Nowadays we hear so many negative stories of families being torn apart with bitterness and anger after parents’ divorce. But adults have a responsibility towards their children — whether or not they choose to remain together.
Setting an excellent example for your children is the best way to teach them just about anything in life.
32-year-old Codie LaChelle McPhate’s parents divorced when she was just four, and both her mother and father now have new partners.
But when Codie’s biological dad came to see her in Austin, Texas, he did something that immediately made her reach for her camera phone.
With divorce rates on the rise, parents are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of doing their best to continue setting good examples for their children — despite the challenge of being a divorced couple.
Experts agree that co-parenting even among separated or divorced partners is highly beneficial for children — it helps them feel loved and recognize that their emotions matter.
According to Huffington Post, this also increases positive behavior among children, higher self-esteem, and confidence.
Codie’s father certainly seems to agree. Codie’s mom and dad consciously decided to get along for the sake of their children after they decided to split.
Codie was at her mom’s house when she looked out the front window and caught sight of a stunning site: her father was mowing her mother’s front lawn.
She snapped some pics, and later posted them on her Facebook page — where they soon went viral.
Here’s what she wrote:
“This is my dad, mowing my mom’s lawn. They’ve been divorced 28 years.
My mom has bad knees, and my stepdad works out of town. When my younger siblings questioned, ‘Why is your dad mowing mom’s lawn?,’ I told them, ‘Because, she needed help, and he knew she couldn’t get out here to do it, so he did.’
This is co-parenting. This is how lucky I am to have 4 parents who respect each other, and know that at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is showing your children (Even ones that are 32 years old) how to treat people, and how to love your family, no matter how it came together.
My dad is with me in Texas on vacation. He doesn’t even live here where my mom lives. So not only did he do something selflessly for her, he did it for her while he was on his VACATION. He wants everyone to know, ‘I’m no saint.’ He just wants to show others that you don’t need to act like an angelic pastor on lent, but that we should all choose kindness whenever we can.
My dad said he didn’t do this for the recognition. He said my mom and he decided when they we going through their divorce they would both choose to be adults and treat each other with respect and compassion, because no matter how their marriage ended, they both loved each other very much at one point, and that, that love – counts for something. That if they were going to raise their children to be good, kind people, they needed to be good kind people.
I’m very fortunate to have such amazing parents. I know my moms and dads would do anything for each other, because we’re family. I’m very fortunate to have such amazing parents.”
I am not sure whether truer words can be spoken! Please share if you agree that Codie’s father is a real star, as humble as he is! This is maturity and compassion at its finest.
