This is my dad—setting up the chairs, adjusting the lights, making sure everything looks perfect.

For my mom’s wedding.

Not his wedding. Not their wedding. Her wedding—to someone else.

My parents have been divorced for 16 years. And yet… here he is. Hanging decorations. Cracking jokes to calm her nerves. Making sure her day goes smoothly. Not because anyone expected him to. But because that’s who he is. And because, in their own way, they’ve never stopped showing up for each other.

They’ve spent every Christmas morning together—coffee, pancakes, presents, laughter. They’ve flown across the country for graduations and games, sat side-by-side at dance recitals, baby showers, funerals. They’ve cheered, cried, and laughed through every major milestone of our family’s life—together.

Not as husband and wife.

But as a team.

Because love doesn’t always look like a storybook ending. Sometimes, it looks like two people choosing respect over resentment. Peace over pride. It looks like forgiveness. Like friendship. Like a different kind of forever.

They didn’t stay married. But they did stay kind. They stayed connected. They stayed willing to put in the work—not for themselves, but for the people they love. For us.

And watching my dad help my mom marry someone else? It hit me harder than I expected.

Because it reminded me that love isn’t just about romance. It’s about showing up. It’s about choosing grace. And it’s about understanding that sometimes the most beautiful relationships are the ones that evolve.

So thank you, Mom and Dad—for rewriting what love can look like. For proving that just because you’re not happy together, doesn’t mean you have to be unhappy apart. For reminding us that family doesn’t always follow the rules. And that love—real love—isn’t limited by titles or timelines.

It’s not the typical kind of love.

But it’s the kind that leaves a legacy. 💛