Divorce is a reality for millions of American families. However, even though divorce is stressful, the real challenges often do not appear until after the lawyers settle the paperwork; this is particularly true for families with children.
Assuming that there is no history of violence or addiction in the household, it is highly likely that the children will split their time between the parents. However, moving children back and forth between two households can be very problematic. In response to this, some families are experimenting with a new living situation: “nesting.” Nesting involves the children staying in one house and the parents rotating in and out.
How does this help?
It is far more likely that a responsible adult will be able to keep track of all of their essential belongings while moving frequently as compared to a child. This means that the parents often need to spend a lot of energy ensuring that the child completes the transition between houses with all essential equipment in tow. Particularly for families with special-needs children, this can become extremely stressful.
Nesting can also help with older children who may balk at the idea of needing to move back and forth every other week. Particularly if your children are close to high school graduation, choosing a nesting situation can help alleviate a lot of stress.
But where will I live when not in the house?
This depends on your individual situation. It is not uncommon for parents in temporary nesting situations to Simply stay with other family members or friends. In longer-term situations, renting an apartment that the off-duty parent lives in when not in the family home is common.
