This study was designed to examine the subjective experiences of Israeli lesbian mothers. We explored the constructed meanings that both biological & nonbiological mothers relate to their motherhood experience. Eight lesbian couples who were parenting together & who had 1, 2, or 3 children were interviewed. Our data suggest that the birth of the first child to lesbian couples marks a turning point in the lives of each partner, as well as in the lives of the couples, by creating for the first time a significant distinction between the partners. It was found that lesbian mothers tend to organize their experiences into 3 circles of "being": personal, couple, & communal (eg., familial & social) aspects. Three themes contribute to the theoretical understanding of lesbian motherhood. First, although lesbian couples are known to value the sense of equality in their relationships, the birth of a child by one of the partners is an event that creates 2 different statuses of motherhood: a biological mother & a nonbiological mother. Second, the legal aspects of lesbian motherhood become a part of everyday life for the lesbian family & shape the partners' relationship. Third, being both a lesbian & a mother highlights the fundamental dialectic between marginality & mainstream conformity in the life experiences of lesbian mothers in Israeli society. References. Adapted from the source document.