Picture this: My dad, sneakers on, pushing a lawnmower through a neatly trimmed lawn. Now, here’s the kicker—he’s mowing my mom’s lawn, and they’ve been divorced for 28 years. Yes, you read that right. For just over a quarter of a century, these two have been on different life paths, yet here he is, buzzing around like a knight with a green thumb.

So, why is my dad, an independent man, doing yard work for his ex-wife? The answer is both simple and heartwarming. My mom has bad knees, and my stepdad is often out of town for work. When my younger siblings saw my dad out there and asked, “Why is he mowing mom’s lawn?” I gave them this truth-bomb: “Because she needed help, and he knew she couldn’t get out there to do it. So, he did.”

Folks, this right here is what co-parenting should look like.

How lucky am I to have four parents who respect each other? That’s not a typo—four parents. They understand that, at the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is showing your children, no matter how old they are (even ones that are 32 years young), how to treat people and love your family, no matter how it came together. Whether it’s a Frankenstein’s monster of blended families or a classic nuclear setup, love wins every time.

When this story made the rounds, my dad was surprised at how many people paid attention. Humble chap that he is, he wanted everyone to know, “I’m no saint. I just want to show others that you don’t need to act like an angelic pastor on Lent. We should all choose kindness whenever we can.”

Now, take a moment to absorb that last nugget of wisdom. Kindness isn’t rocket science. It doesn’t require a degree in advanced human interaction. Sometimes, it’s as simple as mowing a lawn. Or holding a door open. Or any number of small, considerate acts that ripple outward and brighten the world around us.

So, the next time you see your neighbor’s lawn looking a bit overgrown, grab your mower. Or perhaps send an appreciative text to your ex for raising amazing kids together. Embrace these moments of kindness. You may not end up going viral, but trust me, your heart will be all the better for it.

Oh, and one more thing—let’s drop those preconceived notions of what divorced life should be like. It doesn’t have to be a battleground. It can be a place where respect and kindness flourish, one lawn at a time.