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Three Mothers, One Bond | With Gaby Hoffmann

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(Brian Rea for the New York Times)
(Brian Rea for the New York Times)

Producer's Note: Join Modern Love: The Podcast on October 20 for Modern Love Live, an evening of music, conversation, and live storytelling at Town Hall in New York City. Get your tickets here.

The months leading up to first-time parenthood are full of unknowns. Will the baby be healthy? Will I ever sleep again? How will I juggle parenthood and my career? But the question that replayed endlessly in Jennifer Hauseman's mind was: "Will I get to keep this child?"

This was the nerve-wracking reality of her experience with open adoption.

Actor Gaby Hoffmann reads Hauseman's essay "Three Mothers, One Bond."  Afterwards, we speak with New York Times Modern Love editor Dan Jones, Jennifer Hauseman and a special guest.

Voices In This Episode

(Courtesy of Gaby Hoffmann)
(Courtesy of Gaby Hoffmann)

Gabriella “Gaby” Hoffmann began acting in commercials at age 4. Her first film role was as young "Maisy Russell" in 1988's "Uncle Buck." Hoffmann is often remembered as a prolific child actress with notable roles in “Field of Dreams,” “Now and Then,” “Sleepless in Seattle, “The Man Without a Face,” and “Volcano.” Later film projects include roles on “Everyone Says I Love You,” “200 Cigarettes,” “13,” and “Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus. Hoffmann is also known for her work in the theater -- including “Suburbia” at Second Stage, “Third” at Lincoln Center, “The Sugar Syndrome at Williamstown, and “The 24 Hour Plays” on Broadway.

Her recent work includes roles on the FX series “Louie,” HBO’s “Girls,” and the Amazon series “Transparent.” She received Emmy nominations in 2015 and 2016 as well as two Golden Globe nominations for her work in “Transparent.”

She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. She tweets @gabymhoffmann.

Jennifer Hauseman is an editor and writer whose work has also been published in "The Seattle Times" and "Salon." She is currently working as a digital humanitarian in Geneva, Switzerland. She tweets @JenHauseman.

from left: Therese Littleton and Jennifer Hauseman with their daughter Amelia (Photo by Sarina Cass of Red Anchor Photo), Jen Hauseman with Amelia's birth mother Lauren (courtesy), Lauren and Amelia (courtesy)
From left: Jennifer Hauseman with Amelia's birth mother Lauren (courtesy), Therese Littleton and Jennifer Hauseman with their daughter Amelia (Photo by Sarina Cass of Red Anchor Photo), Lauren and Amelia (courtesy)

Let us know what you think of this episode and any other episode you've heard.  For more Modern Love episodes on adoption, listen to Connie Britton ("Nashville," "Friday Night Lights,") lend her voice to Elizabeth Fitzsimon's essay "My First Lesson in Motherhood" detailing an international adoption.  For another perspective on open adoption, don't miss Sarah Paulson's ("American Horror Story," "The People vs. OJ Simpson") exquisite delivery of Amy Seek's essay "Open Adoption: Not So Simple Math." 

Leave "Modern Love: The Podcast" a review on iTunes and subscribe to never miss an episode.

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Jessica Alpert Managing Producer, Program Development
Jessica Alpert is the managing producer for program development at WBUR. In this position, she develops new podcasts and programs while also launching and nurturing WBUR’s newest projects.

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