Breakups and divorces can be so difficult, not to mention stressful. When there are kids involved, these not-so-great feeling are multiplied, and things can get even trickier when new boyfriends, girlfriends, or spouses step into the picture.
Brittney Johnson is a mother to a 4-year-old girl who knows this struggle all too well. However, instead of getting irritated, frustrated, or jealous about the new woman in her daughter’s life, she decided to take a different path. Her outlook on the situation has now gone viral.
Brittney’s ex boyfriend is now dating a woman named Kayla, and Brittney is a single mother. Though there are many challenges Brittney has to face as a 27-year-old single mom, she’s not letting the new girlfriend be one of them.
In a now-viral Facebook post, the mature mama explains how she’s handling having Kayla around.
“To all of the mothers out there who throw a fit when another woman treats your child as her own: why isn't that exactly what you want?
I prayed one night for the type of woman my daughter's father would be with, knowing that she would be raised in two homes.” her post begins. She goes on to praise Kayla for not only pursuing her nursing career, but getting her young daughter a pair of scrubs after she fell in love with Kayla’s.
“Let me tell you, I'm raising a strong girl, a smart girl and a sweet girl. And I want nothing more than for her to be surrounded with role models who are exactly that. Thank you Kayla for showing Payton how to chase her dreams, how to work hard and stay up late to study for a test. Thank you for still making time to ride her bike with her and make her mac and cheese even in one of the stressful times of your life. You're a true role model and an amazing bonus mom and we are so proud of you!”
Brittney sees Kayla’s presence in her daughter’s life as nothing but a positive one, and if anything, she feels lucky that Kayla is around now.
Brittney believes that when it comes to co-parenting, your child’s happiness takes precedence over everything else.
“If you're co-parenting, and seeing your child doing things like this doesn't bring a smile to your face, reconsider what's truly best for your child.” she wrote. “Payton has more people to love her this way, and what more could a mother ever want for her child? Being best friends with me AND being best friends with Kayla, is exactly where P deserves to be.”
The two young women are proud to be friends, and are helping each other to raise a young girl with lots of love, maturity, and kindness.
Co-parenting is tough, there is no doubt about that, but maybe we could all take a piece of advice from Brittney’s handbook, and focus on happiness, rather than negativity.
“It takes a village,” Brittney says as she wraps up her post. “and I happen to love mine.”
What do you think about Brittney’s views on co-parenting?
