A household with one child has no children, says the Hungarian adage. Now, I know this is not so for everyone, but I believe it is true for my family.

Three-and-a-half years ago, I decided to adopt a child. At the time, I was a single mom to a three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Michaela, and also the CEO of a young company in a new industry. I felt strongly that adopting was right for me, but my friends disagreed and felt I shouldn't do it. I was too busy, too stressed, and too single. The question of whether or not I should adopt evolved into a parenting Rorschach test, telling me more about my friends' values than mine. In the end, all their comments only confirmed something I already knew about myself: Always honor my own instincts, even if it leads me down the harder path.

My first step in the adoption process was finding my lawyer, Suzanne. She told me that only three countries would let me adopt because I am single and over 40. This makes me laugh, because the life I can offer children is so magical and nurturing, despite my "advanced" age. This led us to Hungary, where Suzanne has strong connections to the orphanages and foster homes.