Teamwork is the key to success! Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne have continued to be devoted co-parents to their son, Bear. The former member of Girls Aloud and Payne started dating in February 2015, almost two years before Cole officially announced her pregnancy.
"My dear ones, both friends and family, are aware that there are very few occasions when I am at a loss for words... simply astonishing!" captioned the Instagram image by the former member of One Direction, featuring his recently born son, in March 2017. "I am overjoyed to welcome our precious baby boy into this world. This is a moment that will forever be etched in my memory, currently my most cherished recollection. I am utterly amazed by the incredible mother he has, and how she has supported me throughout this journey. She has truly fulfilled my wildest dreams. We have yet to decide on a name for him, but already he has captured hearts, especially mine. I feel incredibly fortunate. Wishing you all a happy Mother's Day!"
After being together for over two years, the couple announced their separation in July 2018.
"Cheryl and I regretfully inform you that we have decided to go our separate ways," the "Strip That Down" singer shared on Twitter. "Coming to this decision has not been easy for us. However, we still have a deep love for one another as a family. Bear holds immense importance in our lives, and we kindly request that you respect his privacy as we navigate this journey together."
Ever since, these individuals from England have successfully co-parented, celebrating and taking pride in every significant achievement Bear accomplishes.
Payne revealed to We in May 2019 that his son sometimes challenges his mother and he would intervene by saying, "Bear, stop it." He expressed gratitude for having a well-behaved child and shared an incident where his son ignored his instructions and wanted some privacy. Furthermore, he mentioned that his mother brought his old toys to their house, and Cheryl noticed that their son loved playing with a red car, which happened to be Payne's favorite car as a child. It made him realize that his son is similar to him in many ways.
After raising Bear, the musician known as "Bedroom Floor" went on to pursue a relationship with Maya Henry, and the two got engaged in August of 2020. Although they went through a brief separation in June 2021, they reconciled the following October. However, in May 2022, it was confirmed by Us that they had permanently split, as photographs emerged of Payne appearing intimate with another woman. At the time, the Texas native expressed their love for their fans but requested them to refrain from sending pictures of their fiancé wrapped around someone else, stating that it was difficult to come to terms with the situation without visual evidence and asked for it to stop.
Scroll below for more of Cole and Payne’s honest quotes about coparenting:
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Cheryl Cole and Ex-Boyfriend Liam Payne's Best Quotes About Coparenting Their Son Bear
Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne's relationship may not have worked out, but they have continued to prioritize their role as coparents to their son, Bear. Despite their breakup, the former Girls Aloud member and Payne started dating in February 2015, which was almost two years before Cole officially announced her pregnancy.
In March 2017, the One Direction alum expressed his astonishment and joy as he introduced his newborn son in an Instagram photo. He emphasized that this moment would forever be cherished as his favorite memory. Additionally, he praised the incredible strength and support of the baby's mother, stating that she had made his dreams come true. Although they had not selected a name for their son at the time, he was already capturing hearts, including his father's. However, their relationship came to an end in July 2018 after more than two years together.
"Cheryl and I regretfully announce our decision to part ways," tweeted the singer of the hit song "Strip That Down." "It has been a difficult choice for us, but we still have deep love for each other as a family. Our priority is our son Bear, and we kindly request that you respect his privacy as we navigate this journey together."
Ever since, the English-born couple has shown a dedication to coparenting, celebrating every milestone of their beloved son Bear.
“Sometimes he criticizes his mum, and I would say, ‘Bear, stop it,’" Payne exclusively shared with We magazine in May 2019. He mentioned how fortunate he and the former X Factor judge were to have a well-behaved child. "Today, he simply wouldn't listen to me. ... He only wants to hush me by placing his hand over my mouth. He's saying, 'Just give me a minute. I'm busy.'"
He continued, "My mum brought all my old toys to our house, and then Cheryl visited one day and noticed that he constantly plays with this red car. It used to be mine." I asked, "Is it a Jaguar?" and it turns out it was. That car was my favorite when I was young. So, he's basically a little version of me."
In addition to raising Bear, the musician behind "Bedroom Floor" later entered a relationship with Maya Henry, and the couple got engaged in August 2020. Although they briefly split in June 2021, they reconciled in October of the same year. In May 2022, it was confirmed by Us that they had permanently ended their relationship, after photos emerged of Payne getting intimate with another woman.
