Hello! I’m Holly Marlow, and I feel truly blessed to be a mum to both my biological and adopted children.
I’m also the author of several children’s books that explore foster care and adoption, including Delly Duck: Why a Little Chick Couldn’t Stay With His Birth Mother. My husband and I have two wonderful kids: Zoe, our six-year-old biological daughter, and our adopted son, who is now three and has been part of our family for two years.
When we began the adoption process, Zoe asked many questions. She was horrified to learn that some children cannot stay with their birth families. I wanted to nurture her empathy while also helping her understand that when a child goes into foster care, the decision is never made lightly. Since I usually turn to stories when explaining difficult subjects, I looked for books that would help but couldn’t find any that answered Zoe’s questions. So, I wrote one myself.
That is how Delly Duck was born. The story uses symbolism so parents can interpret it in the way that best fits their child’s understanding. In the story, Delly often gets sidetracked, chasing butterflies and forgetting to look after her egg, and later her duckling. Some people might see this as a symbol of addiction, while others could interpret it as struggles with memory or focus, possibly linked to trauma, illness, or learning differences.
It was really important to me that the story helped readers understand and feel empathy for the birth parent.
I wanted children to see that Delly tried to make changes, such as building a nest, and that the social worker offered support and advice. But despite those efforts, it was still not safe for the duckling to stay. The message is that birth parents are not villains, and social workers do not remove children without trying to help first.
I hoped other adoptive parents would use the book to start open conversations with their children, so they could feel safe to ask questions about their birth families. I also wanted to show that birth parents are often supported and given chances to change before any decision of removal is made.
The book helped Zoe make sense of why some children live in foster care, and when it began receiving positive reviews, I was encouraged to write more stories. My second book, Adopting a Little Brother or Sister, was actually illustrated by Zoe herself. I wrote it in the voice of a child aged five to seven, describing their experience of welcoming an adopted sibling. Zoe insisted on drawing the illustrations after seeing mine and did a much better job. The story prepares children for becoming older siblings through adoption and highlights both the joys and the challenges.
Not long after, I wrote *So You’ve Adopted a Sibling*, once again illustrated with Zoe’s artwork.
This one was created after hearing from parents whose biological children struggled to adjust to adopted siblings. It helps children explore their feelings and process the changes in their routines. Social workers and play therapists have also used it, which I find incredibly rewarding.
We were later asked to create a cousin version, so Cousins by Adoption came next. My most recent book, Room in the Nest, returns to the world of Delly Duck and introduces foster care, the family court process, kinship care, reunification, and adoption.
I thought my life will turned on that path.
I once worked in aerospace and defense, but when voluntary redundancy was offered, I used the opportunity to focus on writing and spending more time with my children. It has been a huge blessing. I now write while they are at school or asleep, which allows me to be present for them during the day.
Our adoption journey has been full of love and learning. I adored my son from the moment I met him, though it took him time to fully accept me as “Mummy.” Through months of therapeutic parenting and consistency, we grew closer, and today our bond is unshakable.
I will never forget the day our adoption order was finalized. My son was napping when I got the call, so I told Zoe first. She grabbed my hands, danced me around, and shouted with joy. When he woke, she announced he was officially a Marlow. He threw his hands in the air, beaming, and shouted, “I Marlow!” with pure delight.
Watching the bond between my two children grow has been the most beautiful part. They laugh together, hold hands at breakfast, and share the sweetest moments. One day, while sitting on a hammock, my son said, “I like it when I’m with Zoe.” She laughed and said, “You’re with me all the time! “I’m your big sister!” she said excitedly.
“And I’m your little brother!” he cheered in return.
I am endlessly grateful for him. I do not believe any child is “meant” to be adopted children should stay with their birth families if it is safe. Adoption happens when things go wrong. But I love my son deeply, as do my husband, daughter, and extended family. There are painful sides to adoption, but I am reminded every day of the beauty in watching my children grow up together, side by side.
