Divorce can be a challenging and emotionally charged process, especially when there are children to consider. Parents often face difficult decisions about child custody arrangements and family dynamics.
One option that many parents consider is birdnesting. This is a unique approach where the children remain in the family home while the divorced parents take turns living there. You can decide if birdnesting is right for your family by exploring the pros and cons.
Pros of birdnesting
Birdnesting can provide a sense of stability and familiarity for children during a turbulent time. It can also reduce stress for parents who might otherwise have to create flexible schedules for visitation and transportation. Not only is it a chance to foster cooperative parenting but it can also smooth over the transition period for children adjusting to the idea of their parents living separately.
Cons of birdnesting
The most apparent challenge in a birdnesting arrangement is the financial burden. Each parent must maintain their own separate residence as well as contribute to paying for the family home. Some couples might also feel a lack of closure or experience difficulties in moving on emotionally from the divorce if they remain tied to the home they once shared with an ex-spouse.
The majority of divorcing couples have a family home to consider when dividing assets in a divorce. In 2022, 53.4% of divorcing couples owned their own homes. When there is a child to consider, birdnesting may be the right option not only for maintaining a healthy family dynamic but also for resolving the matter of assigning ownership to the house in a divorce.