Our Authors

Erik Alexander

Follow Erik Alexander:

Who is Erik Alexander?

Erik Alexander is a blogger, writer and creator of Nolapapa.com. He is married to the love of his life, Douglas. Together 14 years, they have 3 beautiful children via adoption. Living in New Orleans, Louisiana, Erik feels that is crucially important that visibility helps normalize what “today’s parent” looks like and created his blog to help light a path for others

Follow Erik Alexander:

Erik Alexander's Website:https://www.nolapapa.com

Articles written by Erik Alexander

41 results

An Impassioned Dad Gets Loud: "Love Will Win"

Erik Alexander, a.k.a. Nola Papa, is a dad of three through private infant adoption. He's been...

Why This Gay Dad Says You Should Watch Encanto Twice

As I sat in the theater I instantly started to dissect the entire movie. Well, before I go any...

A Gay Dad Vows Not to Repeat the Mistakes of His Father

I'm rushing down the tiring stretch of life, barreling around every corner with one focus: creating...

The passing of a pet helped this dad process death with his children

The Passing of a 'Prince' Helped This Dad Process Death with his Kids

Guilt. I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever really and truly felt it, until now. Parenting...

A Gay Dad's Emotional Goodbye to the 'Highchair' Stage of Parenting

To you, this may look like the normal night before trash day. A definite score for any passerby,...

Erik Alexander's New Book 'The Adventure of Addie Underwater'

About six months after our first child was born, I felt like it was important for me to write about...

The Christmas That Started 'The Rest of My Life'

Gay parents in our community can probably understand what I am about to say. Growing up and...

An Unconditional Love — Shared DNA Not Required

It was pizza and gelato night. We look forward to special nights like these. What family doesn’t?...

'Every Adoption Journey is Unique' Says This Adoptive Dad of Three

It's National Adoption Month! And to celebrate, Erik Alexander decided to put together a YouTube...

One Gay Dad’s Top Three Tips For New Parents

Parenthood itself is the wildest ride you could ever imagine. For some, the process to even become...

Gay Dads Celebrate 14 Years Together

Love is a magical thing. It often comes out of nowhere and bites us in places that we wouldn’t...

A Gay Dad Learns From his Father How Not to be a Dad

The recent events transpired in our country over the racial injustices and oppression towards...

How Building a Family Helped This Dad Recover From Loss

Sharp turns in life can rock you. Unspeakable pain and heartbreak can make us feel like we are...

A Gay Dad's Adoption Journey Amid a Global Crisis

COVID-19 has shaken the whole world to its core. From one part of the globe to the other, it has...

A Gay Dad Gains Clarity After a Health Scare

Sometimes fear can cripple the mind and hinder ones judgement. Having children of my own, I have...

A Painful Christmas Taught This Dad the Meaning of Home

Everything that happens in our lives is meant to teach us something. These experiences — good, the...

Growing a Thicker Skin

Twenty years ago when I came out, it was unbearably hard. As I have written before, I am from the...

'NolaPapa' Launches YouTube Channel: Story of a Gay Dad

When we first found out that our second daughter was African American I froze. Not because of her...

'Shook to the Core': a Gay Dad Remembers Katrina on the Hurricane's...

August 29th will always be associated with a series of devastating events brought on by what is...

Sick of the News? Turn Off the T.V. and Take Action, Says This Gay Dad

"They grow up so fast!" I often heard that cliché when I was growing up. It was like a knee-jerk...

5 Reasons Why We Love Gays With Kids!

In the divisive and polarizing environment that gay dads live in today, what would we do without...

Gay Dads Left "Speechless" by Daughter's Reaction to Learning Her...

I can't believe it's been over two years since I wrote about our 'Open Adoption' for Gays With...

One Gay Dad's Arduous Ascent Atop Potty Mountain

Anyone with kids can probably attest that potty training is literally one of the hardest things...

This Gay Dad is Proof: Your Past Doesn't Have to Prevent You From...

I am sure that, at some point, everyone has looked back at their past and wished they could change...

How My Personal Pride As a Gay Man Has Evolved Since I Became a Dad

Since Father's Day is right around the corner and Pride month has just officially kicked off, I...

This Gay Dad is Fighting the Example Set by His Abusive Father with...

The earliest memories I have are pivotal moments that pushed me into a certain trajectory. Most of...

Before Baby, After Baby: One Dad's Comparison

If I could offer any advice for someone expecting to bring home their new baby it would be:...

Let Christmas Come Early This Year

With everything going on in our country, I think saying that it has been a crazy year is an...

Finding Ella

Adoption is a blessing. But it's never a sure thing until the very end. As an adoptive family, you...

A Dad Finds Hope After a Failed Adoption

This past October, my husband Douglas and I began talking seriously about having another child....

A Gay Dad Worries About his Daughter’s Milestones

In the beginning, it was so hard for my husband and me to not get caught up in our new baby's...

With my Husband’s Help, Becoming a Confident Gay Papa

Some people in the South usually do not get the gravity of being different unless they are actually...

Could This be True? My Six-Year Pattern of Change

Conversation

Strawberry and Cream Cheese Crepes for Your Valentine

For Valentine's Day one of my favorite things to make for my husband is delicious crepes. With so...

The Loving Process Behind Our Open Adoption Plan

Our daughter came to us through open adoption and, while we know many more people today choose an...

How to Make Beautiful Christmas Garlands and Centerpieces

I cannot emphasize enough to y’all how much this Southern boy loves Christmas. I love everything...

How to Care for a Premature Baby: Learning As We Go

So much information floods your mind when you’re preparing to bring home your new baby. No matter...

Thanksgiving Dinner Dessert Recipes From Gay Dad Erik

Some of my fondest memories growing up were the smells coming from my grandmother's kitchen. We...

Another Gay Dad Reacts to the Election: Finding Strength to Lead by...

I will admit, it is an unsettling time right now for a lot of people in America. We have come a...

How we Built a Perfect Nursery for our Baby

So many thoughts flashed through our minds when we were matched with our birth mother. Where do we...

Our First #GayDadStory: Erik Alexander Shares How His Family Came to...

Gays With Kids is excited to introduce #GayDadStory, a new series in which dads share the story of...