Responding to the situation, the Texas native took to Instagram to express their feelings towards their fans. "I deeply appreciate all the love from my fans, but please refrain from sending me these pictures of my fiancé with another woman," they wrote in a comment. "This situation is not me, and it's already difficult enough to come to terms with it without having to see it. I kindly request that you stop now."
Scroll below for more of Cole and Payne’s honest quotes about coparenting:
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Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock
Putting Her Foot Down With Bear
During an interview with The Telegraph in April 2019, the famous singer of the hit song "Call My Name" expressed her contrasting parenting styles. Cheryl revealed, "I'm known as the strict parent while Liam takes a more relaxed approach." She continued to explain how their son, Bear, has a remarkable ability to behave exceptionally well. Cheryl stated, "Even when I reprimand him, Bear responds by placing his little hands on my face, peering into my eyes to gauge the severity of the situation. This adorable gesture always manages to melt my heart."
She added, "
Liam is much gentler compared to me. However, I accept this reality and I'm content with it. Having a baby changes your focus from yourself to taking care of another life. It becomes your duty to create a stable and joyful environment, so you strive to make the most out of every situation. And that is exactly what we have done."
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A Recipe for Success
"As a father, I believe one of the most challenging aspects at the beginning is to be as engaged as possible," Payne shared with Us in May 2019. "A valuable piece of advice I can offer is to engage in cooking, because when you take charge of preparing meals while caring for your partner and tending to [your child], you are essentially taking care of everyone. It is important to feel like an integral part of the family unit, and cooking played a significant role for me during that initial period."
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One Big Holiday
The exes even celebrated the Christmas holiday together, with Payne sharing his plans on the ITV's This Morning in December 2019. He expressed his intention to visit Bear, cook a Christmas dinner, and spend quality time with family. Payne mentioned his love for Sunday roasts, stating that it brings a sense of normality. He expressed excitement about Bear experiencing Christmas, hoping to witness his enjoyment of unwrapping presents. Payne jokingly added that otherwise, it would just be Cheryl by the tree.
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COVID Health Decisions
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bear primarily resided with the Greatest Dancer mentor.
"Lockdown has been the longest period of time I haven't seen Bear," Payne revealed in an interview with Tings magazine in October 2020. "From the beginning, Cheryl and I agreed that it was best for me to be away for a while due to various reasons. It's not uncommon for me to be in and out of his life."
Acknowledging the challenges of quarantine, the One Direction: This Is Us star also expressed on Instagram that it was a tough period for any parent.
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An ‘Amazing’ Mother
Following their breakup, the “Sunshine” musician has still praised Cole's parenting duties.
“
Double special day today thanks to 2 incredible ladies and an extraordinary little man,” he tweeted in March 2020, celebrating the U.K. holiday. “Happy Mother’s Day mum and Cheryl, you both possess unparalleled motherly qualities, and Bear and I feel blessed to have you in our lives. Thank you for nurturing me with love and kindness, and Cheryl, words cannot express how grateful I am for the immense love you shower upon our son.”
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Making It Work
"I caught up with Bear today and we had a great time hanging out," Payne shared in a January 2021 Instagram Live video. "I hadn't seen him in a few weeks because of the challenges posed by COVID-19. I have to make sure I test negative before I can visit him, so there's always a waiting period for the results. But let me tell you, he's grown so much! He's absolutely massive!"
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For the Better
In May 2022, the singer revealed his initial difficulties with fatherhood during his early 20s. He candidly admitted that it caused the end of a relationship, albeit for the right reasons. Payne expressed his overwhelming excitement for his child's arrival, coupled with a genuine fear of not being able to love him enough. Furthermore, he commended his ex-partner for their commendable coparenting dynamic.
"She is truly the world's best mother, surpassing any expectations I could ever imagine," he expressed. "Being able to accompany my son to school once or twice a week has become a priceless experience. Our friendship has flourished even more since we parted ways for valid reasons. Now, she grants me complete independence to live my life the way I want, knowing that Bear is well taken care of. It's amazing to witness how his welfare remains her top priority, and I couldn't wish for anything more. Coincidentally, their residence is only a short three-minute drive from my house."