When Audrey Loving of Newport News, Virginia, met Corey Henry, she was 18 years old. The couple dated for a while, and things appeared to be going so well that they got engaged. Henry did, in fact, become the father of Loving’s child. The wedding, however, was never held, and the couple eventually divorced. So, how would Loving react if Henry showed up with a new girlfriend who was going to be spending a lot of time with her baby girl?
A Mom From Virginia Sent An Emotional “Thank You” Note To Her Ex’s New Girlfriend
Welcoming Their First Child
Audrey Loving and Corey Henry welcomed their first child, Riley Grace, into the world in 2012. On the other hand, Loving and Henry ran into some issues as a couple and quickly realized that their relationship wasn’t destined to last.
Welcoming Their First Child
Separating
So, after having difficulties with the logistics of their long-distance relationship as well as some other issues, the couple made the difficult decision to split up. Due to the fact that Henry and Loving live in different states, Loving was given sole custody of Riley.
Separating
He Could Still See Riley
Despite the fact that this arrangement can be tumultuous for the parents who recently split, Henry was still able to see Riley. During the weekends, the little girl would often stay with him. Which is a good thing as a child should always have the opportunity to be with both parents.
He Could Still See Riley
A New Woman
But, eventually, Henry began a relationship with another woman, which was somewhat predictable. What would Loving’s reaction be if he found out? Would she be envious of you? Would she become enraged? Let’s find out how she reacted after she found out about it.
A New Woman
She Didn’t Feel Threatened
Whitney McGraw, the “other woman,” would obviously be spending a lot of time with her daughter. So, would she make Loving feel threatened? The answer to all of these questions was no, which may come as a surprise to some.
She Didn’t Feel Threatened
Teaching Her Daughter “Love”
What is the reason for this? Because she wanted to teach her daughter “love,” according to Loving. Loving felt strongly enough about it that she took to the internet to express what she felt about McGraw’s care of her daughter.
Teaching Her Daughter ‘Love’
It Garnered Attention
Loving did indeed post a message on the Love What Matters Facebook page, where it quickly gained traction and went viral. To date, her post has received more than 120,000 likes and more than 3,000 shares. Clearly, a lot of people were impressed with what she did.
It Garnered Attention
The Photo
McGraw and Riley, Loving’s daughter, were featured prominently in the post. Loving captioned the photo with some heartfelt words. “This is my daughter’s father’s girlfriend. The sweetest thing ever!” She said. Many other mothers might have found reacting in this way to a photo of their child bonding with another maternal figure too difficult, awkward, or painful.
The Photo
Thanking McGraw
Loving, on the other hand, went on to thank McGraw in her post. She said in a post, “I’m super thankful for her because when she visits her dad, she feeds her, takes care of her, buys her gifts and basically takes care of her like her own.”
Thanking McGraw
Difficulty
Loving also mentioned how difficult it must have been for McGraw to enter a child’s life in this manner. “No-one said it was easy trying to be a mother to a kid you didn’t have,” she wrote. Again, it goes to show how much Loving appreciates what McGraw is doing for her kid.
Difficulty
Defending Her
Loving’s post went on to criticize other mothers who, for no apparent reason, are enraged by the “other woman.” She advised these mothers not to push the new woman away, especially if they were genuinely trying to care for the child.
Defending Her
A Warning
Her message was primarily a warning. She explained that if the new girlfriend’s mother chooses to push her away too much, she may become irritated and leave. The child may then be left with a horrible person or, as Loving put it, an “evil stepmother.”
A Warning
Not A Bad Thing
Finally, Loving argued that having two mothers isn’t always a bad thing for a child. What is the reason for this? Because all it really means is that they’re loved by more people. She wrote, “The more people that love her I’m happy!”
Not A Bad Thing
Thankful For Her
According to the Facebook post, Loving has handled her family’s situation with maturity and grace. And it’s possible that one of her final sentences in her post summed it up best. Loving wrote, “I would never make her [McGraw] feel like an outsider; I’m extremely thankful for this girl,”
Thankful For Her
Her Experience
In a November 2016 interview with TODAY, Loving explained that her attitude stemmed from her own life experiences. “I come from a blended family – I have stepsisters, half-sisters,” she explained. She recalled, “Growing up, I heard the negative talk about the ‘other woman.'”
Her Experience
It Wasn’t Always Smooth
As a result, Loving didn’t want Riley to hear anything negative about McGraw. “It’s not fair. Kids are smart,” she explained. That isn’t to say that her relationship with her ex’s new girlfriend was easy from the start. Let’s hear from Loving how she first felt regarding McGraw.
It Wasn’t Always Smooth
Overprotective
When McGraw first started caring for Riley, Loving admitted to TODAY that she was “a little crazy.” By making lists of things for McGraw to remember, she would be slightly overprotective. However, the two appear to have a good relationship now. “I’m at peace knowing [Riley is] being taken care of,” she said.
Overprotective
Putting The Kid First
Many people in similar situations seem to have identified with Loving’s mature and understanding response. Thousands of messages from other parents had been sent to her, she told TODAY. “Just be a grown-up and put the kid first,” she added, summarizing her philosophy. “Teach the kid love.”
Putting The Kid First
Being Mature
While many ex-partners would struggle to show such maturity and understanding in a similar situation, Loving has shown that it is possible to keep things civil. Even if you didn’t expect things to turn out this way, keep in mind that extra love for any child is never a bad thing.
Being Mature