Papa Solo: A Single Gay Dad’s Journey to Parenthood

Can a single man become a parent? In Papa Solo, Éric Willem breaks taboos and shares his powerful journey as a foster dad. His story sheds light on Belgium’s foster care system and the hurdles LGBTQIA+ people still face in becoming parents.

“A single gay man has little to no chance of adopting. And surrogacy costs a fortune. But few people know they can become foster parents. This system lets you fulfill your dream of parenthood while changing a child’s life.”
Being a parent was always his dream. During his eleven-year relationship, he explored surrogacy in the U.S. but ultimately abandoned the idea. When he separated from his partner, he didn’t give up. In 2020, he turned to foster care and was matched with Lilly, a four-year-old girl in need of a stable home.
“We met in June, and by August, she moved in. I didn’t feel capable of raising a baby alone, so they found a child whose profile fit mine.“
Their relationship grew day by day, but it wasn’t always easy. Lilly had never seen a man shave or even stepped inside a supermarket. She also struggled with attachment issues.
“A child who constantly tests your bond—it can be quite a rollercoaster!“
Belgium is seen as progressive, but queer parenting remains a challenge.

“People think foster care means living with an axe over your head, afraid social services will take the child back overnight. That’s completely false!“
His book also exposes a shocking reality:
“In 2025, children are still ‘stored’ in hospitals due to a lack of foster families. That’s unacceptable.“
Beyond his own story, Papa Solo challenges the way society views single parents.
“A single dad is seen as adorable. A single mom? A potential problem. That needs to change.“
With this book, Éric hopes to encourage others to embrace parenthood in all its forms.
“A child doesn’t care about their parent’s sexual orientation. What matters is that they are loved.“
For now, Papa Solo is only available in French, but at KET we hopes it will soon be translated into English.
And as Lilly so wisely puts it:
“Your family is made up of those who love you.”

Histoire d’un papa solo d’Éric Willem
“Ta famille, c’est ceux qui t’aiment”

Editions Racine

Editions Racine