This is a photo of my dad mowing my mom’s lawn 28 years after their divorce.
My mom has bad knees, and my stepdad often works out of town. So when the grass got too long and she couldn’t manage it herself, my dad quietly stepped in. No fanfare, no big conversation. He went to garden and then he just grabbed the mower and start doing his work.
When my younger siblings asked, “Why is Dad mowing Mom’s lawn?” my answer was simple: “Because she needed help, and he knew it.” It really is that straightforward.
This is what co-parenting looks like when it’s done right. This is the kind of respect and compassion I was raised with. I’m incredibly lucky to have four parents two biological, two step who genuinely care for each other. They’ve shown me, even now at 32, what it truly means to love people beyond the titles and history.
What makes this even more meaningful? My dad doesn’t live nearby. He was visiting me here in Texas on vacation. He could have used the time to relax, put his feet up but instead, he picked up a lawn mower for someone he hasn’t been married to in nearly three decades. That’s the kind of man he is.
And no, he doesn’t think he deserves a medal. He even said, “I’m no saint.” He just believes that being kind is a choice we all have the power to make and that it doesn’t take a special occasion to do the right thing.
He once told me that when he and my mom divorced, they agreed to handle things with grace for the sake of us kids, and because, once upon a time, they truly loved each other. That love didn’t just disappear. It shifted, yes but it still counts for something. They decided that if they wanted to raise good, compassionate kids, they had to lead by example. And they did.
That lawn mowing moment might seem small. But to me, it symbolizes everything I admire about my parents. Their maturity, their commitment to kindness, and their unwavering understanding that family isn’t about being perfect it’s about showing up.
I’m so thankful for the example they’ve set. I know without a doubt that my moms and dads would still do anything for each other. Because when it comes down to it, we’re family. And that means everything.
