Adoption? Everyone's doing it on Corrie!

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in April, 2010, reposted with permission.)

The last few episodes of Corrie have explored the adoption issue and it came to light how many of the adult characters are either step parents themselves or were brought up by a step. While there haven't been a huge number of adoptions, there have been lots of blended families. Just thinking about the current canvas, I came up with the following...

Ashley didn't know Fred was his father until he was 22 and was brought up by his auntie and uncle. No complaints there. And Ashley is raising a son that was fathered by someone else and his wife, Claire, is a step parent to that same child.

Nick and Sarah Lou were brought up by Martin. Peter was brought up by his grandparents for the most part. Leanne mentioned that if it weren't for Janice,  her step-mother, she could be in the gutter herself. She's helping to bring up Simon, too. Her half-sister, Toyah, is of course, not blood related but they are as close as blood sisters.

Becky is stepmother to Amy and had a rough upbringing herself. She pretty much brought herself up from the sounds of it. Jason was going to be a stepdad to Bethany and since Eileen had a slew of boyfriends, he probably had more than a few faux father figures himself.

Ken adopted Tracy. Ok, that didn't turn out well but that's not his fault. Technically, Deirdre is stepmother to Peter but he was an adult when she and Ken married even the first time around.

Roy and Hayley were hoping to adopt a number of years ago. They were going to choose an older child who needed a good home so you know they will have lots of advice for Becky. It was only their good intentions, running off with a foster child, that got them in trouble and yanked them off the acceptable parent list.

Dev has all kinds of kids and Amber is a doting half sister to the twins.

Ciaran wishes he was adopted and Tyrone probably does too and Tyrone might just be bringing up a child that isn't his own as well.

There have been many other cases in the past, as well. The soap world is filled with blended families.