If you get divorced, one potential child custody option to consider is known as birdnesting. Under this plan, you and your ex will take turns living with the children, but those children will always live in the same family home. They don’t have to move, but the child custody schedule just tells you when it’s your turn to live in the home and when it is your ex’s turn.
This doesn’t work for all couples. It can be expensive, and it also requires that you and your former spouse communicate and interact with each other frequently. But for couples who get divorced on relatively amicable terms, there can be some major benefits for the children.
Increasing stability
Overall, birdnesting just increases stability in many areas of the child’s life. They don’t have to go through a move, so they feel comfortable in their house. They always know that they will have their toys, clothes and other possessions with them. They still get to live in the same neighborhood near their friends, their school, and any other social groups that they’ve joined.
This stability can be very helpful for children because divorce usually creates the opposite scenario. Children feel very concerned as life is destabilized and they are confused about what comes next. Allowing them to stay in the same home can make the rest of the divorce process go much more smoothly and may make it easier for the children to adjust in time.
Again, birdnesting isn’t an option for everyone, but it is certainly worth considering if you’re facing a divorce. Make sure you know what legal steps to take.
