One of the most difficult aspects of divorce is raising your children in the aftermath. Naturally, you want to be the best father to your children that you can be, but many things can get in the way. It is especially frustrating if one of your major problems is logistics.
Traditional co-parenting involves the children moving between the mother and the father’s residences. However, this can be difficult on the entire family. In response to this, some families have been experimenting with nesting situations. According to psychology today, in a nesting situation children will stay in one house while you and Mom switch out according to the custody agreement.
How does this help me parent?
Many parents who choose nesting decide to do so because moving with children is too stressful. For instance, divorced parents who have children with special needs often opt for a nesting arrangement.
Even if you do not have special needs to contend with, nesting can be very useful. For example, if you are at the beginning stages of your divorce, you and your ex-spouse likely want space from each other. A nesting arrangement will give you necessary separation while not disrupting your children.
But where do I live?
Naturally, if there is still one family home and both parents are not in the home at the same time, the “off-duty” parent will need a place to live. It is common for the “off-duty” parent to go stay with family or other friends in temporary nesting arrangements.
In the event that a long-term nesting arrangement suits the needs of your family better, you and your ex-spouse may choose to rent a separate apartment for the off-duty parent to live in.