State Knows Best

Experience a raw, unflinching memoir that exposes the dark side of adoption and child welfare in America. At just fifteen, N. Hayes was pressured by the state to surrender her newborn son. Years later, she learns he was never legally adopted-and decides to reclaim her role as his mother, no matter the cost. Nicole Hayes is a memoirist and mother of six currently living in Phoenix, Arizona. A former ward of the state, she writes from lived experience with the foster care system, teen motherhood, and the lasting impact of adoption separation. Hayes holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and a master's degree in Elementary Education. Her work blends personal narrative with systemic critique, exposing the flaws of institutions that claim to protect while perpetuating harm. 'State Knows Best' is her debut memoir-written as both an act of healing and a form of protest. She also shares insights about adoption trauma, motherhood, and survival through her growing platform on TikTok under the handle @iwriteallot.