This is my dad. He’s mowing my mom’s lawn.
They’ve been divorced for 28 years.
My mom has bad knees. My stepdad works out of town. And when my younger siblings asked, “Why is Dad mowing Mom’s lawn?” the answer was simple:
“Because she needed help, and he knew she couldn’t do it.”
That’s co-parenting. That’s family. ❤️
My dad doesn’t even live here — he was in town on vacation visiting me. And yet, he still showed up for her. Not because they’re married. Not for recognition. But because kindness matters.
When they divorced decades ago, they made a choice: to be adults, to treat each other with respect, and to never forget that once upon a time, they loved each other. That love — no matter how it ended — still counts for something.
And if they were going to raise their kids to be kind, compassionate people, they knew they had to live it first.
I am so lucky. I have four parents who respect each other, who show us every day what love really means: choosing kindness, always.
Because family isn’t about titles. It’s about showing up. 💛
[Codie LaChelle McPhate]