A Photo of Positive Co-Parenting at a Soccer Game Goes Viral
When parents separate, the family can be faced with a number of challenges. Every separation is different for each family and not all circumstances are amicable.
But one family in the US have shared how co-parenting can be a win for the child and the family as a whole.
Emilee Plaayer shared a photo on Facebook that got the internet talking; co-parenting can be a positive experience for the child. The photo was of two couples, watching their four-year-old daughter, Maelyn Plaayer, play soccer.
Emilee (Maelyn’s stepmother), Ricky Player (Maelyn’s dad), Clara Cazeau (Maelyn’s mum) and Alex Cazeau (Maelyn’s stepdad) were shown in the photo, wearing shirts to support the four-year-old’s game. Their shirts had words on the back that showed how they were related to Maelyn.
Emilee shared the photo online and it received 32,000 reactions and was shared over 82,000 times.
Emilee admitted this was the norm for the family and all four parents would make an effort to attend soccer games together.
Emilee told the Huffington Post, “Alex, the stepdad, is in the Army and stationed in Fort Bragg, but every time he is home all four of us attend.”
“On a regular day it is the three of us, and we make it a point to sit together and cheer her on as a family.”
The shirts were made my Maelyn’s mum as she thought it would be a fun way to support her daughter.
Off the field, the couples are involved in each other’s lives. Clara was there to help Emilee when she went into labour with her daughter, Everlee.
“She came in and checked on me and waited at the hospital until Everlee was born,” Emilee said.
Clara had a friend make the personalized shirts after Maelyn’s third game because she thought it would “be a fun way to support” her daughter.
Both mums share how they support each other off the field.
“We do all birthdays together for Maelyn,” she said. “We also go to each other’s birthday dinners with their own families, we do holidays together, we go to one another’s houses, we are literally always doing things together.”
For some co-parenting families, this may sound like a nightmare. But Clara told the Huffpost it’s important for the adults to put their differences aside.
“Let go of any past feelings you may have and make it work for the sake of the child,” she said. “Stay strong. It is work every single day to keep this going.”
Emilee also added it’s important to set a good example to the child.
“Always respect the people involved because how you treat the other parents is a reflection of who you are,” she said.
While this family scenario may be a far off dream for some co-parenting families, it may not be possible for others.
But this family have been able to make it work and their daughter is all the better for having four parents who love and support her very much.
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