After sixteen years of marriage, Matthew revealed his homosexuality to Jessica, the mother of his three children. They faced the new challenge of smart co-parenting together.
On Instagram and in life, the Turners have long been the perfect couple. Jessica, 39, is an influencer and founder of the blog The Mom Creative. At 47, Matthew is a bestselling author of Christian children’s books. Married for sixteen yearsthey are the proud parents of three beautiful children : Elias, 13 years old, Adeline, 10 years old, and Ezra, 6 years old. But on July 17, 2020, a clap of thunder still resounded in their cloudless sky.
While the couple was used to sharing their daily life as a large Christian family on Instagram (nearly 200,000 subscribers between them), Matthew, in consultation with Jessica, made his coming out and announced their divorce. “A year ago, remembers Jessica, I woke up thinking that July 17 would be one of the worst days of my life. Millions of people saw our announcement. […] In their comments some forgot that we were real people. […] It was a tough day, but we survived it.”
“The children feared that the divorce would take them away from their father”
It’s a couples therapystarted a year earlier, which allowed the writer to come to terms with his homosexuality: “Being gay is not a discovery for me. However, as I was educated in a religious universe very conservative evangelical, I lived many days overwhelmed by fear, shame and hatred by myself.” Faced with such upheaval, Matthew was able to count on Jessica and vice versa. “I cried a lot, specifies this mother. We love each other deeply. The children also cried, they feared that the divorce would take them away from their father.”
For the happiness of the latter, they then organize themselves in order to live a co-parenting in good intelligence. Matthew moves in 400m from their old house, which Jessica has kept, and the children see both parents every day. The clan meets at many meals, every Friday night for movie night, and for part of the summer vacation. After a year, the results are positive. “I am grateful that I never go a day without seeing my children and they are doing remarkably well”says Jessica.
“Jessica never stopped believing in me. And I will always be grateful for her love”
Matthew also salutes the benevolence of his ex-wife’s relatives towards him: “Jessica’s parents and sister have never stopped treating me like a full member of their family. They have been very supportive during this year of coming out. […] I am a better person because I become myself. I am a best fathera best friend for Jessica, a better writer. [ …] Jessica never stopped believing in me. And I will always be grateful for his love.”
Ultimate consecration: Matthew’s latest book entered the New York Times bestseller list in June 2021a success they all five celebrated. “Matthew may not be my husband anymore, but I still love him. I’m proud of us. We’re still family.”
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© INSTAGRAM JESSICANTURNER
3/9 –
Jessica and Matthew Turner
They organized themselves to live a co-parenting in good intelligence.
© INSTAGRAM JESSICANTURNER
4/9 –
Jessica and Matthew Turner
The children see both parents every day, and even part of the holidays.
© INSTAGRAM JESSICANTURNER
5/9 –
Jessica and Matthew Turner
Matthew’s latest book entered the New York Times bestseller list in June 2021, a success they all celebrated together.
© INSTAGRAM JESSICANTURNER
6/9 –
Jessica and Matthew Turner
Jessica and Matthew live 400m apart, so they can see each other very often.
© INSTAGRAM MATTHEWPAULTURNER
7/9 –
Jessica and Matthew Turner
Matthew considers himself a better father, a better friend for Jessica and a better writer today.
© INSTAGRAM MATTHEWPAULTURNER
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Jessica and Matthew Turner
“Matthew may not be my husband anymore, but I still love him,” Jessica said.
© INSTAGRAM JESSICANTURNER
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Jessica and Matthew Turner
It was couple therapy, started a year earlier, which allowed the writer to come to terms with his homosexuality.