Avoided creating one bitter teenager

If Isaiah had stayed with the Lewins, in the future, there would have been all kinds of drama. He would have gotten angry when he realized he ended up separate from his black mother despite her history of addiction, he would have probably had to deal with the whole "but your parents are white" syndrome that is common in many interracial adoptions. Isaiah would have rebelled as a teenager, probably even run away as a very confused and angry adoptee.

What was really stupid in this movie was the whole separation scene: it was simply meant to work the audience over; if the judge had been genuinely concerned about Isaiah, she would have ordered both families to transition him out and gradually pass parenthood from the Lewins to Khalia rather than traumatize everyone!

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"