“We became dads through surrogacy with the help of an egg donor and two amazing surrogates. Yes, two! Rory and Liliana were born two weeks apart, and it’s been beautiful chaos ever since.”
Dom and Jer, known online as @DadsTimesTwo, are married dads from Michigan raising two children under two—born just two weeks apart. Their family-building journey was as intentional as it was unique: “We each wanted to be biologically connected to one of our kids,” Dom shares. “So we transferred one embryo with each surrogate.” The result? Siblings who are practically twins, and a household filled with twice the joy, giggles, and diaper changes.
The couple first met on Tinder back in 2016, during Dom’s senior year of college. “I call him my Tinderella,” Dom shared.. After navigating long distance for over a year, they eventually built a life together, marrying in June 2022. They always knew parenthood was on the horizon, but they gave themselves time to grow first. “We wanted a few years to just enjoy married life, travel, and make memories as a couple. Once we felt settled in our careers and like we had a solid foundation, it finally felt like the right time to grow our family.”
For Dom and Jer, surrogacy offered the chance to be deeply involved from the very beginning—something that mattered to both of them. “Surrogacy allowed us to grow our family in a way that honored both of our biological connections and gave us a front row seat to the wild, emotional rollercoaster that is creating life.”
Today, the best part of parenthood is simple: the smiles. “Baby laughs are pure magic, and watching them become little humans with opinions, sass, and giggles is the best. Now that they’re a little older, they’ve started interacting with each other, and seeing them smile at one another absolutely melts us.”
But like any new parents, they’ve faced challenges—especially when it comes to balancing expectations. “Some days you feel like a rockstar, and other days you’re googling ‘is four hours of sleep enough to function,’” they admit. “The hardest part is giving yourself grace while trying to be everything for these tiny humans who rely on you for everything.”
As LGBTQ+ parents who share their journey on social media, Dom and Jer have faced both overwhelming love and painful hate. “People have said our babies need a mother, that our family is unnatural, and that we are going to hell. It is hurtful, but we remind ourselves that our kids are surrounded by love, joy, and stability. We do not let the noise drown out the truth.” Instead, they focus on the home they’re creating—one filled with pride, laughter, and unconditional support.
Though their children are still too young for deeper conversations about identity, Dom and Jer are already laying the groundwork. “They are growing up in a home filled with love, support, and pride. We make sure they are surrounded by people who celebrate our family for exactly who we are.”
Their message to other LGBTQ+ people dreaming of parenthood is full of hope and heart: “Every path to parenthood looks different, and some are harder than others, but none of that takes away from your ability to be a loving and incredible parent. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, take it one step at a time, and know that your future child will be so lucky to grow up in a home full of intention and love.”
“Being a parent in this community is the greatest joy of our lives,” they add. “We hope our story shows that queer families are thriving, messy, loud, loving, and deeply rooted in intention. And if you’re on this path, you’re not alone. You’ve got this.”
Thinking about parenthood through surrogacy or IVF? Join GWK Academy for free!
