A mother's uplifting words about her ex-partner's new girlfriend – the "other woman", in her daughter's life – have resonated with thousands.
In a post shared to the Love What Matters Facebook page, mum Audrey Nicole writes, "This is my daughter's father's girlfriend. The sweetest thing ever!" Audrey writes that she's grateful for her ex's new partner because when her daughter visits her dad "she feeds her, takes care of her, buys her gifts and basically takes care of her like her own."
Questioning why women act "so spiteful and jealous" towards the "other women" Audrey adds, "NO ONE said it was easy trying to be a mother to a kid you didn't have."
If someone is trying, Audrey notes, don't push them away. They don't need the drama, she cautions. "They WILL leave and then you're stuck with someone who is the evil step mom."
Highlighting that "evil step moms" do exist, Audrey adds: "A kid can have two moms because in my eyes the more people that love her I'm happy! I would never make her feel like an outsider; I'm extremely thankful for this girl."
Urging other mothers to "love more and hate less", Audrey concludes, "Ladies, grow up and focus on being a good mom."
The mother-of-one's insightful words have resonated widely, shared over 5,000 times and garnering over 1,000 comments.
"My mom took my stepmom out to lunch when she and my dad were getting serious," wrote one commenter. "They really hit it off and became friends. I even went on vacation with my mom, dad, and stepmom. When my dad and stepmom got divorced, she and my mom stayed friends. It really did make life easier for us kids."
"'I'm a 'bonus mom' and have been for 36 years," wrote another. "I thank God every day that my "bonus son's" mom felt this way about me. We have a great relationship after all these years and I'm so thankful for that. And "our" son benefited from it in every way. It can be done. Takes special people to create their own village to raise their children."
But while the response to Audrey's post was overwhelmingly positive, some commenters took issue with her calling her ex's new partner, "mum".
"I love this and agree with one exception. Children have one Mom. A girlfriend of dad or a step mom can be a great friend, confidante, part of a support system and part of the family but only Mom is Mom. Same goes for moms new man. Only dad is dad. Just my opinion."
"I'm the other "mom" and I appreciate this post so very much! " wrote another. "Luckily, his real momma is fabulous, and we get along very well. I would like to add that I still strongly believe a baby should only call his biological mother, "mom"... it's the least I can [do to] make sure he does to honor her hard work in raising him."
Read Audrey's post in full below:
Comments