Nowadays there are many ways to start a family. The times are changing quickly and one thing is for sure: Different is the new normal.
One in three children today is born to parents who are not married. Two million children are being raised by parents who are lesbian or gay and nearly five million kids are being raised by their grandparents. The latest growing trend is co-parenting, two people coming together for the sole purpose of raising a child. Kaia Van Zandt from San Diego and Stuart Volkow from Chicago are two friends who are co-parenting their young son, Atticus.
“Raising a child doesn’t necessarily mean nuclear.” -Stuart Volkow
@katieshow Todays families are so diverse and for all those that revolve around love I tip my hat.Love is the one thing we all need!
— Theresa M King (@TheresaMKing) March 6, 2013
Online dating is nothing new, but how about choosing your child’s mother or father online? With the help of one website, parenthood could be just a click away. Ivan Fatovic from Los Angeles, California is the co-founder of Modamily.com, an online community for finding a co-parent or known sperm or egg donor.
“Marriage works great, it’s just not for everyone.” -Ivan Fatovic
@ivanfatovic @katieshow @modamily very interesting cool piece today thx for the insight . Learn something everyday
— Giuseppe (@yankeesbw51) March 6, 2013
Washington D.C. couple Shelley Belgard and Bill Ott are proof of the progress families are making today and evidence that love really does conquer all. They are an ordinary married couple who found extraordinary love.
“The other brings out the inner strength in us.” -Bill Ott
This couple on @katieshow is AMAZING!! They both have disabilities, found each other & fell in #love!#tears #happiness
— Kymmie(@xmisskatx) March 6, 2013
When it comes to families, Bruce Feiler wrote the book, or at least one of them. His new book, The Secrets of Happy Families, is designed to “improve your mornings, rethink family dinner, fight smarter, go out and play and much more.”
“The old rules no longer apply, but the new rules haven’t been written.” -Bruce Feiler
@katiecouric @brucefeiler by using the philosophy … The more love (peace) you give the more love (peace)you get!
— laranp (@laranp) March 6, 2013
With the ever changing, modern families of today, how can we make sure that we all stay happy? Bruce Feiler reveals his one-week plan for a happier family.
“Children who knew more about their family history had a greater self-confidence.” -Bruce Feiler
Thank you @katiecouric I agree family dinner is extremely important!I think all families need to make time for dinner. Make it happen!
— Courtney Kern (@eventsbeyond) March 6, 2013
From celebrating modern families, to a story that reminds us that some people’s attitudes aren’t very modern at all and that racism and bigotry do still exist. A nurse from Flint, Michigan recently encountered that when she was told she couldn’t care for a white baby, but she took a stand. Tonya Battle joins Katie for her first national TV interview.
“It just took me back in time.” -Tonya Battle
@katiecouricSad that discrimination still going on!
— Kim Phelps (@MadDogMartha) March 6, 2013
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