Being a parent is hard enough, but it gets even harder when you and your partner break up and you want to shield your kid from the drama as much as you can.
But there’s a glimmer of hope for parents who are in this situation and trying to find a balance: A photo that’s going viral on social media this week is being hailed as ‘co-parenting done right.’
A group of parents recently snapped a photo at their little girl’s soccer game, and people all over the internet are applauding the mature and balanced parents, who are figuring out the right way to raise their little one now that both parents have new partners in their lives.
It’s a story that reminds us of the uplifting co-parenting story one mom shared when she explained how she and her ex continue to work together every day for the sake of their little one.
The main message? Love may come and go, but parenting is forever. Keep reading to learn more about this awesome blended family and what co-parenting done right looks like!
A blended family that inspires us is making a big splash on the internet after posting a photo that shows their approach to ‘co-parenting done right.’
The photo, posted by Emilee Plaayer, shows four adults standing next to the young daughter that they are all raising together.
The picture took off online and has now been shared nearly 77,000 times. Thousands of other people have added their comments and impressive reactions!
The photo shows a little girl at her soccer game with her mom, Clara Cazeau, and dad, Ricky Plaayer, on either side of her, wearing jerseys that say ‘Mommy’ and ‘Daddy.’
To Clara’s right is her husband, Alex Cazeau, wearing a ‘Step Dad’ jersey.
To Ricky’s left is his wife, Emilee Plaayer, wearing a ‘Step Mom’ jersey.
The little girl in the middle is Maelyn, and she’s very lucky because she has two sets of parents.
Talk to moms about mom stuff. And make money doing it.
Because of us, I will never believe co-parenting can’t work! I KNOW through experience it CAN WORK! Choose to do what’s best for your child, and everything will just fall into place.
The two couples do everything they can to make life balanced and loving for their shared daughter. The Plaayers also have another baby daughter.
Together, the two families try to share holidays and major life events whenever possible. That way, their little girl knows she is always supported by all the parental figures in her life.
It’s not easy to co-parent after splitting up with your partner, but these two families do a great job showing how to do it.
Both of Maelyn’s parents are very involved in her life, and both sets of stepparents treat the little girl like their own.
Her stepdad, who is in the armed forces, is more than happy to let his stepdaughter paint his nails hot pink.
Her stepmom, meanwhile, makes sure Maelyn and her new baby sister get as much time together as possible!
Neither family has spoken out publicly about additional tips for co-parenting just yet, but the post is similar to a Halloween picture of a blended family that went viral last year.
This photo shows parents and stepparents galore, gathering all their kids together to celebrate Halloween in style, free of bitterness or conflict.
While the Cazeaus and the Plaayers are probably still processing their new viral fame, we’re already thinking it would be cool to hear more from them!
So many parents these days are dealing with the challenges of co-parenting, stepparenting, remarrying, and so on.
It would be great for some folks who seem to have the whole thing down pat (and who already get along with one another) to write a how-to book or something similar, don’t you think?
Of course, no matter what they end up doing, we already know that for all four parents in this story, their daughter and her happiness will remain the first priority.