Margaret Fleming is a loving mom to 12 children—three biological and nine via adoption—though one has passed away. They come from multi-racial backgrounds, wide-ranging in age, and certainly carrying diverse interests, upbringings and personal tales.
Fleming, now 77, reflected on her family and simply said, "It's a pretty amazing family."
Fleming, a bisexual who lives in suburban Oak Park, is now single, retired ( as of this past June ) and still at home with three young children, ranging in age from 9 to 13, plus her 25-year-old son, his fiancé and their 2-year-old child.
"I have always loved children," said Fleming, who has one brother who is gay. Her parents divorced when she was young, "so it was kind of lonely [while growing up], so perhaps that's part of the motivation," for such a large family, she said.
"I believe I am good at raising kids; they've all turned out pretty well."
Fleming, who was married to her husband for 13 years, adopted her first child in 1981 at age 45. Her adopted children now range in age from 9 to 32, including two who were HIV-positive.
"You can only go out to dinner so many times, and [years ago before starting to adopt], I had traveled extensively and had a successful private practice. I'm so glad that I did what I did: adopting," she said.
And yes, she said, "oh yes," she is done adopting.
But, in early November, Fleming welcomed a foreign exchange student into the family, which also includes two dogs, two cays and some fish.
No reality TV show is better than The Margaret Fleming Show.
"Mother's Day is very emotional," said Fleming, who told that the May holiday this year included breakfast at home, with "scrambled eggs [spilled] in the bed, burnt bacon, and so much fun." She said the hand-made cards and presents that she receives at such holidays, or Christmas, are so, so meaningful.
Last year on Christmas Eve, the family went to church and then, on Christmas, they went to the zoo.
Fleming, in 1992, founded Adoption-Link, which works with children of all races, including those children with special needs, hoping for a right to a loving and permanent home.
Chances by Choice ( CBC ), also founded by Fleming in 2003, merged with and became a program of Adoption-Link in 2006. CBC specializes in finding adoptive homes for internationally born HIV-exposed children. CBC also provides support to internationally-born HIV-positive children through reunification programs, sponsorship, education, job training and humanitarian services.
Adoption-Link began as an adoption consultation service, initially with a staff of one employee and one volunteer performing services for adoptive families and birthparents through the process of private adoption. Today, Adoption-Link places children with families throughout the U.S., and, to date, has found permanent homes for more than 1,000 domestic infants and 75 HIV-positive children.
"I had long wanted to be a doctor, but that [career] never materialized. I became a teacher and eventually led to social work, which I truly think is my true calling; it's the best thing I've ever done," Fleming said.
Fleming said it was a "tough decision" to retire, mostly because she didn't know what it would be like to not be as involved in her agency.
"It was just time to let go," she said.
When asked her biggest accomplishment, Fleming answered, "Raising good kids. Second, I'm proud of Adoption-Link, what we stand for and how we've been different.
"When I retired, someone who was a director of another [adoption] agency said to me, 'Margaret, you've changed the face of adoption.' When I stopped to think about [that comment], I do think that's true—and it really meant a lot to me that he said that."
