A mum who was left by her child's dad for a man reveals how they are now all "one big happy family" - and she's even best friends with her ex-lover's new boyfriend. Maddie Ross, 25, reunited with her high school sweetheart, Dion Negrea, 26, in 2015, when they were both 18, Wales Online reports.
The couple, from Melbourne, Australia, had a son together, named Braxton, but the therapist always had a suspicion that her partner was actually gay. This was further fuelled by flirty texts she found between him and other men on his phone.
The pair split and the construction worker's hidden sexuality caused him to develop a meth amphetamine addiction, which he has now recovered from. Dion came out to his understanding son's mother before anyone else and she supported him through it, and even joked about how they have a similar type in men.
With Dion now openly coupled up with Leigh Fox, 30, also a construction worker, Maddie says that the unconventional trio are a "family" who all help to co parent Braxton, now 6. She said: "I’ve always been in love with Dion. We have a really strong connection.
"I believe we are twin flames. I always forgave him and saw the good in him but I believe the reason he turned to drugs was because he suppressed his true self.
"Dion is still learning to be a parent and it’s amazing to watch Leigh help Dion with how to parent Braxton. He has all three of us wrapped around his little finger - we’re all family and best friends."
Braxton was born in December 2016, while Maddie already had the feeling that Dion was hiding his true sexuality. The supportive mother stuck by him for years and had an on-off relationship while he battled through his drug addiction.
The pair split in August 2020 when Dion's methamphetamine addiction significantly spiralled and Maddie needed to Wput herself and Braxton first". Dion ended up in rehab for 15 months after getting in some legal trouble, but he managed to get clean and turn his life around when he met his partner, Leigh, in rehab.
He finally officially revealed his sexuality to Maddie in September 2020. He recalls: “I was a little bit excited to get it off my chest. She sort of knew as she’d asked me a few times. I finally decided to tell her and it was a relief. We’ve always been so close.”
Maddie added: “The first time he told me, he came to my house and said he slept with another guy. The guy he slept with was someone I always thought was hot, so I was laughing because I couldn’t believe it. I think if it was a girl I wouldn’t have been so happy.”
Maddie is urging other women to support their closeted exes to come out, as she heartbreakingly said: "They are so scared. Dion was scared Braxton wouldn’t want him to be his dad anymore."
Dion added: "I fell hard into drugs because I was hiding my sexuality. It was really difficult. I thought there was such a stigma around it but it’s not the case anymore. I’m a concreter and a ‘real bloke’ so people didn’t expect it - but all my friends and family have been so supportive."
The mum-of-one, who moved to Mildura, is currently six hours away from Dion in Melbourne, but the co-parents make sure they spend time together as a family of four during the school holidays. “This is the best we’ve ever been," she said. "There were times I completely cut contact but he shows me every time he wants to change. Now he’s come out, it’s so much easier to communicate."
She added: “I do still suffer from insecurities, but I have Dion as my best friend and if I’m feeling ugly or down I can go to him and he tells me I’m amazing.”
Now Leigh and Maddie have formed a solid friendship and Leigh gets on with Braxton too. Leigh said: "I was so nervous to meet Maddie and she was nervous to meet me but when we met we realised we were so similar in so many ways. Maddie comes to stay with me and we get on so well, we are all so happy. It's such a unique family dynamic but we decided to all have this relationship for Braxton."
Dion said: “Braxton and me speak every day and he actually wants me around and he relies on me a lot more. It makes me really proud he wants to see me and spend time with me. I never would’ve imagined it would've been like this. I thought it would be weird and awkward. I finally feel good in my own skin and happy with who I am."
Maddie added: "Everyone should be open, honest and accepting - it's so important for the child."
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