Susan Carlson segues to parenthood

Susan Carlson

Susan Carlson

Susan Carlson is taking time off as reporter and weekend news anchor at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 to start a new year in a new role as a single mother.

Carlson announced Sunday she was traveling to India this week to finalize the adoption of a 4-year-old daughter. She said she plans to take an eight-week family leave from NBC 5.

Colleagues threw a baby shower last month for Carlson, who said she has been working on the adoption for two years.

"I am so grateful to my NBC family, who have been so supportive and so wonderful and so generous with gifts for my little girl, with parenting advice and overwhelming love and support," she told viewers at the end of NBC 5's Sunday morning newscast. "It touches me so deeply. I'm so happy to be here, and I'm so excited to welcome my new daughter home — finally."

No decision has been made about who’ll be filling in for Carlson while she’s away, according to Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5. “We'll solidify the schedule for the upcoming weeks after New Year's when everyone is back from the holidays,” he said.

Carlson, 44, joined NBC 5 in July 2013 after more than 10 years at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. She began her television career at Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9 and also worked at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. A south suburban native, Carlson holds journalism degrees from Loyola University and Roosevelt University.