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Two parents decided to part ways amicably, refusing to go through a custody battle and instead coming to an agreement between themselves, and so far, it's working out very well.
On June 8, Courtany Dobson exposed an intimate aspect of her life now that she and her ex-partner, John, are co-parents and ex-partners. Alongside a series of screenshots of messages, Courtany wrote on TikTok: “We didn’t go to court. We didn’t let strangers decide when our kids could see each other. We don’t pay child support. We pick up the tab when the other parent needs it. We help each other out.”
“The most important thing is that our children are thriving and we are giving them our best,” he continued.
The text messages between the former couple, who separated four years ago, according to People – proved they were more than friendly.
The first screenshot shows Courtany telling John she was nervous about driving somewhere with her 11-year-old daughter, Harleigh. “Well, keep your phone with you. What’s the address?” John replied, before adding, “The things we’re gonna do for our kids.”
Next up was John's question about whether he can leave Harleigh and his six-year-old son, Hudson, at Courtany's house.
“That’s great, let’s go ahead and get them to sign up,” read another of John’s messages to Courtany, followed by an encouraging message: “The smartest thing you can do is keep your phone on. No one will bother you.”
In the next slide, Courtany asked John to pay her half of Harleigh and Hudson's expenses. John wrote back to let her know that he had sent the money.
The two exchanged some light-hearted comments, kindly asked each other if they were available, and shared sweet moments of their time with the kids. One particularly touching text message from John was when he wished Courtany a “Happy Mother’s Day.”
In the comments section of her viral TikTok, Courtany's followers praised the mother of two for how she and her ex have handled their split, prioritizing the well-being of their children above all else.
“From a girl whose parents had a wonderful co-parenting relationship, your kids will appreciate you SO MUCH at 28,” one woman wrote, while another touched viewer said, “As a family law paralegal, I love this.”
A third person admitted: “I wish the father of my children was that mature.”
“This is how it should be done. Your children should not suffer the loss,” another TikTok user added.
Speaking to PeopleCourtany admitted that she and John spend time together from time to time depending on the situation. However, they always sit together at school events. “We were able to host both kids’ birthday parties together and let me tell you, our kids will always fondly remember that we were both there on their birthdays,” she noted.
Courtany also confessed that she had been the one to reject a court custody agreement in order to receive financial support. When the couple divorced, she simply “wanted out.” Now, they have reached a point in their relationship where they can support each other and talk to each other in a healthy way.
“Our words have changed drastically over the years. Before we couldn’t even have conversations, but now it’s very different,” Courtany told the outlet. “We definitely weren’t as friendly after our divorce. It took us a while to get to this point.”
She added: “If you asked our children, they would say that we have always been kind to each other because we never showed them that side of us.”
The Independent has contacted Courtany for comment.
