John Waldron had not intended to hire an undocumented worker, or several for that matter, but he needed help with caring for his two young sons. In A Father's Angels, his affecting and redeeming tribute to four Hispanic women and their families, Waldron goes beyond simple stories of a single gay father. For more than a decade, through faith, creativity and most of all love, these illegal angels helped redirect the lives of a new father and his children, and along the way provided invaluable life lessons on the true meaning of family.
Paulina was the first. She was large by every stretch of the imagination. Dressed in an oversized t-shirt and full cotton skirt, her size was immediately appealing to a peanut-sized three year old boy lost in her embrace. Carmen followed, Mormon bible in hand, her mission to bring order to the home. Ana, ever the playmate, came and went too quickly. And finally, there was Rosa, who not only brought her love and compassion, but her family as well.
Each of these women demonstrated a joy for living in the moment and understood that there is no more important gift or skill than those shared with children. None had great career aspirations or a burning desire to achieve great wealth. All came with very little, but gave so much.
Waldron reveals the challenges and anguish of navigating through a state adoption system and the bias that still exists against single and gay parents. His journey to adopt a second child brings him to Guatemala in an effort to complete his family. Throughout, a growing tide of hostility and retribution grows in Arizona, John's home state, toward Hispanic immigrants both legal and illegal, creating a perilous situation for all.
Raw, gripping, and utterly redemptive, A Father’s Angels humanizes the immigration discussion, and pays homage to unforgettably heroic women.
