption. He was particularly moved by a boy named Freddie, who was described as loving to sing. On Father’s Day, he made the pivotal decision to pursue adopting Freddie.
After multiple discussions and home visits from his social worker, Wood received approval to proceed with the adoption. Their first meeting was a memorable moment at a music group, where Freddie’s joyful spirit captured Wood’s heart.
“I knew I had to make this Christmas, our first as a family of two, as special as possible,” he said. Freddie moved in with Wood in October 2024, marking the beginning of their life together.
The transition has not been without challenges. In the early days, Wood found himself constantly attentive, worried about Freddie’s safety. However, as time passed, their bond strengthened. “He is already such an amazing, tenacious, funny, and oh-so-loving 18-month-old,” Wood shared.
As Christmas approached, Wood was filled with excitement for their first holiday together. When Freddie awoke from his nap and saw the decorated tree, his reaction was one of pure joy. “That’s a moment that will stay with me forever,” Wood reflected.
Looking ahead, Wood is eager to create lasting memories with Freddie, including visits to see Santa and holiday traditions. For him, Freddie is the greatest gift he could ever have asked for.
This heartfelt narrative illustrates the evolving landscape of family dynamics, showcasing the joy and fulfillment that can come from unconventional paths to parenthood.
