Co-Parenting Done Right

 

Earlier, I got a text from my plus one’s mama. She’s recently started a new, part time job in the evenings. My partner, her ex-husband, works second shift throughout the week. While she’s working, their boog either stays the night with me and my hoodlums or his grandma.

 

I’ll keep this short. These pictures are proof that a healthy co-parenting relationship can happen. There’s sleepovers, pool parties, and birthday  invitations. There’s open communication and mutual respect. It hasn’t always been easy for either party, and I can’t guarantee it’ll always be easy from here on out, but what I can say without a shadow of a doubt, is that beautiful little red headed boy will always be loved and cared for by many people in his awesome little village.

 

* His mom asking to come for a visit

** Them (and my daughter) doing homework at our kitchen table

*** T practicing spelling words on our white board with his mama

Random Late Night Picture Taking

I thought I knew what I was doing when I sneakily took this picture, but I didn’t. Not really, anyway. This not very exciting picture, says quite a bit all by itself. If you take a look at the decorated basket, the shelf lined with tinctures, the birth affirmations, and even the sitz bath I never got around to using, you see proof of a supportive partner. Ok just kidding, you probably don’t, but that’s what I see when I look past my honey’s backside with a sideways tilt.

 

How is it I see evidence of a supportive partner? Those supplies are what I felt I needed in order to have a safe and healthy homebirth. This was outside of my partner’s comfort zone, but he trusted my history and knowledge and chose to educate himself to better  understand physiological birth. He prepared by learning and trusting me. Both of those are indescribably beautiful gifts.

 

Now to get back to the man in gray. What’s he doing? He had grabbed for my foot before continuing on his way out the door. I withdrew from his reach and told him not to, since it was so incredibly dry. My mother lovingly left me with some of her auto immune characteristics, including her very parched and calloused feet. Instead of being deterred, he went for lotion. What the camera didn’t catch, was my love dutifully massaging my feet while stealing awkwardly long glances in my direction. His face proudly wore his sincere adoration. I sarcastically tried to brush away his compliments and he retorted very quickly that dry feet could not damper my beauty or level of sex appeal. Trust me when I say, I realize this conversation sounds kinda silly, but we all have little body quirks that we sometimes get caught up on. This just happens to be one of mine. He successfully shut me up with two of my current love language forerunners, physical touch, and words of affirmation. Relationships can be tough. There are times I want to run away or stick a dirty sock in his mouth, but this is one of the many times I fell head over heels in love with him all over again. I’m so thankful for this amazing man who chooses to fill my cup. It really is the little things. ❤