This family shows us that ending a romantic relationship doesn’t mean splitting the family apart. Emily Parker recently shared an adorable photo on Facebook from her four-year-old stepdaughter’s soccer game. The image features all the adults in the stands donning matching shirts: her mom, dad, stepmom, and stepdad, all united to cheer on little Mia.
In less than a week, the post garnered over 32,000 reactions and more than 83,000 shares! It’s clear people are loving how this family puts Mia first (the matching shirts are just the cherry on top).
Emily (Mia’s stepmom), Jake Parker (Mia’s dad), Sarah Smith (Mia’s mom), and Tom Smith (Mia’s stepdad) strive to attend Mia’s games as a cohesive unit whenever possible. After the third game of the season, Sarah suggested they get matching shirts to showcase their support. “Tom is stationed at Fort Bragg with the Army, but every time he’s home, all four of us are there,” Emily shared with The Huffington Post. “On regular days, it’s the three of us, and we always sit together to root for her.”
The two families join forces for more than just soccer. “We celebrate all of Mia’s birthdays together,” said Sarah. “We also attend each other’s birthday dinners, share holidays, and visit each other’s homes. We’re literally always hanging out.” The Parkers have a baby girl named Ava, and the Smiths are just as supportive of her, even checking in on Emily when Ava was born.
With 40-50% of first marriages ending in divorce, co-parenting is a reality many face. Just because a couple’s romantic relationship didn’t work out doesn’t mean they can’t work together for their kids. “It’s important to let go of past feelings and focus on the child’s well-being,” advises Sarah. “It takes effort every day to keep this going.” Emily adds, “Remember, your kids are always watching. Respecting each other sets a positive example of how to treat others.”
No matter how the soccer season unfolds, this family is undeniably scoring big!
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In summary, this adorable family demonstrates that collaboration in co-parenting can lead to a supportive environment for children, with love and respect reigning supreme.