There are many difficult aspects of divorce, but figuring out how to move forward with parenting is one of the most challenging. You want to act in the best interests of the children, but you also need to consider your own post-divorce needs as well.
In the majority of divorces, the parents will hold the children in joint custody. This often necessitates moving the children frequently between households. However, in some family situations, this is not sustainable. Many American families are experimenting with nesting, according to Psychology Today, in order to manage the difficulties of co-parenting.
How does it work?
Nesting is the opposite of having the children move between parental households. Instead, the children live 100% of the time in a family home, and it is the parents who do the moving. This mimics the way that birds care for babies in a nest, and this is where the name comes from.
The main goal of nesting is to provide the children as much stability as possible. Given that divorce is often an uncertain time, any scrap of normality is helpful for kids.
Does it last forever?
The majority of nesting situations are temporary in scope. For instance, you might decide to nest while you are going through the divorce process. This will allow you time to get used to single parenting in a familiar environment. Once the divorce is over, you can transition out.
You may also decide to nest if your children are close to high school graduation. Many older children resent having to move frequently as a result of a divorce, so this is a good way to manage that friction. Once your children graduate, you can dissolve the family home.
