- A TikToker is being praised for welcoming her ex-husband's new fiancée into their family.
- Leah Bourdo shared the video she filmed of her ex's proposal to his girlfriend on April 3.
A TikToker is being praised by commenters for recording the heartwarming moment her ex-husband proposed to his girlfriend.
Leah Bourdo, a Michigan mom who goes by @blinkerthanks online, shared the video on the platform on April 3. The TikTok shows Steve Bourdo getting down on one knee and proposing to his girlfriend, Shonda Betz, before Leah and Steve's children bring Betz flowers.
The clip went viral, and currently has more than 7 million views and 512,000 likes by Saturday.
@blinkerthanks I got to video my ex husband propose to his girlfriend…so special❤️ #coparenting #coparentinggoals #coparentingchamps #exhusbandsnewwife #bonusmom @the_shonda.rae @stevebourdo ♬ A thousand years - Zeus
"This weekend I got to be there when my ex-husband proposed to his girlfriend. She is the kind of woman I have prayed would come into his life," Leah wrote in text over the video. "She is incredible with our daughters and they love her so much."
Leah also shared her own feelings about Betz, noting that her ex-husband's girlfriend respected the co-parenting relationship between the Bourdos.
"On top of all that ... she has become my friend ... my family even. I love her with all my heart," the text continued.
The mom concluded by welcoming Betz to the "home team" and thanking Steve for allowing her to be part of the special moment.
The couple didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment but told Good Morning America that they felt lucky their "absolute train wreck" of a marriage turned into a close friendship.
Leah previously posted content and advice about co-parenting on her TikTok account, often sharing images of her daughters or funny videos of Steve captured through her doorbell camera. Commenters applauded her techniques and grace as she shared the proposal video.
"The fact that you stepped back & let them have that moment as their own little family shows what a kind, beautiful person you are," one user wrote.
"This has made me sob my heart out. How unselfish of you. You have taught me a HUGE lesson," another TikToker said. "BLESS you for sharing this angel.
Experts say co-parenting requires common goals and strong communication skills
While many of the comments on Leah's video are positive, she told GMA she still got a lot of questions about how she was able to watch her ex get engaged. The couple divorced in 2015 and later went to counseling to work on rebuilding their relationship.
" ... We were able to be around the girls and get along great because we didn't have marriage hanging over our head … we just figured it out and put our kids first," Leah said.
Sabrina Shaheen Cronin, a family coach and lawyer from Michigan, previously told Insider's Kelly Burch that parents who were romantically linked may need time to settle into their new reality when co-parenting.
Whether tackling child-rearing responsibilities as a platonic pair or a former romantic couple, Shaheen Cronin said co-parents should develop healthy communication and values for how they want their kids to be raised.
"Of course, people cannot predict every life situation and occurrence that may come up, but having these difficult conversations along the way are necessary to building a healthy and happy family life," she said.