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How can nesting help our divorcing family?

On Behalf of | Mar 12, 2021 | Divorce

Divorce is challenging, but figuring out your life after the fact can be even more difficult. This is particularly true for divorced couples who have children. It is likely that you will be in a joint custody situation after your divorce, which can make figuring out post-divorce living situations hard on everybody.

Moving children between two separate parental households is not always the best choice for all families. This is why some families are turning to a new living arrangement: nesting.

How does nesting work?

Nesting is the inverse of the traditional joint custody situation. Rather than the parents setting up two separate households and moving the children between them, the children stay in one living situation. In this arrangement, it is the parents who do the moving in and out of the family home according to the joint custody schedule.

Depending on how long the nesting situation lasts, the off-duty parent often either lives with other friends or family when not in the family home. If the nesting situation is more long-term, sometimes the parents will jointly maintain a separate apartment.

What are the benefits?

There are many benefits to nesting. Primary among them is that the children get to stay in the same living situation. For families who have children with special needs, for instance, often this is the only realistic and safe living option. Otherwise, the risk of forgetting vital medications or equipment is too great.

Many families with older children often find that nesting suits their needs well, too. Many older children resent moving constantly. Keeping the children in the same household until high school graduation often is the most conflict free solution for everybody.