Usually, families end up with a co-parenting situation after divorce. This is because having both parents involved with actively raising a child is usually in the best interests of the child. There are exceptions, but co-parenting is generally best.
However, co-parenting comes with several challenges. Many families find that moving kids between two separate households is not in their best interest. These families are turning to nesting arrangements. According to Psychology Today, nesting is when the children stay in the house and the parents move in and out based on their custody schedule.
What is a nesting plan?
Nesting requires a high level of communication between the parents. You will need to decide how and when to pay bills for the house, and when each parent is on-duty and off-duty. You will also need to manage maintenance issues related to the house, such as a cleaning schedule and any necessary repairs.
Some families decide to address potential new relationships when nesting. It is most common for parents to decide not to introduce any new relationships to the children during a nesting period.
Where do the parents live when off-duty?
This depends on the plan. In some situations the parents live with family or friends when they are not on-duty. In other situations the parents decide to share an apartment that they rotate in and out of. So if the father is on-duty at the house with the kids, the mother will move to the apartment to stay and vice-versa.
Generally, nesting arrangements are comparatively temporary. However, it is a good stopgap measure to keep a child’s life steady through a divorce.