It can be really hard to be a single parent. For one thing, all the responsibilities of raising a child can be overwhelming for just one person. There’s the time required, the financial burden, the emotional strain… but sometimes the hardest part is knowing your kid might be missing out on having a mother or father. You try to make up for it however you can, but it’s extra work.

When parents Jessica Singleton and Jon Megason split up, they knew all this to be true. Rather than divvying up their time with their son, Pierson, and try to each juggle both roles, they made a commitment to each other and their son to remain a family, even if it meant a lot of patience and sacrifice. In the Facebook post below, Jessica explains why Jon doesn’t have to pay a dime through the state and how he remains her son’s father.

This is my ex. This right here is more valuable than gold. This is a man who doesn’t pay a dime through the state because when my son needs new clothes, I just call him.

This is a man who buys a bundle of kids’ movies on Vudu so even I can enjoy them with my son in my own home. A man who drops off the $45 box of pull-ups at my front door so I don’t have to load him up and go to the store.

One who takes his son on 10 min notice, far more often than he should because I have too much to get done or just need a nap. This is a man who listens to me cry because I’m stressed out. This is a man who tells his son not to forget mommy’s boyfriend when he lists his favorite people off the top of his head… A man who rushes over because we got locked out of the house or spends his evening fixing something for us.

This is a man who labeled the presents he bought his son “from mommy” because mommy couldn’t get him as many. A man who still watches my sister’s kids so our son can be with his cousins. One who accompanies me to meet strangers from Craigslist to ensure we are safe. This is the diaper-bag-wearing, chocolate-milk-making, selfless, protective, generous, accomplished FATHER to my son.

The amount of obstacles we’ve had to overcome to get to this point are tremendous. This was not easy, this was a choice. Stop giving excuses and come together for your children. I’m the most stubborn person that I know and forgiveness came easy to us for the sake of our son. And because of that, I see my son every single day. We always welcome each other’s presence.

In case I haven’t told you lately, I’m grateful for you. Most importantly for the motivated individual you are and how you provide Pierson with a phenomenal role model despite the foundation you once had.

I love the amount of love my son will always have from you.

Share this couple’s wonderful example today!