Bengaluru Adoptive Parents Rely on Support Networks to Raise Children
Solo adoptive parents in Bengaluru are drawing strength and practical guidance from dedicated local support networks to help raise their children. Parents like 56-year-old Malini Parmar, a resident of Sarjapur Road, have turned to these active community circles to navigate the unique emotional and physical demands of solo parenting.
Parmar, a former IT professional and co-founder of the social enterprise stonesoup.in, first decided to adopt after being inspired by the film Boys Town and an interview with actress Sushmita Sen. Originally from Himachal Pradesh, Parmar spent years researching adoption before adopting biological sisters Tara and Lila from Odisha in 2008, when she was 36 years old.
However, Parmar quickly realized the immense challenges of parenting when she brought her daughters home. At the time, Tara was four-and-a-half years old and Lila was two-and-a-half. Facing the daily tasks of feeding the children and getting them to sleep, Parmar found that she could not manage the responsibilities entirely on her own.
To find support, Parmar joined Single AP and PAP, a WhatsApp group designed for single and prospective adoptive parents. The group has provided her with a steady community to stay grounded and handle the practical and emotional demands of raising her daughters. Today, her daughter Tara studies psychology and theatre at St Joseph’s University in Bengaluru, while Lila is pursuing an interest in filmmaking.
Other local adoptive parents are also utilizing these active networks, which function as extended families across the city. Hita Hejmadi, who adopted her daughter Iva from Lucknow eight years ago, is an active member of groups such as Joy of Adoption and Bangalore Single AP and PAP.
In addition to online forums, families connect through physical gatherings. Circles such as Heart Babies Play Date arrange regular in-person meet-ups for adoptive families in Bengaluru. According to Hejmadi, these communities provide a vital space where parents can share their experiences and find reassurance, helping turn low moments into positive, shared stories.
