Connie Britton reflects on decision to adopt her son: ‘I knew I wanted to be a mom’

Actress adopted son from Ethiopia in 2011

Connie Britton has opened up about her decision to adopt, explaining that she always “knew that I wanted to be a mom”.

The Friday Night Lights actress, who adopted son Yoby in 2011, reflected on the choice during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she was asked by a viewer whether she experienced a “lightbulb moment” that convinced her she was ready.

In response to the question, Britton admitted she “had no idea what I was even getting into, so it wasn’t so much ‘I can do this’ as much as I knew that I wanted to be a mom”.

However, according to the 53-year-old, she decided to set out on the journey to becoming a single mom after both her parents died within just three years.

“And, in truth, both of my parents had passed away within three years and suddenly I was like: ‘Oh no, my family is no more,’” she explained. “I mean, I have a twin sister, but that was a big loss, losing my parents, and I wasn’t in a relationship that felt like it was going to be a marriage relationship.

“And so I was like: ‘What am I waiting for? I know I want to adopt. I can do this.”

However, the actress did admit that her thinking at the time “was a little delusional” because “ it turns out it's a really hard thing to do”.

“But I would only encourage anybody to do it. You can do it!" she added.

Britton adopted Yoby, whose birth name is Eyob, from Ethiopia when he was nine months old after a three-year adoption process.

At the time, the mother-of-one told People that she was “thanking my lucky stars every day”.

While the American Horror Story star does not post on social media about her son often, she did share a photo of the two of them to Instagram on Mother’s Day last year.

In the caption, Britton reflected on the difficulties of 2020 and said that she was “thinking about mothers today”.

“All of you. Especially now in this difficult time, being a mama, holding your own heart and nurturing your kids’ hearts, keeping everyone safe,” she wrote.

In the emotional post, Britton also said she “salutes” all mothers and encouraged them to stay strong.

“I salute you all. I salute your precious hearts that beat only as a mother’s can. Uncertainty, failure, fear, chaos, profound love, profound joy, profound transformation,” she wrote. “To all of you today, to all of us, I celebrate, and cry and cheer. Stay strong mamas.”