“There is a woman who picks up my son from his after-school program for me everyday for no good reason other than because I need her help.

When my son was one, I started dating a man who was a good person. We did our best to make it work for nearly six years, but when my son was seven, we finally decided to give in. We cared about each other as friends, but the romance was long gone.

My son’s biological father is absent, we see perhaps one text message a year, so for the majority of his life, my ex was his “Dad.”

So we made a decision to keep it that way. When he started dating someone new, she immediately accepted that my son was an important part of her boyfriend’s life.

When his work schedule changed, without hesitation she volunteered to pick up my son for me every day until I got off work. He has a room at her house. We share holidays. They help with Dr. appointments.

And neither of them have a biological or legal tie to my child.

They do it because it’s right, because we need them, and because he loves them.

They owe me nothing, yet they became my village when I needed them.

This is what love looks like when a child’s needs are put first, and my life and my son’s are infinitely better for their choices.

From an endlessly grateful Mom, Thank You.”

Heather Moritz