Co-parenting is very beneficial for children, but it can also be frustrating. Navigating the various pitfalls involved with trying to parent children from two different residences is often a point of contention.
In response to this, more and more families are experimenting with “nesting” as a living arrangement after or during divorce. Nesting, as per Psychology Today, involves the children living at one residence and the parents moving in and out as per the custodial arrangement just like birds flying in and out of a single nest to care for the babies inside.
How does this help alleviate problems?
Nesting is a great arrangement if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have not finalized divorce terms yet. Many times, in this instance, the parents wish to separate but do not want to make any changes to their children’s living environment until the parents have time to plan out the final living arrangements. Nesting can be an effective stopgap living situation.
Some families choose to nest to manage life in high cost of living areas. In many cases, a family may be able to afford to live in an area with two incomes; however, after divorce the parents may not be able to maintain separate living arrangements in the same neighborhood financially. Nesting allows the children to stay in the same school district with the same friends after divorce.
Where do the parents live when not in the “nest?”
This depends on the individual situation. In some cases, the parents may choose to furnish and maintain a separate apartment for the off-duty parent to live in. In other situations, the off-duty parent may stay with family and friends when not in the home.