A viral photo showing a young girl at a football game along with a her parents and two step-parents, who have all come to cheer her along, has been praised as a positive representation of co-parenting.

The photo went viral after Emilee Player, step-mother of four-year-old Maelyn, shared it on Facebook saying: "Because of us, I will never believe co-parenting can't work! I KNOW through experience it CAN WORK! Choose to do what's best for your child and everything will just fall into place."

Emilee told The Huffington Post that Maelyn's family often attend he games en masse. “Alex, the stepdad, is in the Army and stationed in Fort Bragg, but every time he is home all four of us attend,” she said.

“On a regular day it is the three of us, and we make it a point to sit together and cheer her on as a family.”

Maelyn's mother, Clara Cazeau, had the matching shirts made by a friend as "fun way for [us] to support" her at football games.

Asked if she had any advice for other co-parenting families, Clara said: “Let go of any past feelings you may have and make it work for the sake of the child. Stay strong. It is work every single day to keep this going.”

Emilee, added that setting the best example for the child is a key, saying: “Always respect the people involved because how you treat the other parents is a reflection of who you are."

Online Editors