Often, reconfiguring your life after a divorce is the most difficult part of the process. Particularly if you are in a joint custody situation with your ex-spouse (now co-parent), you will need to rebuild your life with this at the forefront of your mind. Figuring out a new living situation that benefits you, your co-parent and your children can be frustrating.
This is why many American families are experimenting with a new living situation: nesting. According to Psychology Today, nesting involves a family continuing to maintain a home where the children live full-time and the parents swap in and out according to the custody schedule.
The logistics
The term “nesting” comes from the way that parent birds care for babies that stay in the same nest. Likewise, with nesting, your children will live in one house 100% of the time as opposed to moving between two separate parental households. Instead, it is the parents who will swap off living with the children in the house.
This arrangement can benefit many different types of families. If you have older children who are close to high school graduation, nesting can allow everybody to enjoy maximum stability. Once your children graduate high school, you can then dissolve the family home. Nesting is also beneficial for families who have children with special needs. Moving these children frequently may be dangerous.
The concerns
Nesting is only going to work if you and your co-parent are on reasonably good terms. If you and your co-parent cannot have a conversation without it dissolving into an argument, it is unlikely that you will be able to communicate well enough to facilitate maintaining a family home.