When you’re going through a divorce, it can be difficult to find a custody solution that makes the children happy. If you and your spouse move into new homes, it may seem natural to move the children back and forth on a predetermined custody schedule. But this can be frustrating to them because they don’t feel like they have any stability and they may feel like neither of the houses really feel like home.
If you’re worried about this, another interesting option is using birdnesting instead. This is a much different process that still allows you and your spouse to spend time with the kids, but it offers them stability and the feeling of being home in a way that other plans cannot.
How does it work?
In a birdnesting situation, you and your ex do still have to have at least one other residence. You may even each want to have your own place. But the children still say in the same home where they lived with both of you when you were married.
To exchange custody, you just switch where you live. If you have custody, you stay in the home with the children. When you don’t have custody, you move out and live in the other residence. Your ex then moves in with the children and spends their custody time there. The two of you continue to rotate on a set schedule, but you are the ones doing the work of switching roles and living situations, rather than putting that burden on the children.
If you’re interested in this or simply looking into all of your child custody options, be sure you take the time to do so during a divorce.