Drew Sidora and Ralph Pittman share their son’s thoughts on adoption

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Drew Sidora dreams of the day her husband, Ralph Pittman, legally adopts her son, Josiah – also known as “Jojo” – from a previous relationship.

But the 11-year-old is cool in the current situation, according to his stepfather.

“I took Jojo aside and asked him a question. I thought, “Do you want me to adopt you?” And he said, “What would change?” And I said, “Nothing’s gonna change.” Pittman, 39, told Page Six in an exclusive joint interview with Sidora, 37.

“And he said, ‘Then why are we doing this?'” Says the entrepreneur.

“There is no reason for us to do this. He already has my last name, so there is no benefit to Jojo from adopting him – because he’s already mine.

Pittman reversed his earlier plan to adopt Josiah after discussing the matter with the child’s biological father, who seemed open to a deeper relationship with his son in the future.

This decision comes after Sidora expressed her passionate desire for adoption in “RHOA” as her ex does not play an active role in co-parenting.

“In a perfect world, I wish Ralph would just come along and make that commitment. But I want that to be Ralph’s decision. I would never want to force him to do that, and… then he starts to have a grudge, ”explains the singer” Winner “, who married Pittman in 2014.

“I don’t want it to be like that. So I reported this conversation. Of course, in the future, I would like it to happen, ”she adds. “I understand to some extent what Ralph says. And I just decided to accept it and see where we end up. “

But Sidora can’t help but worry about what might happen to Josiah if, “God forbid, something will happen to me,” she says.

“By law, what’s going on?” Sidora then asks, turning to her husband, “I wish you could take care of him.”

Pittman said Josiah would “always” be his son, no matter what. “I don’t have to go out and adopt him legally to show he’s my son,” he says with conviction. “He is already my son. He calls me dad.

The handsome “host” – who also shares with Sidora two young children, Machai and Ania – does not want to jeopardize his relationship with Josiah, making a decision without the participation of a middle school student.

“One of the things I would hate the most is that Jojo should grow old and that this coming to Jesus would talk to his father and say, ‘Why weren’t you in my life?’ And then the father says, “Well, because they actually took me away from you,” he says.

“I always say that. I can teach Jojo a lot. But where he is, who he is, biologically, I can’t teach him. I can’t teach him where his roots are.

But she can “love him,” emphasizes Pittman – and is open to talking about adoption again when Josiah is ready.

“Jojo is 11 years old and extremely bright and intelligent. He’s at a point where he knows exactly what he likes and dislikes. So if Jojo came and said, “Dad, I want you to adopt me because I understand what adoption means and that’s why I want to do it,” then we can go ahead and have this conversation, “she tells us.

“But that should be Jojo’s decision 100 percent,” Pittman continues, and Sidora nods in agreement. “And it should be something that is well thought out, beyond the control of anyone else, but something that he really wants given all the different dynamics – including his biological father.”

Pittman details the triumphs and challenges of his journey with his foster parents in his upcoming book, “Step in parenting” in stores 01/31/2023.

“I am married to a woman who has a child that is not biologically mine. It’s difficult, ”he admits. “When you have a biological baby together, it’s usually 50/50 right? When you are your stepfather, you have no voice. You must deserve the right to vote, and that vote will, often, never be equal to your partner.

The new author explains, “You need to prepare because there is no instruction manual that can teach you how to be a stepfather – and I’m just trying to help by sharing my experiences.”

For more information from Pittman and Sidora, check out this week’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast episode.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sunday at 8:00 PM EST on Bravo.